S_ED_2017A 03/02/2017 01:30 PM Committee Summary

01:32 PM -- Confirmation of Colorado Mesa University Board Of Trustees



Senator Hill, chair, called the meeting to order. He invited Tim Foster, President of Colorado Mesa University (Mesa), to come to the table to introduce the appointee and reappointees to the board of trustees (board): David James Reed, Bror Douglas Quimby, and Tilman "Tillie" Bishop. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointees' applications and resumes were distributed to the committee (Attachment A). Mr. Quimby told the committee about his personal, educational, and professional background and talked about why he would like to be reappointed to the board. He spoke about the power of higher education to transform individuals and communities. Mr. Reed spoke about his background, his passion for education, and why he would like to be appointed to the board. Mr. Bishop spoke about Mesa, capital construction project, the different types of students who attend the school, and the school's new nursing campus and engineering building. The appointee and reappointees answered questions from the committee.



17SenateEd0302AttachA.pdf

01:45 PM -- Confirmation of Fort Lewis College Board Of Trustees



Senator Hill invited Dene Kay Thomas, President of Fort Lewis College, to come to the table to introduce the appointee and reappointee to the board of trustees: Richard C. Kaufman and Ernest Domingo House, Jr. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointees' applications and resumes were distributed to the committee (Attachment B). Mr. House talked about his professional background, his previous term on the board, and the importance of the school to the Native American community. Mr. Kaufman spoke about his background in higher education and new projects taking place at the school. The appointee and reappointee answered questions from the committee.



17SenateEd0302AttachB.pdf

01:56 PM -- Confirmation of Executive Director of the Department Of Higher Education



Senator Hill invited Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, appointee to the position of Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, to come to the table to introduce herself. Copies of the Governor's appointment letter and the appointee's application and resume were distributed to the committee (Attachment C). Dr. Reed talked about her professional background, her work with equity and student success in education, the need to increase student achievement and diploma attainment, and the importance of focusing on results, affordability, and accessibility to career pathways for all types of students. She talked about the changing landscape of higher education and answered questions from the committee.



17SenateEd0302AttachC.pdf

02:08 PM -- Presentation by Colorado Mesa University



Senator Hill asked Tim Foster, President of Colorado Mesa University (Mesa), to come to the table to begin his presentation. President Foster talked about the impact of the school's name change from Mesa State College to Colorado Mesa University and the school's admissions standards, and answered questions from the committee. He spoke about the school's history, role and mission, different types of degree and program options for students, career ladders, and several of the school's new programs. He told the committee that approximately 40 percent of the school's student body are eligible for federal Pell grants, which are based on financial need.





02:25 PM



President Foster continued his presentation. He spoke about the demographic make up of the school's student body, student retention, the importance of work-study programs, graduation rates, performance contracts, the state contribution to the school's budget, and tuition cap limits. He answered questions from the committee.



































02:45 PM -- HB17-1140



Senator Neville, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1140, which concerns the permitted uses of fee-for-service contract money by the Colorado School of Mines.



The following people testified on the bill:



02:50 PM -- Paul Johnson, President of Colorado School of Mines, spoke in support of the bill. He provided background information about the school and why the bill is necessary.



02:57 PM -- Peter Han, Chief of Staff, Colorado School of Mines, came to the table to answer questions from the committee.





03:00 PM



There were no more questions so Senator Hill closed public testimony. Senator Neville provided closing comments to the bill.

03:03 PM



The committee adjourned.