scr32 org

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32
(By Senators Jackson, Plymale, Bowman, Edgell and Oliverio)
__________
[Originating in the Committee on Education;
reported February 26, 2002.]

Requesting the Higher Education Policy Commission to formulate recommendations on certain higher education policy issues and report to the Legislature by January 2, 2003.

Whereas, The Legislature recognizes the importance of higher education to achieve the greatest good for the people of the state; and

Whereas, It is the intent of the Legislature, as established by law, that all West Virginians have access to post-secondary education opportunities which are relevant and affordable, which provide quality education and skill training, and which are responsive to business, industry, labor and community needs; and

Whereas, The Legislature has established certain goals for public higher education. Among these goals are the following:

Developing universities and colleges that have focused missions, their own points of distinction and quality and strong links with the education, economic and social revitalization of their regions and the state of West Virginia;

Providing greater access and capacity to deliver technical education, workforce development and other higher education services;

Providing, in every region of the state, community and technical college education which meets the essential conditions for comprehensive community and technical colleges;

Providing additional resources to make the state institutions more competitive with their peers, assisting them in accomplishing the elements of the public policy agenda and ensuring the continuity of academic programs and services to students;

Expanding the use of technology for instructional delivery and distance learning;

Clarifying institutional missions and shifting resources to programs which meet the current and future work force needs of the state; and

Providing greater access to stable, high-quality graduate education in every region of the state; and

Whereas, The Legislature has found that the need for restructuring and refocusing institutional missions and programs to respond to change and the necessity of achieving the goals established by the citizens of West Virginia are of critical importance; and

Whereas, To further implementation of these goals, the Legislature has provided $165,390,337 in new money to public institutions of higher education since 1995; and

Whereas, The Legislature found that the method of goal setting and accountability for public higher education prior to 2000 was exceptionally complicated, that it largely defined accountability in terms of institutional procedures and that it was not well equipped to address goals in areas such as regional economic and workforce development, community and technical college services, collaboration with the public schools, access to graduate education and other broad issues of state interest; and

Whereas, The Higher Education Policy Commission was created by statute in 2000 to serve as the accountability point for public higher education. Its primary responsibility is to develop and implement policy that will achieve the goals and objectives established by the people of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The Commission is responsible for policy analysis and research focused on issues affecting the system as a whole or any geographical region thereof, including development and implementation of institutional mission definitions and quality assurance that intersects with all its other duties; and

Whereas, The Legislature finds that certain major issues affecting public higher education and the welfare of the people of West Virginia remain unresolved. These issues are:

1. Determination of the appropriate future role and mission of Bluefield State College and its component community college, including, but not limited to, the appropriate relationship to the Lewisburg Center;

2. Determination of the appropriate future role and mission of Glenville State College and its component community college, including, but not limited to, the appropriate relationship to the Nicholas County campus;

3. Determination of the appropriate roles and missions of Potomac State College and Eastern Community and Technical College, both independently and in relation to each institution, and, with respect to Potomac State College, in relation to West Virginia University;

4. Development of an effective and efficient plan to deliver post-secondary education in the Beckley area;

5. Development of a specific plan, with time lines, detailing how the Commission will meet the growing needs for community and technical college education in the Advantage Valley area;

6. Development of a specific implementation plan, with time lines, to meet the essential conditions for community and technical college education in every region of the state;

7. Development of an effective and efficient plan to foster greater use of on-line instruction, particularly in the areas of professional development for teachers and provision of in-field courses;

8. Development of a rational, well-defined set of standards for determining when it is appropriate for a baccalaureate institution to move to university status and a determination if West Virginia State College, West Liberty State College and Fairmont State College have met those standards;

9. Development of a well-defined plan for providing expanded access to graduate education throughout the state including:

a. Examination of the feasibility of providing graduate education through state baccalaureate institutions;

b. Development of standards to be used in determining which state baccalaureate institutions will be authorized to provide graduate programs; and

c. Determination of appropriate time lines for plan implementation;

10. Development of a plan for expanding access to dual-credit courses by high school students and a determination of the feasibility of providing financial aid opportunities for those students;

11. Development of a well-defined plan to resolve problems in articulation and transfer of credits;

12. Examination of existing barriers to collaboration and coordination of teacher certification between the State Board of Education and public institutions of higher education and development and implementation, in conjunction with the State Board, of a well-defined plan to make certification easier, more effective and more easily understood; and

Whereas, The Commission is required by law to provide to the Legislature recommendations for statutory changes needed to further the established goals and objectives and to provide planning and policy leadership including a distinct and visible role in setting the state's policy agenda and in serving as an agent of change; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Higher Education Policy Commission is hereby requested to formulate recommendations on certain higher education policy issues and report to the Legislature by January 2, 2003, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Higher Education Policy Commission is hereby requested to make monthly progress reports to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability at its regular interim meetings throughout 2002; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Chancellor and the Chair of the Higher Education Policy Commission for distribution to each member thereof.