SB2002 SFA Woelfel #1 4-25

Toney 7816

Senator Woelfel moved to amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

ARTICLE 3G. REORGANIZATION OF CONCORD UNIVERSITY AND BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE

§18B-3G-1. Definitions.

(a) General. — For the purposes of this article, terms have the meaning ascribed to them in section two, article one of this chapter, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific definition is provided in this section.

(b) Definitions. —

(1) “Administrative planning committee” or “planning committee” means the advisory group established pursuant to section seven of this article to advise the governing board of the reorganized multicampus college and to serve as liaison to the higher education policy commission.

(2) “Affected institution” means a college which is included in a reorganization.

(3) “Chancellor” means the chief executive officer of the commission appointed pursuant to section three, article two-b of this chapter.

(4) “Consolidated institution” means a college formed by joining together one or more institutions to create a new multicampus college or integrating two or more institutions into an existing institution to form one multicampus college. An institution that is included in a consolidation or integrated into an existing institution ceases to exist as an independent institution of higher education.

(5) “Institution” means any college under the jurisdiction of the higher education policy commission.

(6) “Multicampus institution” means a college that has more than one campus as defined and approved by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.

(7) “Institutional reorganization” or “reorganization” means the process of combining institutions to form a consolidated college or integrating one institution into another.

(8) “Strategic reorganization plan” or “plan” means the document developed in accordance with section eight of this article consisting of strategies, procedures and guidelines to be used in implementing an institutional reorganization.

§18B-3G-2. Appointment of institutional board of governors.

(a) Effective June 30, 2024, Concord University and Bluefield State College become one independent, multicampus college administered by its own governing board under the jurisdiction and authority of the commission and subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter, and to continued fulfillment of institutional accreditation requirements. The boards of governors of Concord University and Bluefield State College are abolished on June 30, 2024.

(b) Initial appointments to the board of governors of the reorganized institution are made pursuant to the provisions of section one, article two-a of this chapter, except as follows:

(1) As soon after the effective date of this article as practicable, but before July 1, 2024, the Governor shall select lay citizen members of the board of governors for the consolidated institution from the former lay citizen members of each of the boards of governors of the affected institutions. The Governor shall appoint an equal number of lay citizen members from each of the boards of the affected institutions. One such member serves a one-year term only, after which that membership position is not reappointed.

(2) One of the initial appointments is for a term of one year, four of the initial appointments are for terms of four years and five of the initial appointments are for terms of three years.

(3) Until June 30, 2024, all of the constituent members of the boards of governors of the affected institutions representing faculty, classified employees and students serve as members on the board of governors of the reorganized institution. Beginning July 1, 2024, the constituent members of the reorganized institution are appointed according to the provisions of section one, article two-a of this chapter.

(c) At the end of each initial term, and thereafter, an appointment to the board of governors of the consolidated institution, either to fill a vacancy or to reappoint a member who is eligible to serve an additional term, shall be made in accordance with section one, article two-a of this chapter.

(d) The chancellor shall call the first meeting of the board of governors as soon after June 30, 2024, as feasible, at which time the members shall elect a chairperson and other officers pursuant to article two-a of this chapter. Thereafter, the board shall hold an annual meeting in June of each year for the purpose of electing officers.

§18B-3G-3. Powers and duties of board of governors.

(a) The actions of the board of governors appointed pursuant to section three of this article are subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in article two-a of this chapter. The board has all the powers and duties provided in section four, article two-a of this chapter.

(b) The programs of the consolidated institution are operated under the rules and procedures of the institution's board of governors, which, initially, shall adopt rules from one or both of the affected institutions until the time when new or revised rules are proposed and approved pursuant to section six, article one of this chapter. The administrative planning committee shall make recommendations to the board of governors regarding which of the rules of the affected institutions should be adopted.

(c) It is the duty of the board of governors of the consolidated institution to adopt rules and procedures that authorize, support and encourage the consolidated institution to fulfill its core mission. It is further the specific duty of the board of governors to facilitate delivery of a comprehensive program of community and technical college education in all the counties that are served by the multicampus consolidated institution. To that end, the board shall expend from the appropriations allocated to the affected institutions such funds as are necessary or expedient to operate and conduct programs, to acquire clear title to any real property and to make necessary capital improvements.

(d) In addition to the powers and duties set forth in this section and in article two-a of this chapter, the board of governors shall perform the following duties:

(1) Choose a name for the consolidated multicampus institution from the recommendations submitted by the administrative planning committee pursuant to section seven of this article.

(2) Choose the president of one of the affected institutions to serve as president of the consolidated institution pursuant to section five of this article;

(3) Determine which positions of the affected institutions are to be abolished and notify employees as required by section nine of this article; and

§18B-3G-4. Appointment of institutional president; other officers.

(a) The board of governors shall designate the president of one of the affected institutions to serve as president of the consolidated multicampus institution. The other president shall serve as provost or chief executive officer of his or her respective campus. The salary and benefits of an individual who is serving as an institutional president at the time of a reorganization may not be reduced solely as a result of the reorganization. Provosts and chief executive officers report directly to the president of the consolidated institution.

(b) After the initial contract period ends or at the expiration of a president's current contract, the board of governors of the consolidated multicampus institution shall appoint and evaluate the president in accordance with section six, article one-b of this chapter.

