Legislative Overview for Board Regents

2011 Legislative Session Report
Presented by: David Buhler
Associate Commissioner for Public Affairs
March 25, 2011

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Advocacy
Five Regional Legislative previews
Worked with key allies including:
Salt Lake Chamber
Prosperity 2020
Friends of Utah Higher Education
The United Way
Governor’s Educational Excellence Commission

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Advocacy
Higher Education Luncheon February 28 in the Capitol rotunda
Brought together Board of Regents, Presidents, Trustee Chairs and Vice Chairs with Legislators
Over 60 Legislators participated including Senate President and Lt. Governor

Budget
Overview

2011-12 Budget
Governor proposed a flat budget with no additional state funding cuts
Legislature recommended 7% across-the-board budget
Would have resulted in a cut of $47 Million
Would have totaled 19% or about $140 Million in cuts since 2008
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$ $ $ $ $ $ $

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2011-12 Budget
Ended up with:
2.5% cut totaling $12.7M. However, we received:
$888,000 ongoing for scholarships
$1.7M ongoing for USU Vet Program
Board of Regents also received one-time funding of $5.5 Million for Governor’s Commission initiatives, including:
Launching Mission Based Funding
Providing online concurrent enrollment courses
Expanding the Utah Cluster Acceleration Program (UCAP)
Aligning education and workforce data
Enhancing/improving UtahFutures.org

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Capital Facilities
Legislature bonded several state projects
Three Higher Education projects
Total of $48.5 Million

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Capital Facilities
Total of $221.5 Million in state support for USHE capital facility projects in the past three years.

Legislation

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Top Priority Legislation
Passed
SB 97, Higher Education Mission Based Funding
Sponsored by: Senator Stephen Urquhart
Creates a way to direct new state dollars to priorities based on institutional mission.
More about Mission Based Funding later…

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Passed
SB 107, Higher Education Success Stipend
Sponsored by: Senator Wayne Niederhauser
Revamps and replaces Utah’s need-based financial aid program “UCOPE” with “Success Stipends”
Distribution to Pell-eligible students

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Passed
SB 145, Utah Educational Savings Plan Amendments
Sponsored by: Senator Wayne Niederhauser
Makes modifications to help the Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP) continue to be nationally competitive

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USHE Opposed Legislation
Failed
HB 377, Higher Education Textbook Fairness Act
Effort to reduce textbook costs
Would have required separate bids for every textbook
HB 485, Higher Education Tenure
Prohibited from offering tenure-track or new tenure after July 2011
House Education Committee voted against 9-3

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USHE Opposed Legislation
Failed
HJR 37, State Spending Limitations
Would have frozen spending at current levels
Unlikely that Higher Ed spending could increase
Did not exempt tuition collections from spending cap
Impossible to educate more students

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Mission Based Funding

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Regents’ Role (Lines 101-108)

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Presidents’ Role (Lines 153-157)

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For example…

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Accountability (Lines 166-170)
SB 97, Higher Education Mission Based Funding was signed by the Governor on March 18, 2011

Observations

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Observations
In this year’s session, Legislators were…
Juggling other priorities and mandatory appropriations
Increasingly interested in delving into higher education issues including:
Retention and Completion
Advising
Aligning Workforce and Higher Education

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Observations
Issues that need attention throughout the rest of the year
Regent policies on tenure
Mission Based Funding implementation
CTE vis a vis UCAT
One time funding toward Governor’s Educational Excellence Commission
Legislative acceptance/awareness on the variety of institution roles and missions

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Thank You to
Board Chair, Vice-Chair and Regents
Commissioner
Associate and Assistant Commissioners
Director of Communications
Executive Directors of UHEAA and UESP
Commissioner’s Office Staff
Institution Legislative Liaisons
Legislative and Governor’s Office Staff
Utah Student Association
For your support and assistance throughout the entire Legislative session.

Legislative Overview for Board Regents

by HigherEdUtah on Mar 25, 2011

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Legislative Overview for Board Regents — Presentation Transcript