Bill Text: CT SB00020 | 2014 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Minority Advancement Program.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-04-10 - House Calendar Number 309 [SB00020 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00020-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 20
February Session, 2014		LCO No. 505
		*_____SB00020HED___030514____*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE MINORITY ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10a-11 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

[(a) The Office of Higher Education shall, in consultation with the institutions of the state system of higher education and the constituent unit boards of trustees, develop a strategic plan, consistent with the affirmative action plan submitted to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in accordance with section 46a-68, to ensure that students, faculty, administrators and staff at each institution are representative of the racial and ethnic diversity of the total population of the state. For each institution, there shall be an approved plan which shall include goals, programs and timetables for achieving those goals, and a procedure to monitor annually the results of these programs and a procedure to take corrective action if necessary. The Office of Higher Education shall also develop policies to guide equal employment opportunity officers and programs in all constituent units and at each institution of public higher education.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall report annually to the Governor and General Assembly on the activities undertaken by the office in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. The report shall include institutional goals and plans for attaining such goals, as well as changes in enrollment and employment at the state's institutions of public higher education. If it is determined that an institution has failed to achieve the goals set out pursuant to this section, such institution shall develop a plan of corrective procedures to ensure that such goals are achieved, subject to the approval of the Office of Higher Education.] The Office of Higher Education may establish a minority advancement program to reward and support efforts by institutions within the state system of higher education towards meeting the [goals established in the strategic plan developed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section] goal of ensuring that students, faculty, administrators and staff at each institution are representative of the racial and ethnic diversity of the total population of the state.

Sec. 2. Section 10a-11a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(a) As part of the minority advancement program, the Office of Higher Education shall establish a Connecticut collegiate awareness and preparation program to develop linkages with public school systems targeted by the office for the purpose of providing motivation and skills development for low performing middle school or high school [underachievers] students.

(b) As part of the minority advancement program, the Office of Higher Education shall establish a college access and success program to strengthen minority student retention and graduation rates at Connecticut's institutions of higher education.

[(b)] (c) Funding for said program shall be on a competitive basis open to all Connecticut institutions of higher education. The Office of Higher Education shall issue a request for proposals to all Connecticut higher educational institutions. A panel shall review applications on the basis of an evaluation format developed by said office. Payment will be made under contractual agreements between the office and the grant recipients.

(d) The Office of Higher Education shall report annually to the Governor and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education regarding (1) the high school graduation rates of student participants in the Connecticut collegiate awareness and preparation program, and (2) the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of student participants in the college access and success program.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2014	10a-11
Sec. 2	July 1, 2014	10a-11a

HED

Joint Favorable