General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7007
January Session, 2015 LCO No. 5159
*05159_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 7007
January Session, 2015
LCO No. 5159
*05159_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)
AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) (a) The policies of higher education in the state shall be consistent with the following goals adopted from the recommendations of the Planning Commission for Higher Education in the strategic master plan for higher education developed pursuant to section 10a-11b of the general statutes:
(1) Increase the education levels of the adult population of the state, on or before January 1, 2025, to a target of not less than forty per cent of adults having earned a bachelor degree and not less than thirty per cent of adults having earned an associate degree or sub-baccalaureate certificate for purposes of ensuring the state has a workforce with the skills necessary for achieving and sustaining a competitive economy by measures including, but not limited to (A) reducing socioeconomic disparities, (B) reducing the achievement gap between whites and minorities, as defined in section 10-155l of the general statutes, (C) improving the lives of residents living in the most urbanized areas of the cities of the state, and (D) ensuring that the quality of postsecondary education is improved;
(2) Develop a globally competitive workforce and economy in the state by cultivating an environment that attracts and retains a highly educated, diverse population by (A) aligning postsecondary degree attainment with the workforce needs of employers in the state, (B) contributing to the expansion and diversification of the state's economy through research and innovation, (C) establishing partnerships between institutions of higher education and business, civic and cultural leaders in the state, and (D) increasing the number of students engaged in community service, internships and other workplace-based learning experiences; and
(3) Ensure that higher education is affordable for the residents of the state by (A) narrowing the gap between the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education and family income, (B) reducing, on or before January 1, 2025, the average student loan to the national average, and (C) increasing, on or before January 1, 2025, by five per cent the number of recent high school graduates in the state who enroll in institutions of higher education in the state.
(b) For purposes of this section, "sub-baccalaureate certificate" means a postsecondary award earned on a for-credit basis and conferred upon successful completion of a formal postsecondary program below the baccalaureate level.
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 10a-1b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):
(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall appoint a president who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall (1) have the authority to implement the policies, directives and rules of the board and any additional responsibilities as the board may prescribe, (2) implement the goals identified in section 1 of this act and recommendations made pursuant to section 10a-11b, (3) build interdependent support among the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College, (4) balance central authority with institutional differentiation, autonomy and creativity, and (5) facilitate cooperation and synergy among the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College. Said president may designate an alternate to serve as a member of any commission, foundation or committee upon which the general statutes require said president to serve. Such designee may vote on behalf of said president. There shall be an executive staff responsible for the operation of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. The executive staff shall be under the direction of the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, who shall be the chief executive officer of the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Sec. 3. Section 10a-6 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):
(a) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall: (1) Establish [state-wide policy and guidelines for Connecticut's system of public higher education] policies and guidelines for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (2) develop a master plan for higher education and postsecondary education [,] at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College consistent with the goals [in subsection (b) of this section] identified in section 1 of this act; (3) establish [state-wide] tuition and student fee policies for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (4) monitor and evaluate [institutional] the effectiveness and viability of the state universities, the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board; (5) merge or close institutions within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College in accordance with criteria established by the board, provided (A) such recommended merger or closing shall require a two-thirds vote of the board, and (B) notice of such recommended merger or closing shall be sent to the committee having cognizance over matters relating to education and to the General Assembly; (6) review and approve mission statements for the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College and role and scope statements for the individual institutions and campuses of such constituent units; (7) review and approve any recommendations for the establishment of new academic programs submitted to the board by the state [colleges] universities within the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical colleges and Charter Oak State College, and, in consultation with the affected constituent units, provide for the initiation, consolidation or termination of academic programs; [The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall notify the board of trustees affected by the proposed termination of an academic program. Within ninety days of receipt of such notice, said trustees shall accept or reject the termination proposal and shall notify the Board of Regents for Higher Education of its action. If the termination proposal is rejected by the trustees, the Board of Regents for Higher Education may override the rejection by a two-thirds vote;] (8) develop criteria to ensure acceptable quality