Bill Text: VA HJR120 | 2010 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Higher educational institutions; joint subcommittee to study ways to increase bachelor's degrees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-16 - House: Left in Rules [HJR120 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2010-HJR120-Prefiled.html
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10102163D WHEREAS, the public higher education system in Virginia is made up of 15 four-year institutions; 23 community colleges; and one junior/transfer-oriented college; and WHEREAS, in its 2007-2013 strategic plan for higher education in Virginia, the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV), the coordinating body for higher education in Virginia, notes that "education in a modern democracy is society's engine for realizing human potential"; and WHEREAS, the 2007-2013 strategic plan also notes that "in this highly competitive global environment American institutions must move forward simply to avoid falling behind"; and WHEREAS, over 31,000 bachelor's degrees were awarded by public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth during the 2008-2009 academic year; and WHEREAS, increasing the number of bachelor's degrees awarded could have a profound effect on the Commonwealth's economy and could serve to lead the state out of its current economic recession as higher level education graduates correspond to higher earnings; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study ways to increase the number of bachelor's degrees awarded annually by public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 13 members that shall consist of eight legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and three ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be the president of a four-year public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates; and one nonlegislative citizen member who shall be the president of community college in the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The Secretary of Education, the Chairman of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or their designees shall serve ex officio with voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the joint subcommittee shall be citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Unless otherwise approved in writing by the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk, nonlegislative citizen members shall only be reimbursed for travel originating and ending within the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of attending meetings. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership, who shall be members of the General Assembly. In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall (i) identify the economic impact of a more educated population on the Commonwealth; (ii) identify any capacity issues confronting the public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth; (iii) examine ways to attract nontraditional student populations to pursue higher education degrees and enroll in bachelor's degree programs; (iv) consider expansion of dual enrollment programs at community colleges or distance learning programs to increase capacity in bachelor's degree programs; (v) make recommendations regarding how Virginia public institutions of higher education can increase the number of bachelor's degrees awarded annually by 10,000 over the next 10 years; and (vi) explore such other issues as it deems appropriate. Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request. The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2010 interim and four meetings for the 2011 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $8,800 for each year without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk. If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required. No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee. The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2010, and for the second year by November 30, 2011, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website. Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may approve or disapprove expenditures for this study, extend or delay the period for the conduct of the study, or authorize additional meetings during the 2010 or 2011 interim. |
