SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25
[Originating in the Committee on Education.]
Requesting that the joint committee on government and finance
undertake a review of the higher education resource allocation
model and resource allocation policies to determine a new or
modified model for funding public higher education in West
Virginia.
Whereas, The Legislature directed in Senate Bill No. 377,
adopted at the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature,
one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, that the governing boards
of public higher education establish a resource allocation model
and resource allocation policies and directed that funds, including
funds for salary increases, be distributed in accordance with these
policies; and
Whereas, The Legislature found that these funding formulas
should address clarification of the missions of higher education
institutions, directing resources to programs which meet the
current and future work force needs of the state and distributing
available revenues in an equitable fashion which enables each state
institution of higher education to fulfill its mission and reward
its employees appropriately; and
Whereas, The Legislature found in Senate Bill No. 547, adopted
at the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-five, that a need exists to raise the
salaries of higher education faculty to compare favorably with southern regional education board peer averages and that the public
institutions of higher education need to develop strategic plans
for the five-year period between one thousand nine hundred ninety- five and two thousand to show how they will increase average
faculty salaries and fully fund the classified staff salary
schedule; and
Whereas, The Legislature further found that a need exists to
strengthen the public community colleges so that they may be able
to respond better to the economic needs of the state for a highly
trained, competent workforce, and, therefore, the governing boards
of higher education were required to establish community and
technical education and to give these programs the administrative,
programmatic and budgetary control necessary to respond to district
and community needs, and the Legislature established its intent to
increase funds for higher education by three and one-quarter
percent each year over the next five years, subject to
institutional progress on goals outlined in their strategic plans;
and
Whereas, Because authorization for the resource allocation
model and resource allocation policies will expire at the end of
the fiscal year two thousand, the Legislature finds it necessary to
establish a process to study funding formulas in conjunction with
a review of progress toward meeting the goals established by the
higher education advocacy team and by Senate Bill Nos. 377 and 547;
and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes that because of the
importance of higher education to West Virginia's future, a broad-based public policy discussion needs to occur in order to
assist state leaders in determining methods for allocating funds to
achieve the greatest good for the people of West Virginia;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the joint committee on government and finance is hereby
requested to create a select committee consisting of
representatives of the Legislature and other interested and
affected parties who will undertake a review of the funding
formulas used in public higher education as to their effectiveness
and efficiency in meeting the objectives and goals of the state;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall commence its
activities on or before the fifteenth day of May, one thousand nine
hundred ninety-seven; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall consist of the
following members: president of the Senate, or designee; speaker of
the House of Delegates, or designee; and two members each from the
Senate and from the House of Delegates to be selected by the
president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates
respectively; two members of the university of West Virginia board
of trustees selected by the governor and two members of the board
of directors of the state college system selected by the governor;
the chancellor of the university of West Virginia board of
trustees; the chancellor of the state college system board of
directors; the secretary of education and the arts; the president of the southern regional education board or a designee who is an
employee of the southern regional education board; the president of
the West Virginia state board of education; one person who is a
president of a private institution of higher education selected by
the West Virginia association of independent colleges; from the
university of West Virginia system, one person selected by the
advisory council of faculty, one person selected by the advisory
council of classified staff and one person selected by the advisory
council of students; from the state college system, one person
selected by the advisory council of faculty, one person selected by
the advisory council of classified staff and one person selected by
the advisory council of students; five persons appointed by the
governor, three to be persons from the community at large, one
person a president of a public higher education institution in the
university of West Virginia sSystem, one person a president of a
public higher education institution in the state college system,
and of the three members at large to be appointed by the governor,
one shall be from each congressional district within the state, and
not more than two shall belong to the same political party.
Appointments shall be made no later than the thirtieth day of
April, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the committee shall report its findings
to the joint committee on government and finance and the
legislative oversight commission on education accountability on or
before the first day of December, one thousand nine hundred
ninety-seven; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the joint committee on government and
finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1998, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the joint committee on
gGovernment and fFinance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to shall forward a copyies of this resolution to the chancellors of
each governing board for distribution to each member thereof.