in (A) programs [and institutions] at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College, and (B) institutions within the Connecticut State University System and the regional community-technical college system and enforce standards through licensing and accreditation; (9) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly, in accordance with section 10a-8, consolidated operating and capital expenditure budgets for [public higher education] the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College developed in accordance with the provisions of said section 10a-8; [(10) review and make recommendations on plans received from the constituent unit boards of trustees for the continuing development and maximum utilization of the state's public higher education resources; (11) appoint advisory committees to assist in defining and suggesting solutions for the problems and needs of higher education; (12) establish an advisory council for higher education with representatives from public and private institutions to study methods and proposals for coordinating efforts of all such institutions in providing a stimulating and enriched educational environment for the citizens of the state, including measures to improve educational opportunities through alternative and nontraditional approaches such as external degrees and credit by examination; (13) coordinate programs and services throughout public higher education and between public and independent institutions, including procedures to evaluate the impact on independent institutions of higher education of proposals affecting public institutions of higher education; (14)] (10) make or enter into contracts, leases or other agreements in connection with its responsibilities under this part, provided all acquisitions of real estate by lease or otherwise shall be subject to the provisions of section 4b-23; [(15) ] (11) be responsible for the care and maintenance of permanent records of institutions of higher education dissolved after September 1, 1969; [(16)] (12) prepare and present to the Governor and General Assembly legislative proposals affecting [public higher education, including proposals which utilize programs and facilities of independent institutions of higher education; (17)] the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (13) develop and maintain a central higher education information system and establish definitions and data requirements for the [state system of higher education; (18)] Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College; (14) report all new programs and program changes at the Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College to the Office of Higher Education; and [(19)] (15) undertake such studies and other activities as will best serve the higher educational interests of the [state] Connecticut State University System, the regional community-technical college system and Charter Oak State College.
(b) Within the limits of authorized expenditures, the policies of the state system of higher education shall be consistent with (1) the following goals: [(1)] (A) To ensure that no qualified person be denied the opportunity for higher education on the basis of age, sex, gender identity or expression, ethnic background or social, physical or economic condition, [(2)] and (B) to protect academic freedom, [(3) to provide opportunities for education and training related to the economic, cultural and educational development of the state, (4) to assure the fullest possible use of available resources in public and private institutions of higher education, (5) to maintain standards of quality ensuring a position of national leadership for state institutions of higher education, (6) to apply the resources of higher education to the problems of society, and (7) to foster flexibility in the policies and institutions of higher education to enable the system to respond to changes in the economy, society, technology and student interests] and (2) the goals for higher education in the state identified in section 1 of this act. Said board shall review recent studies of the need for higher education services, with special attention to those completed pursuant to legislative action, and to meet such needs shall initiate additional programs or services through one or more of the constituent units.
(c) Repealed by P.A. 83-533, S. 53, 54.
(d) The board of regents shall request and receive, or be provided electronic access to, data, reports and other information from the constituent units of the state system of higher education that is necessary for the board to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this section.
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 10a-6b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):
(b) In developing the measures pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the council shall consider: [(1) Graduation rates, (2) student retention rates, (3) completions, (4) tuition and fees, (5) allocation of resources across expenditure functions, as defined by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, (6) revenues and expenditures broken out by programs, (7) student financial need and available aid, (8) transfer patterns of students transferring in and out of the constituent units, (9) trends in enrollment and the percentage of incoming students who are state residents, (10) strategic plans pursuant to section 10a-11, (11) data on graduates, including age, by academic and noncredit vocational course and program, (12) faculty productivity, (13) the] (1) The goals adopted by the Planning Commission for Higher Education and identified in section 1 of this act, and [(14)] (2) any other factor that it deems relevant. All measures shall be made available for inspection and separated out by constituent unit, institution of higher education, campus and program.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2015 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2015 10a-1b(a)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2015 10a-6
Sec. 4 July 1, 2015 10a-6b(b)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
July 1, 2015
New section
Sec. 2
July 1, 2015
10a-1b(a)
Sec. 3
July 1, 2015
10a-6
Sec. 4
July 1, 2015
10a-6b(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To adopt the recommendations of the Planning Commission for Higher Education for the goals of higher education in the state.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]