Date: 01/18/2012
Final
SMART and Jt Rule 25 Briefing by Dept of Higher Education
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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10:58 AM -- SMART Act Briefing by Department of Higher Education
The committee took a brief recess.
Upon the committee's return, Lieutenant Governor Garcia, Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education, came to the table to brief the committee pursuant to the SMART Act (House Bill 10-1119) and Joint Rule 25. The department provided a packet of materials (Attachment B). Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that each institution of higher education has its own master plan. He said critical issues for the department are to improve quality, access, and affordability. He reminded the committee that the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) is the state's central policy and coordinating board, and that its advisory committee includes six legislators. He talked about the need to coordinate better with K-12 education, saying a new appointee to the CCHE might provide that link. Lieutenant Governor Garcia talked about the role of the CCHE and the institutions' governing boards. He said higher education, by design, is not uniform, and that institutions with different roles and missions serve different types of students.
11:13 AM
Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued his remarks, talking about institutions' autonomy, saying they have been given more flexibility in the past several years. He described the department, providing information about the funding for its various divisions, noting that most funding comes from federal funds, grants, and cash funds (fees). Referring to slide 11, he discussed funding for higher education in Colorado.
11:19 AM
Continuing his presentation, Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that there are 31 public institutions in the state, more than 330 private occupational schools, and over 100 degree-granting private colleges. He noted that in public institutions, there are over 250,000 students enrolled, with many of those being part-time students. He explained that the state does not collect enrollment data for private institutions at this time, but legislation may address that issue this year. He provided information on where students are being served.
Senator Johnston asked for clarification regarding the use of the term "Local Districts," which Matt Gianneschi, Deputy Executive Director at the department, provided.
11:24 AM
Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued his remarks, discussing enrollment by gender, noting that female enrollment has exceeded male enrollment for many years. He discussed how the department is planning for demographic changes, specifically the large increase in the Hispanic population in the state. Representative Massey asked how the department is helping Hispanic students, who tend to have a more difficult time navigating the financial aid system. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded, noting the work being done in Denver Public Schools around this, and talking about the reluctance of many Hispanic families to take out loans. He said GEAR UP is working on these issues. Senator Bacon asked whether the department works with K-12 on the needed outreach. Lieutenant Governor Garcia described the work of College In Colorado on this issue.
11:29 AM
Senator King asked for clarification of what is being displayed on the "Minority Share of Education Credentials in Colorado, 2010" chart in the handout. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded to the question from Senator King as well as a question on the same topic from Representative Ramirez. Representative Joshi asked about the number of international students attending higher education institutions in the state. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said all of the institutions are reaching out more aggressively to international students.
Lieutenant Governor Garcia continued, talking about the CCHE master planning timeline and how it ties in with performance contracts required pursuant to state law. He talked about the effort, as directed by Senate Bill 11-052, to set statewide goals. He discussed how the different roles and missions of the institutions impact the goals and outcomes specific to the institutions. He spoke to the institution-specific master plans, and the need to tie state goals to the performance plans.
11:36 AM
Senator Bacon asked how Lieutenant Governor Garcia's remarks tie in to the SMART Act requirements, and Lieutenant Governor Garcia noted that the Senate Bill 11-052 requirements align with the House Bill 10-1119 (SMART Act) requirements, but the timelines do not line up. He then discussed the preliminary statewide goals outlined on page 18 in the handout, saying they will trickle down to the institutions' performance plans. He said there would be a fifth goal added that speaks to economic development.
11:41 AM
Next, Lieutenant Governor Garcia spoke to the Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget request, saying the initial request included a $61 million reduction, but improved revenue projections have resulted in a proposed restoration of the reductions for state-based financial aid. He noted that the reductions mean that public college and university operating funds will have decreased by about 31 percent since Fiscal Year 2009-10, while enrollment has increased by about 28 percent. He noted that the institutions have agreed to the proposed budget.
Senator Heath commented on the budget situation and the challenges faced by the state and the institutions. Representative Peniston asked about textbook costs. Lieutenant Governor Garcia spoke to this issue, noting that high textbook prices is one reason financial aid dollars are so important. Senator Bacon commented on the issue as well, noting the move to electronic textbooks might help alleviate some costs.
Representative Holbert asked if there are any four-year institutions that are providing online courses to first-time freshman students. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said virtually every institution provides online courses to all of their students. He said this has not resulted in a dramatic decrease of cost, but has allowed for more flexibility for students.
11:48 AM
Representative Hamner asked what can be done to enroll and graduate minority students. Lieutenant Governor Garcia responded, saying many times cost is the main barrier to these students. He said the department is working with the K-12 system to graduate more students who are college ready.
Representative Summers asked for clarification about tuition increases and enrollment increases and the impact on funding for institutions. Lieutenant Governor Garcia referred the committee to page 21 of the handout, saying that institutions, even with increased tuition, are receiving almost $500 less per student. He talked about the change in the funding split, saying students are bearing more of the burden than they were 10 years ago. He said families have lost buying power in terms of higher education.
11:53 AM
Representative Ramirez asked for clarification of the charts on pages 23 and 21. Lieutenant Governor Garcia explained that enrollment changes are driving those numbers.
Lieutenant Governor Garcia briefly discussed several legislative initiatives, including one to improve college completion rates. He said CCHE meetings during the legislative session are held in the Capitol, and he invited committee members to attend those meetings.
11:57 AM
Representative Todd asked Lieutenant Governor Garcia to comment on the recent meeting between the CCHE and the institutions' governing boards. Lieutenant Governor Garcia said the department felt it was important to involve the governing boards in the discussions around statewide goals and plans.
11:59 AM
Ed Nichols and Joseph Bell, History Colorado, came to the table to speak to the committee about History Colorado, which is housed in the Department of Higher Education. They provided a packet of materials (Attachment C). Mr. Nichols referred the committee to History Colorado's strategic plan. He also talked about the statewide preservation plan, and invited Education Committee members to tour the new History Colorado Center on February 1.
