NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Transforming Higher Education: The
NCSL Blue Ribbon Commission
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
NCSL Goals
•To improve the quality and
effectiveness of state legislatures
•To foster interstate
communication and cooperation
•To ensure legislatures a strong,
cohesive voice in the federal
system
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Blue Ribbon Commission on Higher
Education
 Bipartisan commission appointed in 2005
 Generous support from the Lumina

Foundation for Education
Met over 18 months to:
– Study higher ed performance
– Challenges facing states, students, and
institutions
– Legislative role in both creating problems
and leading to future solutions
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Commission's Report
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Released October 2006
Calls on legislators to:
– Learn how past actions
contributed to current
problems
– Make higher ed a priority
– Rethink policy as part of
economic development
– Improve knowledge and
information about issues and
solutions
– Take active steps to move
state forward
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Report Context
 Knowledge-based economy
 U.S. falling behind Industrialized countries in
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higher education productivity
Increasing focus on national and state
commitment to higher education
2005 SHEEO National Commission on
Accountability in Higher Education:
Accountability for Better Results
2006 Spellings Commission Report: A Test
of Leadership
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Follow-up Briefs
 Jan. 07 - The Changing World of Higher
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Education: Is Your State Prepared?
June 07 - Developing a Public Agenda for
Higher Education
June 07 - Improving Higher Education
Performance and Productivity
June 08 - Sticker Shock: What's Driving the
Price of Higher Education?
Sept. 08 - Education Strategies to Meet
Workforce Needs
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
A Public Agenda for Higher
Education
 Key recommendation from report
 Call to legislators to organize and lead
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discussions to develop and maintain a
public agenda for higher education
Defining common interest; articulating
statewide goals; setting focus
Framework for higher education
policymaking
Set clear goals and expectations for
institutions
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Setting a Public Agenda
 ID state strengths and weaknesses
 Know demographic trends
 Determine structure to sustain agenda
 National Collaborative for Higher Education
Policy recommendations
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Appoint leadership group
Ground agenda in state needs
Complete policy audit
Meet with key stakeholders
Report back, finalize agenda, assign
responsibilities
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
State Example: West Virginia
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Vision 2020: An Education Blueprint for Two
Thousand Twenty
SB 595 (2008)
Sen. Robert Plymale (BRC member)
Focuses on the role of education in economic and
workforce development
Requires the State Board of Education, the Higher
Education Policy Commission (HEPC) and the
Council for Community and Technical College
Education (CCTCE) to each develop a master plan to
be approved by a legislative committee.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Vision 2020 continued
 A list of objectives as the highest priorities
for public higher education in West Virginia.
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state-level facilities plan and funding mechanism
increasing the academic rigor of institutions,
improving degree completion rates,
recruiting more adults,
– encouraging emphasis on STEM fields.
 Accountability system that will hold boards
and institutions accountable for achieving
their goals and objectives
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Vision 2020 continued
 Establishes geographic areas of

responsibility for the state’s regional
universities and community colleges
(improve access for rural areas)
Statewide report card to be created by the
HEPC
– Track program success and progress
toward goals by geographic area
– Will be utilized to inform education policy
making
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Current National Context
 National higher education goals; lead the
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world by 2020/25
– Obama Administration
– Lumina, Gates Foundations
– NCHEMS, National Center
Economic and budget crises in the states;
budget gaps into FY 2012 (projected)
Cuts to higher education almost universal
among states; many times double digits
(tuition hikes as backfill)
FY 2010 Highest Budget Gaps
as a Percentage of General Fund Budget
Rhode
Island
Delaware
Puerto Rico
Less than 1%, n = 1
1% to 4.9%, n = 5
5% to 9.9%, n = 5
More than 10% = 35
Not applicable or not reporting, n = 5
Source: NCSL survey of state legislative fiscal offices, April, June and July 2009
Projected Budget Gaps
FY 2008 to FY 2012
Rhode
Island
Delaware
Puerto Rico
Projecting 3 years of budget gaps, n= 17
Projecting 4 years of budget gaps n,= 18*
Projecting 5 years of budget gaps n,= 4
Source: NCSL survey of state legislative fiscal offices, various
years.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
State Economic Climate
 The states are facing a "cliff" once
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ARRA funding ends.
State governments will face severe
budgetary problems at least 12-24
months after the US recession ends.
Lawmakers' endurance to resolve
massive budget gaps will be tested in
the coming years.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
Public Agenda in Time of Crisis
 2009 year of panic; 2010-11 must be years
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of strategic investment
Tuition hikes running out of political steam
Public agenda important now more than
before
Institutional missions must be aligned with
both state and national goals
National Imperative - State Responsibility
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
of STATE LEGISLATURES
The Forum for America’s Ideas
[email protected]
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