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Second Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. R98­0938.01 JAP

STATE OF COLORADO




BY REPRESENTATIVE G. Berry

EDUCATION

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 98-1037


WHEREAS, The current governance structure for higher education in the state of Colorado was established through legislation enacted in 1985; and

WHEREAS, The demand and need for higher education has increased significantly since 1985; and

WHEREAS, An overall review of changes to the higher education governance structure in the state has not been conducted since 1985; and

WHEREAS, The voters of Colorado adopted in section 20 of article X of the state constitution in 1992, which limits the fee and tax revenues that may be collected by the state; and

WHEREAS, Tuition and higher education fees are subject to the limitations imposed in section 20 of article X of the state constitution and impact the state's overall revenue calculations; and

WHEREAS, One effect of the revenue limitations imposed section 20 of article X of the state constitution is to force state government, including higher education, to reexamine its existing method of delivering services and determine whether such services may be delivered in a more efficient and cost­effective manner; and

WHEREAS, The higher education needs of specific geographic areas of the state, particularly the rural areas, are not being adequately served under the current higher education governance structure; and

WHEREAS, Advances in technology and distance learning should be explored in the context of their potential to improve the provision of higher education services; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty­first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

(1)  That the staff of the Legislative Council shall conduct a study of the higher education governance system in the state of Colorado. The study shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(a)  Examination of the existing higher education governance structure in the state of Colorado and, to the extent necessary, an update of the postsecondary education organizational chart;

(b)  Examination of the higher education governance structures in other states, including, to the extent necessary, obtaining information and assessments from higher education experts concerning higher education systems in other states;

(c)  Identification of unnecessary duplication in the areas of administrative oversight, reporting, curriculum, and personnel management in higher education governance;

(d)  Collection of fiscal data from each higher education governing board in the state relating to administrative costs, including but not limited to "charge backs" assessed against institutions;

(e)  Examination of annual campus maintenance costs, including but not limited to costs of deferred maintenance;

(f)  Collection of information concerning capital construction needs for all facilities owned or operated by state institutions of higher education;

(g)  Determination of projected enrollment growth or decline at state institutions of higher education during the next five years;

(h)  Examination of the current use of distance learning techniques and technologies by state institutions of higher education and the potential for increased use of distance learning techniques and technologies in meeting future demand for higher education services, especially in rural areas of the state;

(i)  The potential for increased use of privatization in obtaining and applying distance learning techniques and technologies by state institutions of higher education;

(j)  Review of the role and mission statement for each state institution of higher education. In reviewing the institutional role and mission statements, the legislative council staff shall solicit evaluations of the applicability and relevance of each institution's role and mission statement from the respective institution and the Colorado commission on higher education;

(k)  Examination and identification of the geographic distribution of graduate education programs throughout the state, including but not limited to the sources and accessibility of such programs, particularly in the rural areas of the state; and

(l)  Examination of migration among higher education students, including but not limited to why students choose to attend or leave particular institutions.

(2)  That the department of higher education, the Colorado commission on higher education, the governing boards of the state institutions of higher education, and the state institutions of higher education shall cooperate with and, as requested, assist the Legislative Council staff in completing the study required in this joint resolution.

(3)  That the Legislative Council staff shall complete the study required in this joint resolution and deliver a report of the study results to each member of the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate and the Joint Budget Committee of the General Assembly on or before October 15, 1998. In addition, the Legislative Council staff shall provide a copy of said report to any member of the General Assembly upon request.

(4)  That, during the first full week of the first regular session of the sixty­second general assembly, the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate and the Joint Budget Committee of the General Assembly shall hold a joint meeting to consider the report prepared by the Legislative Council staff pursuant to this joint resolution. The agenda for the joint Education Committee and Joint Budget Committee meeting shall include but shall not be limited to the following issues:

(a)  How to address the growth or decline in higher education projected for the next five years;

(b)  How to meet the higher education needs of diverse populations, including but not limited to the needs of persons living in rural areas of the state;

(c)  How state institutions of higher education can more effectively and cost­efficiently use distance learning to meet the needs of higher education and the demands of populations throughout the state, including consideration of appropriate areas for privatization in the delivery of distance learning services;

(d)  How the existing higher education governance structure may be consolidated or otherwise realigned to more effectively and efficiently meet the administrative needs and the goals of state institutions of higher education, including but not limited to the fiscal impact of any consolidation or realignment;

(e)  Whether the role and mission statements for the state institutions of higher education should be updated;

(f)  Whether the existing physical facilities and human resources at state institutions of higher education may be managed and used in a more efficient and cost­effective manner;

(g)  The distribution and organization of higher education campuses throughout the state, including but not limited to whether the existing campus structures are the most efficient and effective means of delivering higher education services to persons in all areas of the state;

(h)  Any legislative changes that may be necessary to improve the existing state system of higher education to enhance productivity and efficiency in the statewide delivery of higher education services to the people of Colorado.

(5)  That representatives from the Colorado commission on higher education and from each higher education governing board in the state shall attend the joint meeting required in this joint resolution and provide recommendations addressing each of the issues identified as agenda items for the joint meeting.

(6)  That all expenditures incurred while conducting the study required by this joint resolution shall be approved by the chairperson of the Legislative Council and paid as provided by law from moneys allocated to the Legislative Council for legislative studies from appropriations made by the General Assembly.


Created: 4/16/98 Updated: 4/16/98