HF 2208

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 04/14/2015 10:02am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; establishing the MnSCU campus autonomy act;
clarifying and prescribing the roles of campus authority and system authority
in the MnSCU system; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 136F.06,
subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136F.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 136F.06, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

General authority.

The board shall possess all powers necessary
to govern the state colleges and universities and all related property. Those powers shall
include, but are not limited to, those enumerated in this section. The board shall prescribe
conditions of admission, set tuition and fees, approve programs of study and requirements
for completion of programs, approve the awarding of appropriate certificates, diplomas,
and degrees, enter into contracts and other agreements, and adopt suitable policies for the
institutions it governs. To the extent practicable in deleted text begin protecting deleted text end new text begin balancing new text end statewide interests new text begin
with local needs new text end , the board shall provide autonomy to the campuses deleted text begin while holding them
accountable for their decisions deleted text end . new text begin The board, in addition to other processes, shall consult
with campus presidents when exercising its authority under this subdivision. new text end Sections
14.01 to 14.47 do not apply to policies and procedures of the board.

Sec. 2.

new text begin [136F.401] SELECTION OF PRESIDENTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Scope. new text end

new text begin This section governs the selection of presidents by the board.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Recruitment of candidates. new text end

new text begin The board shall recruit and accept
applications for president. The board must select up to ten candidate finalists and
transmit those names to the local presidential advisory committee convened under section
136F.402. The board must also forward the application and related information of all other
applicants for the president position to the local committee.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Appointment of president. new text end

new text begin The board must appoint the president from the
candidates recommended by the local presidential advisory committee, unless the board
makes a written finding that none of the locally recommended candidates are qualified or
unless a timely recommendation was not received as specified in section 136F.402, and in
those instances, the board may select as president a candidate not recommended by the local
committee. If the board does not appoint a president and decides to commence a new search
for a vacancy, it must repeat the process specified by this section and section 136F.402.
new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin [136F.402] LOCAL PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
new text end

new text begin (a) The board shall convene a local presidential advisory committee to make
recommendations to the board to fill a vacancy in the position of president. The committee
shall be composed of 11 members consisting of the following:
new text end

new text begin (1) two students attending an affected college or university appointed by the student
organization representing students at the campus;
new text end

new text begin (2) two members of the faculty at an affected college or university selected by
the faculty organization;
new text end

new text begin (3) two nonfaculty employee members of an affected college or university appointed
by their employee organization;
new text end

new text begin (4) three members of the public residing in the vicinity of an affected college or
university or otherwise having knowledge of the affected college or university and its
needs appointed by affected campus college or university foundations; and
new text end

new text begin (5) two members who are alumni of the affected college or university appointed
by alumni associations.
new text end

new text begin (b) For the purpose of this section, "affected college or university" means a college
or university for which a presidential vacancy is being filled.
new text end

new text begin (c) The advisory committee must determine the needs of the affected college or
university and recommend presidential candidates to the board who can address those
needs. In making recommendations, the advisory committee must consider the racial and
ethnic composition of the students and communities served by the college or university.
The advisory committee shall interview candidates and may recommend up to four
candidates to the board for consideration by the board. Recommendations by the local
committee must be from the applicants forwarded to the committee by the board, but need
not be from the list of finalists provided by the board. The recommendations must be made
to the board within 120 days of receiving the lists of applicants and finalists and related
application materials from the board under section 136F.401.
new text end

new text begin (d) Members of the advisory committee shall receive no compensation for their
services, but shall be reimbursed by the board for mileage expenses incurred in performing
services for the committee. The advisory committee shall dissolve upon the naming of
the president.
new text end

new text begin (e) The board shall provide administrative and financial support to the advisory
committee to enable it to perform its duties.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin MNSCU REPORT; APPROPRIATE BALANCE OF CENTRALIZED
AND LOCAL AUTHORITY.
new text end

new text begin The Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities must report
by January 15, 2017, and every two years thereafter, to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over higher education
policy and finance on the appropriate balance between centralized systemwide and local
college or university authority regarding campus operations. The report must be guided
by the premise that there are strengths and efficiencies to be obtained by centralizing and
exercising systemwide authority over campus operations and that there are strengths
and efficiencies to be obtained from local college and university authority over campus
operations. A report must identify the various strengths and efficiencies and report on
board policies and practices that maximize those strengths and efficiencies. A report must
include recommendations on changes to current policies, rules, and laws necessary to
maximize local strengths and efficiencies.
new text end