§18B-3G-5. Budget; transfer of financial assets, property, liability, orders, policies, procedures, etc.

When a consolidated institution is formed:

(1) The operating budget of each affected institution is integrated under the authority and jurisdiction of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(2) All financial assets, including state fund balances, and liabilities are transferred from the authority of the board of governors of each affected institution to the authority of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(3) Any capital debt service payment formerly the responsibility of an affected institution or the affected institution's share of any capital debt service payment of its former sponsoring institution continues in the required amount and is the responsibility of the board of governors of the consolidated institution.

(4) The titles to all real property, facilities and equipment of, as well as each valid agreement and obligation undertaken by, the affected institutions are transferred to the board of governors of the consolidated institution, which shall exercise general determination, control, supervision and management of the financial, business and education policies and affairs of the consolidated multicampus institution.

(5) The title to all property purchased for the use of an affected institution is vested in the board of governors of the consolidated multicampus institution.

§18B-3G-6. Administrative planning committee; purpose; membership; duties; termination.

(a) On the effective date of this article, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the commission shall establish an administrative planning committee to advise in the reorganization of Concord University and Bluefield State College.

(b) Membership. — The administrative planning committee consists of the following members:

(1) The president of each affected institution;

(2) The chair of the board of governors of each affected institution;

(3) The chair of the commission;

(4) The vice chancellor for administration, appointed pursuant to section two, article four of this chapter, or a designee; and

(5) The chancellor, who chairs the planning committee.

(c) The administrative planning committee serves in an advisory capacity to the board of governors in developing the strategic reorganization plan and serves as liaison to the commission during the reorganization period.

(d) The administrative planning committee shall submit to the board of governors a list of at least three names from which the board shall choose a name for the consolidated, multicampus college at their first meeting as soon after June 30, 2024, as feasible.

(e) The planning committee shall report to the council at least quarterly, or more often if requested, on development of the strategic reorganization plan and the progress of the board of governors in implementing the reorganization.

(f) The administrative planning committee is created specifically to assist in the reorganization of Concord University and Bluefield State College and ceases to exist on July 1, 2024, or on the date when the council determines the reorganization has been completed, whichever occurs first.

§18B-3G-7. Strategic reorganization plan.

(a) The board of governors, with the advice of the administrative planning committee, shall develop a strategic reorganization plan for Concord University and Bluefield State College, including all campuses and instruction sites of each institution. The board of governors shall develop, implement and complete the reorganization by July 1, 2024.

(b) The reorganization plan includes, but is not limited to, the following elements:

(1) A timeline showing specific steps for completing the reorganization by July 1, 2024;

(2) A procedure to assure that all employees of the affected institutions are notified of their employment status pursuant to section nine [§ 18B-3F-9] of this article;

(3) A statement of assurance showing specific steps to be taken to safeguard the rights, privileges and benefits of faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the affected institutions including provisions for fulfilling contracts and protecting earned benefits;

(4) A description of the instructional benefits expected from the reorganization including a detailed explanation of enhancements to academic program offerings, workforce development programs for employers and services to students;

(5) A description of the fiscal benefits expected from the reorganization including a detailed explanation of management efficiencies, enhanced leadership skills, better coordination of instruction and student support services and efficiencies in expenditures per full-time equivalent student;

(6) A statement of assurance that student access to high-quality education programming will be enhanced and/or maintained; and

(7) A strategy to secure regional accreditation of the reorganized institution by July 1, 2024.

§18B-3G-8. Rights and benefits of employees of affected institutions; positions to be abolished; notice of employment status by certain date required.

(a) When a consolidated institution is formed, the faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the affected institutions become the faculty, classified employees and nonclassified employees of the consolidated institution, subject to the provisions of this article.

(b) By December 31, 2023, the board of governors of the consolidated institution, in consultation with the president, shall determine which, if any, positions existing at the affected institutions on the effective date of this article are to be abolished.

(1) In the case of positions which the board chooses to retain, but which exist at both affected institutions, when there is an overlap of duties and responsibilities of employees who occupy those positions, the board of governors, in consultation with the president, shall determine which position or positions shall be abolished.

(2) A classified employee who holds a position scheduled to be abolished is afforded all rights and benefits provided by this article and by section three, article seven of this chapter.

(1) The president shall provide official notice of employment status to each classified employee, faculty member and nonclassified employee of the affected institutions not later than thirty days after the board's decision. For an employee whose position is to be abolished, the official notice shall specify his or her date of termination. The termination date shall be within three to six months following the date of official notification.

(2) Any person who was employed full time by an affected institution on the effective date of this article and whose employment continues in any capacity with the board of governors of the consolidated institution is considered to have no break in service for calculation of years of service, seniority, participation in health and retirement plans or continued employment by the state.

(3) The board of governors, created pursuant to this article, is an organization as defined in section two, article nine-a of this chapter and is subject to all the terms and conditions that apply to higher education organizations as provided in this chapter and chapter eighteen-c of this code. Specifically, the board is subject to section three, article seven of this chapter when making reductions in force of classified employees.

§18B-3G-9. Transfer of students.

When a consolidated institution is formed, the students of the affected institutions become the students of the consolidated institution, subject to the provisions of section eight, article one of this chapter.

Adopted

Rejected