SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29
(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, Jackson and Plymale)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to
undertake a study of the role, responsibilities, governance
structure and funding models for public community and
technical colleges in West Virginia.
Whereas, It is the intent of the Legislature, as stated in
Senate Bill No. 547, adopted at the regular legislative session,
one thousand nine hundred ninety-five, that all West Virginians
have access to post-secondary education opportunities which are
relevant and affordable, which allow them to gain credits toward
associate or higher level degrees, which provide quality
technical education and skill training, and which are responsive
to business, industry, labor and community needs; and
Whereas, The Legislature created community and technical
college education for the purpose of establishing programs that
are integrated with the public schools and four year colleges,
that make maximum use of resources, that encourage students to
pursue a life-time of learning, that serve as instruments of
economic development, and that have the independence and
flexibility to respond quickly to changing needs; and
Whereas, The Legislature finds that the need for
restructuring and refocusing the institutional missions and
programs to respond to change and the necessity of achieving the
goals established for community and technical college education
by the citizens of West Virginia are of critical importance; and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes that it is in the best
interest of West Virginia to have an effective and comprehensive
delivery system for community and technical college education
and, because of its importance to the economic and cultural well-
being of state residents, a broad-based public policy discussion
needs to occur in order to assist in determining appropriate
governance, programmatic and funding models for community and
technical college education; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to create a select committee consisting of
representatives of the Legislature and other interested and
affected parties who will undertake a study of public community
and technical colleges in West Virginia to determine their
effectiveness and efficiency in meeting the objectives and goals
of the state; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall commence its
activities on or before the fifteenth day of May, one thousand
nine hundred ninety-eight; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall consist of
eighteen members selected as follows: Three members from the
Senate, one to serve as cochair on behalf of the Senate, and
three members from the House of Delegates, one to serve as
cochair on behalf of the House, to be appointed by the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House respectively; the
Secretary of Education and the Arts or a designee; the Chancellor
of the University System of West Virginia or a designee; the
Chancellor of the State College System or a designee; the Vice
Chancellor of Community Colleges; one member of the State College
System Board of Directors to be selected by the Directors; one
member of the University System of West Virginia Board of
Trustees to be selected by the Trustees; the State Superintendent
of Schools or a designee; one member of the West Virginia State
School Board to be selected by the Board; and four persons
appointed by the Governor, one to be a representative of
business, one to be a representative of labor and industry, one
to be a representative of employment and training programs, and one to be a representative of vocational-technical-occupational
education. Of these four appointed by the Governor, one shall be
from each congressional district within the state and not more
than two shall belong to the same political party. Appointments
shall be made no later than the thirtieth day of April, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-eight; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall report its
findings to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education
Accountability on or before the first day of January, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-nine; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Chair of the
State College System Board of Directors and to the Chair of the
University of West Virginia Board of Trustees for distribution to
members of their respective boards.