Senate Committee on Education (02/04/2009)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Date:	02/04/2009	ATTENDANCE

Time:	11:06 AM to 11:24 AM	Groff	X
		Heath	*
Place:	SCR 354	Hudak	X
		King K.	*
This Meeting was called to order by		Kopp	*
	Senator Bacon	Spence	X
		Romer	X
This Report was prepared by		Bacon	X
	Jennifer Thomsen
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
SB09-086 SB09-112		Amended, Referred to the Committee of the Whole Referred to the Committee of the Whole

11:06 AM -- Senate Bill 09-086

Senator Tapia, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-086, presented his bill. The bill creates an online university to be known as the Colorado State University (CSU) Global Campus as a third campus in the CSU system. The new school will be a public university under the supervision of the Board of Governors of the CSU system and will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. Senator Tapia described the kinds of students the new university will serve. He talked about the fiscal impact of the bill, and said an amendment he would propose would eliminate out-year fiscal impact.

11:10 AM

The following persons testified:

11:11 AM -- Rich Schweigert, CSU System, testified in support of the bill. He described the increase in the number of students participating in online education. He said the Global Campus is not competing with other higher education institutions in the state, rather it is meant to reach students who would otherwise not be reached. Mr. Schweigert said he worked closely with the community colleges on the amendment, which makes clear that the CSU System is in partnership with the community college system. He said the amendment also addresses College Opportunity Fund (COF) eligibility, making clear that students attending the Global Campus will not be eligible for COF stipends.

Mr. Schweigert responded to questions from the committee, including a question from President Groff about the partnership with community colleges. In addition, he responded to a question from Senator King about how many students would articulate with the community college system.

11:16 AM -- Dr. Nancy McCallin, Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill, if amended. She said the amendment addresses the community colleges' issues. Dr. McCallin told the committee about the number of students enrolled in online programs at the community colleges. She described the community colleges' agreement with CSU Global, which states that CSU Global will provide only upper division courses.

11:18 AM -- Chantel Martinez, representing herself as a student of CSU Global, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Martinez explained how CSU Global is allowing her to finish her college education.

11:19 AM

Senator Heath said the bill is an example of how institutions are coming together, and applauded the cooperation shown in the bill.


BILL:	SB09-086
TIME:	11:21:11 AM
MOVED:	Groff
MOTION:	Moved Amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff
	Heath
	Hudak
	King K.
	Kopp
	Spence
	Romer
	Bacon

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-086
TIME:	11:21:37 AM
MOVED:	Groff
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-086, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a 7-0-1 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Kopp	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Excused
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:22 AM -- Senate Bill 09-112

Senator Kopp, sponsor of Senate Bill 09-112, presented the bill, which will sunset the On-Line Learning Board Advisory Board. The committee held a sunset review for the board on January 14, 2009.


BILL:	SB09-112
TIME:	11:23:25 AM
MOVED:	Kopp
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 09-112 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Kopp	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Bacon	Yes

Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS


BILL:	SB09-112
TIME:	11:23:57 AM
MOVED:	Kopp
MOTION:	Moved that the bill be placed on the consent calendar. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Groff	Yes
	Heath	Yes
	Hudak	Yes
	King K.	Yes
	Kopp	Yes
	Spence	Yes
	Romer	Yes
	Bacon	Yes

Not Final YES: 8 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:24 AM

The committee adjourned.