HB 2655-S - DIGEST
(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

Finds that: (1) The higher education coordinating board, in collaboration with the state board for community and technical colleges, the two-year and four-year institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders developed a system design plan that contains seven guiding principles for system expansion, focuses near-term enrollment growth at university branch campuses, comprehensive universities, and university centers where existing capacity is available without new state capital investment, establishes a process for evaluating major new capital expansion, and creates a fund for innovation to foster change and innovation in higher education delivery; and

(2) The strategies in the plan support the concept of expand on demand and would increase degree production by first reinvesting in higher education to use existing capacity while also providing long-term strategies to guide decisions on when and where to build new campuses, significantly expand existing sites, and change missions of existing institutions.

Provides that the legislature endorses the system design plan approved by the higher education coordinating board in November 2009 and adopts the recommendations and strategies in the plan.