HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 71

(By Delegates Harrison, Webster, Keener, Webb, Armstead, Amores,

Walters, J. Smith, Brown, Spencer, Mathews and Hatfield)


[Introduced March 1, 2002; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


Requesting the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability or a subcommittee of the commission to conduct a study to determine the criteria required to allow a state college to change its name and status to university status.

 Whereas, S.B. 653 of 2000 specifically provides that because of the decline in public school enrollments statewide and the nationwide change in post-secondary education and changing environment, the limits of its fiscal resources and the need to serve the educational needs of working-age adults, West Virginia cannot afford to finance quality higher education systems that aspire to offer a full array of programs while competing among themselves for a dwindling pool of traditional applicants. S.B. 653 of 2000 further requires institutions of higher education to develop their capacity to reinforce the quality and differentiation of these institutions through policies that encourage focus and collaboration; and
Whereas, Before a state college can change or advance its status from college to university status, certain explicit and mandatory criteria as set out in the provisions of S.B. 653 of 2000 must be met; and
Whereas, An examination of the criteria required to be met before attaining university status by state colleges is worthy of examination in order to ensure that the requirements, procedures and purposes of S.B. 653 of 2000 are followed; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability or a subcommittee of the commission conduct a study to determine the criteria required to allow a state college to change its name and status to university status and to review, examine and study the laws of the State governing state colleges and universities and their status; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability or a subcommittee of the commission is authorized to contract with outside consultants for purposes of this study and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability or a subcommittee of the commission shall make recommendations on the criteria governing how and whether state colleges would be allowed to change their status and names from state colleges to state universities and how the state college and university system may be improved to increase efficiency, improve its responsiveness and reduce its cost to the citizens, including considering the effects of upgrading status from state college to state university; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability or a subcommittee of the commission report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2003, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations.