House Committee on Education (03/14/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	03/14/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	10:57 AM to 01:15 PM	Hamner	X
		Holbert	X
Place:	HCR 0112	Joshi	*
		Kerr A.	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Murray	E
	Representative Massey	Peniston	X
		Ramirez	X
This Report was prepared by		Schafer S.	E
	Kristen Johnson	Solano	X
		Summers	X
		Todd	X
		Beezley	X
		Massey	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
HB12-1080 SB12-148 HB12-1155		Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole Amended, Referred to Appropriations

10:58 AM -- House Bill 12-1080

Representative Massey, Chair, made opening remarks and called the meeting to order. He invited Representative Vigil to the table to present his bill.

Representative Vigil, sponsor of House Bill 12-1080, presented the bill. The bill changes the name of Adams State College to Adams State University and makes conforming amendments. The bill also modifies the role and mission of the school to permit a limited number of graduate-level programs. Current law restricts the school to two-year transfer programs, undergraduate degrees, and limited number of master's-level programs only.

The following persons testified:

11:00 AM -- Dr. David Svaldi, President, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Svaldi thanked Representative Vigil for his work on the bill. Dr. Svaldi outlined three reasons for the name change: the school is already operating as a university; the change will benefit students; and the change will contribute to the school's sustainability. He stated that the term "university" is increasingly used to identify four-year institutions of higher education, and that in the states surrounding Colorado, the term is used to identify four-year institutions of higher education. He said that the name change will help students by making them more competitive to potential employers. He said that the school currently has over 800 graduate students in master's-degree programs, and about 3,100 graduate students in professional development courses. He stated that the bill is a cost-effective way to increase enrollment at the school, especially the number of graduate students. He stated that international students especially want the "university" designation in the school's name. He stated that the name change will bring in additional revenue and help to keep tuition costs down at the school.

Representative Ramirez asked about the location of the school and if there are other opportunities for higher education in the immediate vicinity. Dr. Svaldi responded, noting that there is a branch of Trinidad State Junior College very close to Adams State College.

Representative Todd asked what percentage of the school's population comes from within 150 miles of Adams State College. Dr. Michael Mumper, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Program Development, Adams State College, responded that approximately three-quarters of the school's undergraduate students are within 150 miles of the school. He added that less than 10 percent of students come from outside of Colorado.

11:11 AM -- Matthew Martinez, former Marine and current student at Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Martinez stated that Adams State College is becoming a more veteran-friendly school. He stated that with the name change there should be an increase in the number of veteran students who attend Adams State College. He stated that the school's campus already resembles a university and includes new dormitories and a recreation hall. He added that the facilities at Adams State College rival those of Division I schools.

11:13 AM -- Jeni Carter, graduate student, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. She stated that employers who are not local do not understand that Adams State College is not a community college. She discussed her master's degree program at the school, noting its rigor and course load. She added that there is a trend of the term "college" being used to indicate a two-year school.

11:16 AM -- Stephen Valdez, alumni and current Chair of the Board of Trustees, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Valdez stated that the Board of Trustees is responsible for the financial health of the school. He stated that the school has record-breaking enrollment, has increased its program offerings, and has been innovative. He stated that the challenge is not just to balance the budget, but to be sustainable. He stated that higher education gives people the key to transforming their lives. He added that the school is already doing the work of a university.

11:19 AM -- Ann Rice, Trustee, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Rice agreed with Mr. Valdez's comments and discussed her experience as a board member at other institutions. She stated that the bill provides a critical tool to the school.

11:20 AM -- Tim Walters, Trustee, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Walters described his long family history of being involved with Adams State College. He stated that the name change is the next step in moving forward for the school. He stated that the school serves 50,000 on-line program students and that they are from over fifteen different countries.

11:22 AM

Representative Solano commented on tuition increases and asked the witnesses to address what is being done at Adams State College in the realm of tuition. Mr. Walters responded that Adams State College is below their competition in terms of tuition pricing. He stated that what bothers him most is the pull away from public education to a more privatized system. He stated that this is not good for those students who really cannot afford to get a postsecondary education.

Representative Todd asked what percentage of students at the school are veterans, and if the federal GI Bill is helping to increase the number of students who are veterans. Dr. Michael Mumper returned to the table to respond, saying that the percentage of veterans has increased significantly, but that veterans make up less than 5 percent of the school's total enrollment. He added that the GI Bill provides more opportunities for the school to recruit veterans.

Representative Solano asked if the name change will help with recruitment. Ms. Rice responded that it will. She stated that it will help greatly with distance learning as graduate students in on-line distance learning courses want a school with "university" in its name.

11:26 AM -- Nathan Cherpeski, City Manager, City of Alamosa, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Cherpeski stated that Adams State College and the City of Alamosa have partnered in many ways. He stated that as Adams State College works to increase its competitiveness, the city needs to work to keep the school around. He stated that when he is working on economic development for the city, he frequently has to explain to visitors and business owners that Adams State College is a four-year university. He added that the name change will help to keep the school competitive and the San Luis Valley competitive.

11:28 AM -- Dr. Michael Mumper, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Program Development, Adams State College, testified in support of the bill. He stated that as the school tries to recruit more and better students, they run into the name issue. He stated that the name "college" increasingly refers to two-year schools that offer only undergraduate programs. He stated that the school currently has 840 graduate students across eight graduate programs. He stated that potential students think that only "universities" offer graduate degrees and that changing the school's name clarifies who and what the school is. He discussed the results of a survey that was administered to students, alumni, and the community, concerning the name change. He added that the bill clarifies the school's mission and increases its appeal to under-served populations.


BILL:	HB12-1080
TIME:	11:34:48 AM
MOVED:	Todd
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1080 to the House Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 10-1.
SECONDED:	Ramirez
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	No
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:39 AM -- Senate Bill 12-148

Representative Duran, sponsor of Senate Bill 12-148, presented the bill. The bill changes the name of Metropolitan State College of Denver to Metropolitan State University of Denver.

The following persons testified:

11:40 AM -- Dawn Bookhardt, member of the Board of Trustees, Metropolitan State College of Denver (Metro), testified in support of the bill. Ms. Bookhardt stated that she is very proud to be a member of the Board of Trustees and takes her responsibility seriously and personally. She stated that Metro is fully committed to providing high quality, affordable education to a diverse and nontraditional community. She stated that the name change conveys respect for the school's roots and its students, and reflects the value of the Metro degree. She added that the institution will continue to break down barriers for students who want a respected degree from a well-respected institution.

Representative Hamner stated that she is surprised that the University of Denver (DU) is supportive of the name change, and asked Ms. Bookhardt to speak to that. Ms. Bookhardt responded, describing the three-year process to come to a consensus, stating that Metro worked with DU to create a coexistance agreement that spells out how the names will be used. She added that they have come to a final accord that is beneficial to both parties.

Representative Beezley asked about alumni of Metro and if their diplomas and transcripts would reflect the university name. Ms. Bookhardt deferred the question to the next witness.

11:47 AM -- Dr. Stephen Jordan, President, Metro, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Jordan discussed the process for coming up with the new name for Metro, stating that it was a three-year process that included several stakeholder conversations, preference surveys, focus groups, and meetings with business leaders. He stated that more than 10,000 people have participated in the process. He stated that the name change will show the evolution of the school, noting that the school currently has 24,000 students, grants one-fifth of all baccalaureate degrees in Colorado, and serves the most students of color of any other institution of higher education in Colorado. He discussed the success of Metro's nursing program, and a recent accolade the school received from the Mathematical Association of America for being one of the top fifteen schools in teaching calculus. He stated that 97 percent of the students at Metro are Colorado residents and that the school serves more transfer students in Colorado than any other institution of higher education, making Metro an affordable way to pursue a bachelor's degree and serving those students who might otherwise not be able to afford a four-year degree. He discussed the idea of having two universities sharing the same campus. He discussed the value that will be added to students' and alumni resumes as a result of the name change, stating that alumni will be able to receive diplomas and transcripts designated with the school's new name.

The committee congratulated Dr. Jordan on the work that Metro is doing.

12:00 PM -- Milroy Alexander, alumni, Metro, testified in support of the bill. He gave background of his career and experience at Metro. He stated that he likes the affordability and diversity of Metro. He stated that, in his belief, the name change will have a positive impact on Colorado's economy. He added that Metro has earned the right to be called a university.

12:07 PM -- Caitlin Gibbons, student, Metro, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Gibbons gave background of her time as a student at Metro, stating that she has had many amazing opportunities by attending the school. She stated that she wants future employers to understand that she attended a four-year school. She stated that Metro is a solution to the Colorado Paradox, noting that 75 percent of Metro alumni stay in Colorado after graduating.

12:10 PM -- Jesse Altun, student, Metro, testified in support of the bill. He stated that the name change will allow Metro to be represented exactly as it is, a university. He added that Metro's students and alumni contribute greatly to Colorado.

Representative Duran made closing statements to the bill.


BILL:	SB12-148
TIME:	12:14:15 PM
MOVED:	Todd
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 12-148 to the House Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Beezley
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

12:17 PM -- House Bill 12-1155

Representative Massey, sponsor of House Bill 12-1155, presented the bill. The bill concerns measures to increase the timely completion of postsecondary degrees. The bill:

specifies the minimum indicators of a student's academic performance that institutions of higher education use to determine the eligibility of first-time freshman and transfer students;
modifies the policies that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) establishes by which state institutions of higher education offer remedial education and ensures that the policies align with admissions policies;
requires the Department of Higher Education (DHE) to share the annual enrollment report with the Colorado Department of Education, in addition to other education policy makers;
clarifies the CCHE's authority in defining an institution's role and mission;
reduces a student's lifetime limit of College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipends from 145 to 140 credit hours;
directs the CCHE to adopt policies to reduce the lifetime limit for state supplied need-based financial aid from 145 to 140 credit hours;

prohibits a student from receiving COF stipends for any course in which he or she has been enrolled two or more times and received a grade of incomplete; and
requires the CCHE to analyze the effects of reducing COF and financial aid eligibility to inform the CCHE's recommendations for models of performance funding in higher education.

