How To Pass Higher Education Legislation In Michigan

Transcription

1 Michigan Legislative Update MACRAO Conference Midland, Michigan April 11, 2015

2 Higher Education Legislative Actions in Lansing FY16 Budget--Signed into Law M-SARA--Signed into Law College Credit for Military Training and Education Signed into Law Financial Aid Based Legislation Other Higher Education Legislation Road Legislation

3 Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Higher Education: $1.5B Budget. 1.5% increase from FY15. Tuition Grants saw a $500,000 increase to to a total of $33M. State Competitive Scholarships remained at $18.3M and Tuition Incentive Program at $48.5M. Children of Veterans / Officer s Tuition at $1.4M and Project Gear-Up at $3.2M. Community College: $311M Budget. 1.4% increase from FY15.

4 SB M-SARA (Michigan: State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. See Background Information below. The SARA is designed to create uniformity among varying state regulations; reduce the burden on colleges and universities to seek and receive authorizations for online courses in all states; ensure quality; and, preserve consumer protections for students. Midwestern higher education institutions wishing to be part of the M-SARA will need to be authorized by only one state the one they reside in and then will automatically be authorized in all other states that adopt the SARA. This reciprocity agreement is voluntary, both for states that become members, and for the academic institutions that participate. To enable public and private Michigan colleges and universities to participate in M- SARA, legislation was signed into law to create a fee-based central authorization and oversight program in the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. SIGNED INTO LAW: JUNE 9, 2015

5 HB 4060: College Credit for Military Training and Education House Bill 4060 amends the State School Aid Act to require each public university receiving funds under the act to ensure that it does all of the following in its admission application process, if it knows that an applicant for admission is currently serving, or has ever served, as a member of the military, the National Guard, or the military reserves: Inform the applicant that academic credit is available for collegelevel training and education received while serving in the military. Inform the applicant that he or she may submit a transcript of college-level military training and education to the public university. Evaluate any transcript submitted and notify the applicant of the transfer credits that were available to the applicant from collegelevel military training and education. The bill would define "transcript" to includes a joint services transcript prepared for the applicant under the American Council on Education Registry of Credit Recommendations. The bill would take effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law. SIGNED INTO LAW: JUNE 9, 2015

6 Financial Aid Based Legislation HB 4693: Prohibit the use of Michigan promise grants at state universities / community colleges that do not admit the top 15% of state high school graduates. (Referred to the House Committee on Education) HB 4541: Increase cap on Michigan education savings accounts. (Passed in House. Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance)

7 Financial Aid Based Legislation HB 4442: Modify certain eligibility criteria for independent part-time student grants. (Passed House. Referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations) HB 4010: Increase the number of governing bodies authorized to establish promise zones. (Referred to the House Committee on Education)

8 Financial Aid Based Legislation SB 0355: Allow to create a new promise zone if governing body dissolves entity no longer considered certified. (Referred to Senate Committee on Economic Development & International Relations) SB : Revise the statutory limits on the number and aggregate amount of new training agreements and the ability to issue job training revenue bonds. (Passed Senate. Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.)

9 Other Higher Education Legislation HJR O: Require the Open Meetings Act for University Boards. (Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Ethics) HB 4265: Revise annexation by community college district criteria. (Passed House. Referred to the Senate Committee of Education) SB 0098: Allow granting of baccalaureate degrees in certain fields. (Referred to the Committee on Commerce)

10 Other Higher Education Legislation HR 0074: A resolution to encourage Michigan s colleges and universities to promote globally comprehensive education as a part of the curricular and extracurricular life. (Referred to the Committee on Education). HR 0049 / SR0034: A resolution to urge Michigan institutions of higher learning to improve policies, training and victim s services regarding cases of sexual assault and stalking. (Referred to the Committee on Education).

11 Other Higher Education Legislation SB : Encourage and provide procedures for concurrent enrollment arrangements with school districts and community colleges / state universities.

12 Road Funding House Legislation: Committee hearings are complete. Proposed solution is based on capturing future GF / SAF revenues and eliminating current State programs (no HE / CC programs are proposed to be eliminated). Senate Legislation: Currently meeting behind closed doors. Expect to begin hearings in mid-late June and will continue through August. Fiscal Impact: Unknown at this time. If road funding is used from current / future GF or SAF; then there will be an impact on appropriations funding for HE / CC s.

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