Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:12/17/2013
ATTENDANCE
Time:01:07 PM to 02:50 PM
Buckner
X
Court
X
Place:LSB A
Everett
*
Fields
A
This Meeting was called to order by
Holbert
X
Representative Hamner
Johnston
E
Marble
X
This Report was prepared by
McNulty
*
Lisa Gezelter
Murray
X
Peniston
X
Pettersen
*
Priola
*
Renfroe
E
Scheffel
*
Todd
X
Wilson
X
Young
X
Zenzinger
X
Kerr
X
Hamner
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Presentation by the Department of Higher Education
Presentation by History Colorado		Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only


01:07 PM -- Presentation by the Department of Higher Education

Representative Hamner welcomed the committee, the representatives of the Department of Higher Education (DHE), and audience members. She introduced Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, who welcomed the opportunity to discuss the direction of DHE. He provided the committee members with an overview of his presentation and a copy of the department's master plan, "Colorado Competes" (Attachment A).

13JtEd1217AttachA.pdf13JtEd1217AttachA.pdf

01:08 PM

Lt. Governor Garcia remarked that he would first provide a snapshot of higher education in Colorado, then move into a discussion of the SMART Act requirements.







01:10 PM

Lt. Governor Garcia discussed the role of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE), the roles played by institutional governing boards, and the role of the department.

Lt. Governor Garcia discussed the department's two main divisions funded by appropriations - the executive office and the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS). He offered that the other four divisions receive largely federal funds or funds from other sources.


01:15 PM

Lt. Governor Garcia offered a snapshot of higher education in Colorado. He provided statistical data about Colorado's public institutions of higher education and commented that the department will get better reporting from private institutions in the future.

The Lt. Governor spoke about how the department intends to plan for demographic changes. He discussed the state's future workforce needs as well as demographic populations that lag behind in degree attainment.


01:23 PM

Lt. Governor Garcia offered evidence that the department is meeting its challenges with innovative policies, changing approaches and focusing not just on enrolling new students but on graduating them. He discussed the department's efforts to measure the performance of institutions with greater accountability and transparency. According to Lt. Governor Garcia, the department has set goals in its master plan, but gives institutions autonomy to create their own strategic plans. Lt. Governor Garcia mentioned that those institutional plans need to address the four goals in the statewide master plan:

• increase degree attainment; He expressed the department's intention to meet these goals through individual performance contracts with each institution. These contracts will ensure that institutions are achieving the goals set by the department. The department recently completed its performance funding allocation plan.


01:28 PM
Lt. Governor Garcia declared that the department has completed about half the requirements set forth in statute. It has finished its performance funding allocation plan and is now gathering data from institutions to report to the legislature so funds can be awarded when available.












01:28 PM

Lt. Governor Garcia spoke about the department's budget request. He explained that tuition has grown as operating dollars have been cut by the state and stated that the department got a commitment from institutions that tuition would not rise more than 6 percent, but conveyed his expectation that the average hike will be closer to 3 or 4 percent. Lt. Governor Garcia expressed his expectation that the increased budget request will allow for the advancement of the department's master plan goals. He explained how the department intends to allocate its funding under the current budget request. Lt. Governor Garcia discussed the various types of aid institutions provide to students.

He discussed the department's intent to use financial aid for institutions to incentivize degree attainment. He relayed the department's intent to provide incentives to institutions that keep students moving through school.

Lt. Governor Garcia provided information about smaller parts of the department's budget request, including $836,000 for Ft Lewis College Native American tuition waivers. Currently, the state pays all tuition for Native Americans who enroll at Ft Lewis, whether or not they are Colorado residents. The Lt. Governor also discussed the $250,000 budget request for the Dependent Tuition Assistance Program, which assists students whose parents are disabled first responders.

Lt. Governor Garcia mentioned StudyColorado, an effort by the department to increase the number of international students coming to Colorado. Higher education institutions use non-resident and international tuition to subsidize in-state students, according to the Lt. Governor.

The Lt. Governor responded to questions from the committee.


