A Mixed Methods Approach to Optimizing Outcomes in State Government Relations at Public Institutions of Higher Education

Public institutions of higher education are reliant on their state governments for the provision of appropriations and enactment of policies, yet within any given state there exists a political contest between interests for limited resources. As public institutions of higher education compete for appropriations and favorable policy decisions from state legislators, institutional administrators enact strategies to achieve desired legislative outcomes. The purpose of this sequential explanatory mixed methods study is to gain a deeper understanding of how government relations officers at public institutions in Virginia make decisions regarding state lobbying strategies when seeking appropriations, new laws, or revised laws from the Virginia General Assembly. An analysis of legislative text and individual in-depth interviews illuminates five conclusions that facilitate a series of recommendations for practitioner state government relations officers to consider implementing in their practice.