The following persons testified:

12:21 PM -- Dick Kaufman, CCHE, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Kaufman discussed the need to have more Coloradans hold degrees, noting the gap between degrees held and workforce demands. He stated that the bill allows colleges to use a host of criteria to determine student needs and will allow schools to work with students to complete their degrees in as little time as possible. He said that the bill will increase the attainment of degrees and improve student success. He discussed remedial education, saying that the bill provides a less expensive way to deal with remediation.

12:26 PM -- Dr. Matt Gianneschi, Deputy Executive Director, DHE, testified in support of the bill. He provided a packet of handouts to the committee members (Attachment A). He stated that the focus of the bill is to increase college completion in Colorado. He discussed the process for determining student eligibility for admission to Colorado's public colleges and universities.

Representative Peniston asked how access to Colorado's public colleges and universities will be impacted by the bill. Dr. Gianneschi responded that he does not see any way that the bill would harm access for students. He added that the bill provides greater supports for students, rather than taking support away.

Representative Hamner asked how the COF stipends would be impacted by the bill. Representative Massey responded, referring the committee to Amendment L.004 (Attachment B) and Amendment L.005 (Attachment C), and stated that he is trying to stretch COF stipends. He added that the whole purpose is to drive timely completion of degrees and to make sure that COF moneys go as far as possible for the students who really need it. Representative Peniston asked clarifying questions. Dr. Gianneschi responded, stating that a student who fails a course twice will not be eligible to use their COF stipend to attempt the course a third time; the student will be responsible for paying the full resident tuition for that course.

Dr. Gianneschi and the committee discussed the performance indicators that appear on page three of the printed bill.

12:49 PM -- Bruce Vandal, Education Commission of the States (ECS), testified on the bill. He stated that one of the main areas of focus at ECS is on increasing completion rates. He stated that more has been learned about why students are failing in developmental education courses and the bill addresses many of the research findings about what needs to be done to prevent failure. He discussed three keys provisions of the bill, including: allowing supplemental instruction at the four-year university; the use of multiple assessments to determine readiness for college; and distinguishing math components that are relevant to the student's chosen career path or course of study. He stated that whatever can be done to reduce the load on students will lead to greater success.

Representative Solano asked how the bill fits in with the state's current requirement that all students take the ACT. Mr. Vandal responded that they support the use of college entrance exams, but they also support the consideration of other measures to assess students' strengths and readiness for college.

12:57 PM -- Dr. Stephen Jordan, President, Metropolitan State College of Denver (Metro), testified in support of the bill. He stated that the bill is another tool to facilitate increased retention and graduation rates. He talked about the new student success building on his school's campus, which will allow students to receive supplemental education. He stated that faculty at Metro have already begun to create curricula in math and English in anticipation.

01:00 PM -- Nate Easley, representing himself as a subject matter expert, testified in support of the bill. He discussed the bill, noting that he supports the bill because it puts policies in place for determining student remedial education needs during the admissions process; it lays a foundation for supplemental education; and it allows students to keep attending and receiving credit for college courses while completing their remedial education.

01:03 PM -- Dr. Frank Waterous, Senior Policy Analyst, The Bell Policy Center, testified on the bill. He provided his testimony in a handout to the committee members (Attachment D). He stated that The Bell Policy Center is in an amend position on the bill. Dr. Waterous discussed the provisions of the bill that The Bell Policy Center does not support, including: supplemental academic instruction credits should not count against the student's lifetime COF limit; the lowering of the COF lifetime limit from 145 to 140 credit hours; and limiting students' lifetime eligiblity for state-funded, need-based financial aid to 140 credit hours.

Representative Todd asked if the bill puts more responsibility on high school students by providing a clearer picture of what needs to be done to avoid remediation. Dr. Waterous responded that the bill moves students into a better position to work with people at the college to get the support they need. He added that it will provide better information to the student, so that students know what they need and know what is available to them in the form of support.

Committee discussion of Amendments L.004 (Attachment B) and L.005 (Attachment C) ensued. The committee determined that those two amendments should not be moved at this time. Representative Massey discussed Amendment L.003 (Attachment E).


BILL:	HB12-1155
TIME:	01:07:58 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Adopt prepared Amendment L.003 (Attachment E). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Todd
		VOTE
	Hamner
	Holbert
	Joshi
	Kerr A.
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston
	Ramirez
	Schafer S.	Excused
	Solano
	Summers
	Todd
	Beezley
	Massey

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

01:09 PM

Representative Massey provided closing remarks to the bill.


BILL:	HB12-1155
TIME:	01:12:02 PM
MOVED:	Massey
MOTION:	Refer House Bill 12-1155, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a roll call vote of 11-0.
SECONDED:	Hamner
		VOTE
	Hamner	Yes
	Holbert	Yes
	Joshi	Yes
	Kerr A.	Yes
	Murray	Excused
	Peniston	Yes
	Ramirez	Yes
	Schafer S.	Excused
	Solano	Yes
	Summers	Yes
	Todd	Yes
	Beezley	Yes
	Massey	Yes

Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:15 PM

The committee adjourned.