Legislatures Leading Change: Developing a Statewide Agenda for Higher Education Productivity Sessions Overview and Presentations
An Institute for Legislative Staff
WICHE/NCHEMS Learning Center
Boulder, Colorado
August 4-6, 2008
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday
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Institute Goals:
- To help legislative staff understand and analyze the pressing higher education funding and policy issues facing states in the next legislative sessions
- To discuss both short-term and long-term policy options and strategies for maintaining a quality system of higher education during changing times
- To examine the possibilities to improve higher education performance and productivity
- To provide time away from state capitols for legislative staff to talk about common issues, problems and possible solutions
Defining and Designing a Public Agenda for Higher Education
This opening conversation will involve participants in a discussion about defining statewide goals and priorities for higher education. This "public agenda" for state higher education needs to focus on improving learning and degree attainment within the limits of constrained resources. What are the challenges facing the nation and the states? What is the role for state legislatures in leading reform?
Discussants:
- Julie Davis Bell, National Conference of State Legislatures
- Pat Callan, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
- Joni Finney, University of Pennsylvania and National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
- Dennis Jones, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems
- David Longanecker, Western Insterstate Commission for Higher Education
[ Handout ] [ Handout ]
Discussion: Knocking on the College Door
This discussion covers important new research from WICHE on changing demographics and the implications for higher education.
Speaker:
- Brian Prescott, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
[ Presentation ] [ Handout ]
Aligning Finance and Accountability
This session will examine the nuts and bolts of higher education budgeting and funding and examine how funding and policy decisions can be better linked. Since funding for higher education will be tight in most states in the years ahead, how can state fiscal policy be shaped to yield desired improvements in productivity? How can legislatures better link funding and accountability?
Speaker:
- Dennis Jones, National Center for Higher Education Managment Systems
[Presentation]
Workshop: Looking Behind the Numbers
Using state profiles, participants will identify specific points along the educational pipeline where their states most need to increase productivity.
Facilitator:
- David Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
[ Presentation ]
Lunch and Discussion: The Legislative Education Staff Network
Facilitators:
- Melodye Bush, Education Commission of the States
- Kathy Christie, Education Commission of the States
- Sara Vitaska, National Conference of State Legislatures
Using Policy to Accomplish State Goals
During this session, we'll discuss options for improving higher education productivity and explore policy choices available to legislatures, utilizing the framework, "Good Policy, Good Practice."
Presenters:
- Pat Callan, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
- Joni Finney, University of Pennsylvania and National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education
- Dennis Jones, National Center for Higher Education Managment Systems
- Vincent Badolato, National Conference of State Legislatures
[ Presentation ] [ Handout ]
Dinner and Discussion: The Role of Legislative Staff in Developing a State Public Agenda for Higher Education
Legislative staff will participate in a robust discussion about how best to build strong relationships with members, offer the highest level of service and ultimately get legislators to tap into staff expertise to strengthen higher education policy. Staff will share their own experiences and develop new strategies to meet these challenges.
Facilitator:
- Julie Pelegrin, Legislative Legal Services, Colorado
Aligning Federal and State Policy
This session will look at federal issues in higher education and examine how states can best maximize current and emerging federal policy.
Presenter:
- David Longanecker, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
[ Presentation ]
Early Commitment Financial Aid Programs
This session will look at some of the new financial aid programs being developed by states to target the students most in need at an early age.
Facilitator:
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