Higher Education Funding Study Council Minutes – May 11, 2006 Representative Shawn Webster, Chair
Council members in attendance were: Representative Shawn Webster Representative Jimmy Stewart Representative Peter Ujvagi Senator Randy Gardner Senator Joy Padgett Senator Kimberly Zurz Vice-Chancellor Rich Petrick, Board of Regents Chairman Ed Adams, Board of Regents Dr. Jack Brose, Ohio Council of Medical School Deans Dr. Sidney Ribeau, IUC Dr. Morris Beverage, OACC Dr. Ronald Abrams, OACC alternate Dr. Jean Scott, AICUO Shaun Yoder, Office of Governor Taft
Discussion with BAHEE Executive Director Reggie Wilkinson BAHEE Executive Director Reggie Wilkinson spoke with the HEFSC about his background and enthusiasm for beginning his new role with BAHEE. HEFSC members brought the following issues to Director Wilkinson’s attention: • Topic 1, recommendation 10 – “Develop applied baccalaureate degrees at Ohio public universities that are fully articulated with community college associate degrees to meet the changing requirements of the workplace as determined with BAHEE involvement.” • Topic 2, recommendation 2 – “To propose adoption/implementation of CHEE Recommendation #9 – ‘Forge a compact among higher education, the business community, and state government to strengthen accountability for increasing college preparation and expanding research and commercialization.’” Director Wilkinson agreed to work with the HEFSC, the legislature and the Higher Education community on these and other issues in the future.
Review and revise preliminary recommendations on Topics 1-3 The Council reviewed, revised and tentatively agreed to its recommendations. See the attached Updated HEFSC Compilation Document 5-11-6 for the most recent recommendations. Four recommendations need additional work before inclusion in the report: • Topic 1, recommendation 1 – “Tuition Certainty.” – Rep. Webster, Rep. Ujvagi and Sen. Gardner will work on this recommendation. • Topic 2, recommendation 3 – “Create a study group on state regulations chaired by the Governor’s office due Nov. 1st.” – Shaun Yoder is working to revise this language. • Topic 2, recommendation 4 – “Provide resources to identify, promote, maintain and recognize existing best practices.” – This recommendation was suggested by Dr. Nora. The HEFSC agreed to ask her for additional details on this recommendation. Topic 2, recommendation 5 – “Graduate and Professional education” – Dr. Ribeau and Rich Petrick are working to further refine this recommendation.
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The HEFSC also discussed whether to recommend that the $30 million appropriated in HB 66 be appropriated to the SSI, or to a program to promote additional STEM2 graduates. The HEFSC tentatively agreed to recommend that the $30 million be appropriated to the SSI, and that the Regent’s STEM2 Challenge proposal should be considered as a separate recommendation of the Council. Senator Zurz distributed a letter, dated May 11, detailing issues she feels the HEFSC recommendations do not go far enough to address, such as lowering the cost of tuition to all Ohioans and reducing the time to degree completion. Copies of this letter are available by contacting Chairman Webster’s or Senator Zurz’s offices. Senator Zurz intends to produce a minority report, separate from the HEFSC report, expressing her concerns. Chairman Webster envisions all the recommendations in the final HEFSC report appearing in a format similar to that of Topic 3, recommendation 8 in the Updated HEFSC Compilation Document 5-11-06. This recommendation is proceeded by background information describing the problem that led to the recommendation. He requested that those who originally submitted recommendations submit brief background information on them to his office by 5-16-06.
Future Scheduled Meetings May 25th 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Riffe Center, 12th floor conference room