SF 1186

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities; providing for centers of excellence;
appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 136F.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [136F.31] CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Board designation. new text end

new text begin The board must
designate at least three and up to eight different program
centers of excellence. The board must determine the form and
required information contained in applications from member
institutions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Center selection criteria. new text end

new text begin The board must
select programs based on institutional proposals demonstrating:
new text end

new text begin (1) the capacity to build multistate regional or national
recognition of the program within five years;
new text end

new text begin (2) a commitment to expanding the influence of the center
to improve results in related programs in participating
institutions;
new text end

new text begin (3) the capacity to improve employment placement and income
expectations of graduates from the program;
new text end

new text begin (4) a strong partnership between a four-year and at least
one two-year institution that maximizes the leverage of academic
and training capacities in each institution;
new text end

new text begin (5) a comprehensive academic plan that includes a seamless
continuum of academic offerings in the program area that
supports career development at multiple levels in related
employment fields;
new text end

new text begin (6) a specific development plan that includes a description
of how the institution will pursue continuous improvement and
accountability;
new text end

new text begin (7) identified commitments from employers that include
measurable financial and programmatic commitment to the center
of excellence on the part of employers who will benefit from the
development of the center. A center for teacher education must
demonstrate support from local school districts;
new text end

new text begin (8) a commitment from the institution that the new
designated funding will not supplant current budgets from
related programs;
new text end

new text begin (9) a strong existing program upon which the proposed
center will build; and
new text end

new text begin (10) a separate fund for donations dedicated for the
program within current institutional foundations.
new text end

new text begin The board may adopt additional criteria that promote
general goals of the centers. The board shall give priority to
programs that integrate the academic and training outcomes of
the center with business clusters that have a significant
multiplier effect on the state's economy based on projections of
job, income, or general economic growth. The board shall
consult with the Department of Employment and Economic
Development to identify these clusters and the potential
economic impact of developing a center for excellence.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Advisory committee and reports required. new text end

new text begin A
center of excellence must create an advisory committee
representing local, statewide, and national leaders in the
field. By January 15 of each odd-numbered year, each designated
center must provide a report to the governor and the chairs of
committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over higher
education finance, that includes annual and integrated data on
program enrollment, student demographics, student admission
data, endowment growth, graduation rates, graduation outcomes,
employer involvement, indicators of student or graduate
employment success, and other outcomes as determined by the
board. After a center has been in existence for three years,
the report must include measures of the program's impact on the
local economy. A report under this subdivision must also
include the use of any funds made available by a legislative
appropriation for incentive payments to faculty or staff.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2006 and $....... in fiscal year
2007 are appropriated from the general fund to the Board of
Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for
the purposes of section 1.
new text end