House and Senate pass higher ed bills; conference committee next
Yesterday, April 27, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed its higher education omnibus bill by a vote of 72-55. The House bill provides no funding for the University’s requested budget items. On April 20, in the Ways and Means Committee, $2.9 million was added to the bill for educational programs and capital projects on the Crookston and Morris campuses. The bill also provides $2 million for the University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation, and it contains the following policy items of interest to the University of Minnesota:
- Campus sexual assault—establishes new requirements relating to campus sexual assault response and reporting.
- College completion—requests the University to develop a comprehensive plan to encourage students to complete degrees, diplomas, or certificates in their fields of study.
Last week, the Senate voted on its higher education omnibus bill. The bill provides $60 million for a tuition freeze and $25 million for the Medical School in the FY2016–17 biennium. The Senate bill also includes performance goals tied to this funding; 5 percent of the FY2017 appropriation will only become available based on the number of the following goals met:
- Increase by at least 1 percent the four-year, five-year, or six-year undergraduate graduation rates, averaged over three years, for students of color systemwide at the University of Minnesota
reported in fall 2016 over fall 2014. The average rate for fall 2014 is calculated with the graduation rates reported in fall 2012, 2013, and 2014. - Increase by at least two percent the total number of undergraduate STEM degrees, averaged over three years, conferred systemwide by the University of Minnesota reported in FY2016 over FY2014. The average for fiscal year
2014 is calculated with the FY2012, 2013, and 2014 numbers.
Increase by at least 1 percent the four-year undergraduate graduation rate at the University of Minnesota reported in fall 2016 over fall 2014. The average rate for fall 2014 is calculated with the graduation rates reported in fall 2012, 2013, and 2014. - The averaged number for FY2014 is calculated with the FY2012, 2013, and 2014 numbers.
- Reallocate $15,000,000 of administrative costs for FY16. The Board of Regents is requested to redirect those funds to invest in direct mission activities, stem growth in cost of attendance, and to programs that benefit students.
- Increase licensing disclosures by three percent for FY2016 over FY2015.
Like the House bill, the Senate bill provides $2 million for the University of Minnesota and Mayo Foundation, and includes provisions on campus sexual assault and college completion. The following policy provisions are unique to the Senate bill:
- Study abroad—clarifies reporting requirements.
- Research on dogs and cats—removes sunset date.
- Human subjects research—requires monthly reporting on developing and implementing a plan to conduct human subjects research.
- State grant tuition cap, and living and miscellaneous expense allowance—increases the cap and allowance.
- TCF Stadium refinance—allows the University to refinance bonds and allocate some of the savings toward health education and clinical research facilities improvements.
One amendment added to the bill on the Senate floor requires the University to submit a report on budget allocations to non-Twin Cities campuses. As amended, the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 42-21.
View a comparison of the governor, House, and Senate funding proposals for the University. A conference committee will likely begin meeting next week to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
Dean Ames explains U’s critical role in fighting avian flu
Today, Dean Trevor Ames testified in Senate Capital Investment Committee about the work the University of Minnesota is doing to address the avian influenza outbreak in turkeys. Dean Ames highlighted the seriousness of the virus and how the state and federal government are responding to critical needs. He explained how University labs and researchers are playing a critical role in understanding how the flu is being spread and how best to mitigate the destruction of the state’s turkey industry. Dean Ames also spoke about the importance of funding University facilities, particularly a new veterinary isolation lab, which is part of this year’s capital request.