HF 304

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to education; establishing a commission on a 
  1.3             higher education master plan; providing for membership 
  1.4             and duties; appropriating money.  
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [COMMISSION ON THE MASTER PLAN FOR HIGHER 
  1.7   EDUCATION.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [CREATION.] A commission is established to 
  1.9   develop a comprehensive master plan for Minnesota higher 
  1.10  education. 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The commission shall consist of 15 
  1.12  members, as follows:  three members to be appointed by the 
  1.13  senate subcommittee on committees of the committee on rules and 
  1.14  administration, with no more than two from one political party; 
  1.15  three members to be appointed by the speaker of the house of 
  1.16  representatives, with no more than two from one political party; 
  1.17  four members to be appointed by the governor, with no more than 
  1.18  three from one political party; one member to be appointed by 
  1.19  the board of regents of the University of Minnesota; one member 
  1.20  to be appointed by the board of trustees of the Minnesota state 
  1.21  colleges and universities; one member to be appointed by the 
  1.22  Minnesota private college council; and two student members to be 
  1.23  appointed by the student advisory council under Minnesota 
  1.24  Statutes, section 136A.031, subdivision 3.  The commission shall 
  1.25  elect a chair and other officers it may desire.  Members shall 
  2.1   be compensated as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 
  2.2   15.059, subdivision 6. 
  2.3      Subd. 3.  [CHARGE.] The commission shall develop a master 
  2.4   plan for the coordinated, efficient delivery of quality public 
  2.5   and private education in the state with a well-defined mission 
  2.6   for each post-secondary sector. 
  2.7      Subd. 4.  [MASTER PLAN.] The commission shall do at least 
  2.8   the following in developing its master plan: 
  2.9      (a) determine Minnesota's post-secondary needs through the 
  2.10  year 2010, with emphasis on the demography of student, societal, 
  2.11  and employment needs compared to the level of state 
  2.12  post-secondary funding and to the projected supply of faculty; 
  2.13     (b) establish well-defined, complementary missions for each 
  2.14  post-secondary sector using the definitions in Minnesota 
  2.15  Statutes, section 135A.52, as a basis for the missions of the 
  2.16  public institutions; 
  2.17     (c) define the role of each post-secondary sector as it 
  2.18  relates to (1) student populations eligible for admission, (2) 
  2.19  programs and services for nontraditional students, (3) remedial 
  2.20  courses and services, and (4) extension and continuing education 
  2.21  courses and programs; 
  2.22     (d) consider strategies to promote an increase in the 
  2.23  access and success of students, particularly those under- 
  2.24  represented in post-secondary education, including adult 
  2.25  education through graduate instruction, in the following areas: 
  2.26     (1) preparation and outreach:  basic skills and college 
  2.27  preparation in kindergarten through grade 12, and community 
  2.28  college curriculum; 
  2.29     (2) matriculation:  admission, assessment, and advisement; 
  2.30     (3) retention:  remediation, academic support, and 
  2.31  financial assistance; 
  2.32     (4) articulation:  transition from secondary education to 
  2.33  post-secondary education and employment; 
  2.34     (5) accountability:  assurance that courses offered are 
  2.35  consistent with the mission of various segments of 
  2.36  post-secondary education; and 
  3.1      (6) doctoral education:  availability of 
  3.2   practitioner-oriented doctoral programs to working professionals 
  3.3   throughout the state; 
  3.4      (e) examine the appropriateness of existing educational 
  3.5   delivery systems and their ability to serve present and future 
  3.6   student populations; 
  3.7      (f) analyze appropriate levels of tuition and student 
  3.8   financial aid; 
  3.9      (g) conduct public hearings designed to solicit testimony 
  3.10  of private citizens, public interest groups, alumni 
  3.11  organizations, or any other interested private groups and 
  3.12  organizations, as well as professors, administrators, students, 
  3.13  and others who are directly affected by that master plan, for 
  3.14  the purpose of soliciting the input of these groups in the 
  3.15  formulation of the commission's recommendations regarding the 
  3.16  master plan; and 
  3.17     (h) recommend necessary statutory changes to the 
  3.18  legislature and the governor. 
  3.19     Subd. 5.  [STAFF.] The commission may employ staff and use 
  3.20  existing staff from the department of finance and from 
  3.21  legislative staff, as the commission deems necessary.  The 
  3.22  post-secondary systems shall provide needed information and 
  3.23  assistance, but shall not staff the commission. 
  3.24     Subd. 6.  [REPORTS.] The commission shall provide a 
  3.25  progress report on its work and initial recommendations to the 
  3.26  governor, the education committees, and the higher education 
  3.27  divisions of the legislature by February 1, 1998.  The 
  3.28  commission shall provide its final report to the same parties by 
  3.29  July 1, 1998, so that the recommendations and plans may be 
  3.30  incorporated in the preparation of the 2000-2001 biennial budget.
  3.31     Subd. 7.  [SUNSET.] The commission shall expire on December 
  3.32  31, 1998. 
  3.33     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATIONS.] 
  3.34     $....... is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal 
  3.35  year 1998 to the legislative coordinating commission for staff, 
  3.36  supplies, equipment, per diem, and related expenses of the 
  4.1   commission established in section 1.  The appropriation shall be 
  4.2   available for the biennium. 
  4.3      Sec. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  4.4      Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.