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2012 SESSION

12103692D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 95
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 10, 2012
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the feasibility and implications of the option for community colleges to offer selected baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields at limited geographic locations for needs that are currently unmet by other institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. Report.
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Patron-- Marshall, D.W.
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Governor Robert F. McDonnell has stated that his goal is to place Virginia among the most highly educated states and countries by conferring approximately 100,000 cumulative additional undergraduate degrees on Virginians between 2011 and 2025; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 recognized that college degree attainment would fuel strong economic growth in the Commonwealth and prepare Virginians for top job opportunities in the knowledge-driven economy of the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2011 highlighted the need for additional college graduates in high-demand, high-income fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health care; and

WHEREAS, the demand for baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields and in certain geographic areas has increased dramatically; and

WHEREAS, the number of community colleges independently offering baccalaureate degree programs in other states has steadily risen; and

WHEREAS, there are compelling arguments in favor of the community college baccalaureate, including improved access to a baccalaureate degree to place-bound, adult workers, first-generation college goers, and underserved groups, as well as greater affordability, reduced taxpayer cost, and ability to meet local workforce demands; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the feasibility and implications of the option for community colleges to offer selected baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields at limited geographic locations for needs that are currently unmet by other institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of 15 members that shall consist of 12 legislative members, two nonlegislative citizen members, and one ex officio member. Members shall be appointed as follows: seven 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; five members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; one nonlegislative citizen member who is a representative of a public institution of higher education to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, one nonlegislative citizen member who is a representative of a private institution of higher education to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System or his designee who 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 consider: (i) geographic needs and limit its review to those areas of the Commonwealth where community college facilities are located, but where no four-year public institution of higher education is located within 100 miles; (ii) which selected baccalaureate degrees in high-demand fields would be appropriate for community colleges to offer and limit its consideration to those fields that would serve local industry, businesses, and communities; (iii) accreditation standards; (iv) potential upgrades to community college faculty, libraries, laboratories and other facilities; (v) short-term and long-term operating costs associated with developing new community college baccalaureate degree programs; (vi) the funding formula for Virginia’s institutions of higher education; (vii) affect on tuition; (viii) the traditional open-door mission of community colleges; and (ix) comparable opportunities available to students through nonpublic higher education and other higher education centers and institutes.

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 the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Virginia Community College System. 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 2012 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $23,760 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 by November 30, 2012, 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 2013 Regular Session of the General Assembly. The 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 summary and the report 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 2012 interim.