Friday, March 4, 2011

Transfer discussed; Alternative teacher licensure passed

Yesterday at the Capitol

The issue of credit transfer was once again a topic of the House Higher Education committee yesterday with the presentation of HF 717. The bill author, Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, said he introduced the bill to continue advancing the discussion of transfer and push well-intended institutions to move the issue forward. The bill requires the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system to adopt a policy requiring colleges and universities to grant credit for a course that is taken for credit at any college or university in the system.

Following Abeler's presentation of the bill, Mike Lopez, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, spoke to the "Improving Transfer of Credit" report the system prepared in response to legislation from last session that required the system to develop and implement a plan to improve credit transfer within the system.

Lopez walked members through the Smart Transfer Plan which includes; establishing course outlines available on all college and university Web sites; e-Transcripts, which is an electronic transcript process for transfers within the system; a policy that clarifies that DARS and u.select databases are the official repository of course equivalencies between system colleges and universities; enhancements to the student appeals process, and information available to students; and continuous training for college and university staff who advise students in the area of transfer.

Chair of the Minnesota State University Student Association, Andrew Spaeth, told committee members that in coordination with the Office of the Chancellor, the student organizations completed a survey on transfer and continue to work together to make progress. Spaeth said the Board of Trustees has been involved and open to hearing students' concerns and recommendations regarding transfer. Travis Johnson, president of the Minnesota State College Student Association, said he appreciates that the issue of transfer has received attention from the Legislature and the Board of Trustees and he views transfer as an area for continuous improvement.

The bill was held over for possible consideration in the committee's omnibus bill.

Also yesterday the House and Senate took up the alternative teacher licensure conference committee report on the floor. The Senate passed the report by a vote of 46-19, followed by the House vote of 81-50. Sponsor of the bill in the house, Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said, "If there's one message from this bill it is this: This bill raises standards. The standards for alternatively licensed teachers will be higher than the standards that apply to traditionally licensed teachers." Lawmakers in opposition to the bill said the bill is too open and doesn't stipulate enough quality assurance. Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, said she worries some alternative licensure programs will not hold high enough standards.

Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, was given the opportunity to offer some closing remarks on the House floor due to his extensive involvement in the legislation in prior years. Mariani said while the bill, which reflects a compromise between Gov. Dayton and the authors, is not perfect, it will help address problems in some high-need areas. He compared the issue of alternative teacher licensure to open enrollment and post secondary enrollment options, or PSEO, under Gov. Rudy Perpich. He said both PSEO and open enrollment had massive opposition and many claimed it would ruin K-12 education. Mariani said those programs now enjoy great success and he believes alternative teacher licensure will as well.

Gov. Dayton is expected to sign the bill early next week.

Today at the Capitol

There are no higher education related hearings today.

At 10:00 a.m. legislative leadership will hold their weekly media availability to discuss this week and look ahead to next week.

Looking Ahead

Monday, March 7


11:00 AM
Senate in Session

3:00 PM
Senate Higher Education
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Michelle L. Fischbach
Agenda:
S.F. 504-Miller: Higher education institutions administrative spending cuts requirement.
S.F. 546-Fischbach: Senior citizen higher education program qualifying age modification.

3:00 PM
House in Session

Tuesday, March 8

8:15 AM
House State Government Finance
Room: 200 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Morrie Lanning
Agenda: HF174 (Peppin) Department of Revenue required to issue a request for proposals for a tax analytics and business intelligence contract.
HF191 (Downey) Redundant Technology Elimination Act proposed, state agency information technology systems and services consolidated, Office of Enterprise Technology duties transferred, and money appropriated.
Minnesota Management and Budget budget overview: Commissioner Jim Schowalter
HF174 (will be brought up only for re-referral to Taxes Committee)

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda: Higher Education Facilities Authority Presentation
HF856 (Swedzinski) Tuition increase temporary freeze and permanent limitation at public higher education institutions.

12:30 PM
House Jobs and Economic Development Finance
Room: 10 State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bob Gunther
Agenda: Presentation of governor's Department of Labor and Industry budget proposal

1:00 PM
Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies
Room: 107 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Doug Magnus
Agenda:
"Agriculture's Contributions to Improving Water Quality"
Presentations from the MN Agriculture Water Resources Coalition, MN Department of Agriculture & University of Minnesota

Thursday, March 10

11:00 AM
Senate in Session

12:30 PM
House Higher Education Policy and Finance
Room: Basement Hearing Room, State Office Building
Chair: Rep. Bud Nornes
Agenda:HF821 (Nornes) Senior citizen higher education program eligibility changed.
University of Minnesota Presentation on Agriculture Initiatives

Monday, March 14

1:00 PM
Senate Local Government and Elections
Room: 112 Capitol
Chair: Sen. Ray Vandeveer
Agenda:
S.F. 509-Limmer: Voter photo identification requirement; picture identification issuance provisions; provisional balloting procedure establishment; electronic polling place roster use requirement; recount procedure enacting; appropriating money.
S.F. 479-Howe: Voter photo identification and issuance requirement; picture identification and issuance at no charge; provisional balloting procedure establishment.

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