02:28 PM -- Presentation by History Colorado

Ed Nichols, President, and Joseph Bell, Vice-President for Finance, Facilities, and Regional Museums, History Colorado introduced themselves. They distributed a packet of information to committee members (Attachment B).

13JtEd1217AttachB.pdf13JtEd1217AttachB.pdf

Mr. Nichols invited the legislators back for another tour of the History Colorado's new museum. He stated that there are now more exhibits open and that FY 2012-13 was the busiest year in the recent history of History Colorado. He discussed the opening of the organization's new facility in April 2012; how History Colorado continues to work with regional museums; and how it is enhancing and opening new education programs.














Mr. Nichols stated that pursuant to Colorado law,, History Colorado is an educational institution of the state, but that it has its own independent board.

Mr. Nichols discussed History Colorado's 3 goals, including:

• Audience enhancement;
• Collections stewardship; and
• Sustainability

Mr. Nichols explained the organization's goal of audience enhancement. He stated that History Colorado aims to inspire love of, connection to, and engagement with Colorado history. He stated that this is best illustrated by opening numbers for the new museum. Having closed the old museum in 2010, the last full year saw 57,000 paid visitors at that facility. The new museum in its first year served 132,000 paid visitors plus 5,000 researchers in the library.

With educational outreach, staff reached 32,000 K-12 students in the past year, including 6,000 students from Title I schools throughout the state and over 1,500 experiences with at-risk students. Staff created two take-out programs to send to schools. Last year staff sent 9,700 take-out kits and 16,000 artifact kits. History Colorado continued its Old Stories, New Voices camp for underprivileged students at Fort Garland and is developing digital learning courses for students. Additionally, staff provided teacher training, and collaborated with CDE on the new social studies assessment. History Colorado provided 1,700 teacher professional development opportunities.

Mr. Nichols stated that staff implemented a series of adult education programs including a series of meetings called "Forward," related to diversity and promoting civic conversation. Staff participated in the Colorado Public Broadcasting Service series "Rocky Mountain Experience" and put on public programs that included live performers.

Mr. Nichols discussed the importance of volunteers. He stated that History Colorado has over 475 volunteers statewide, including over 260 in the History Colorado Center. Volunteers provided 31,000 hours to the organization last year, a $700,000 value. Mr. Nichols stated that History Colorado has seen an increase in membership as well, having over 8,400 member families.

Mr. Nichols discussed exhibits. Staff opened a series of exhibits, supplemented by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) diorama from the old museum. Traveling exhibits, such as the Jefferson Bible, were added as well. History Colorado was the only museum allowed to share the Smithsonian Institution's exhibit on the Jefferson Bible. There was an exhibit on the American Soldier (from the Civil War through Afghanistan). Active military are admitted to the museum free of charge, and many came to the American Soldier exhibit. Staff also provides educational programs relating to preservation. Classes are held throughout the state. Additionally, History Colorado was selected by the Smithsonian as a regional host location for the National Youth Summit during the summer of 2014.


02:42 PM

Mr. Nichols discussed his second goal, collection stewardship. History Colorado is the holder of the state's artifact collection, which contains 134 years' worth of artifacts. These were inventoried as History Colorado moved into its new facility. Staff has begun additional inventorying in regional facilities.








Mr. Nichols discussed the third goal, sustainability. He explained the organization's efforts to continue building an effective and financially robust organization. He stated the organization seeks to augment audience programs, where it can draw additional individuals into the facility. Mr. Nichols explained that staff members provide support to organizations throughout the state and that History Colorado continues to leverage partnerships.

Mr. Nichols discussed how History Colorado assists communities throughout the state via the State Historical Fund. Over $6.6 million in funds have been granted to projects in all 64 counties. Staff interacts with local governments and with tribal governments. Staff participated in an agreement regarding repatriation and reburial of Native American remains.

Mr. Nichols clarified his budget change request. The cash fund request of almost $500,000 would be to continue public outreach, and the $45,000 cash fund request is to true-up utility costs.


02:47 PM

Mr. Nichols and Mr. Bell responded to questions from the committee.