SENATE RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A TWO-YEAR INTERIM LEGISLATIVE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

     WHEREAS, the public higher education institutions in the state that offer a bachelor's degree program include the university of New Mexico, New Mexico institute of mining and technology, New Mexico state university, western New Mexico university, eastern New Mexico university, New Mexico highlands university and northern New Mexico college; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to the higher education institutions that offer bachelor's degree programs, numerous community colleges, branch community colleges, vocational institutions, technical institutions, learning centers and off-campus instructional facilities offer associate's degree programs or other higher education opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, two-thirds of all American jobs will require some level of higher education and one-third of all jobs will require a bachelor's, graduate or professional degree by 2018; and

     WHEREAS, the fastest growing economies of the world sponsor graduate education and invest in university research programs; and

     WHEREAS, the state has made access to higher education a priority through factors in the higher education funding formula, financial aid and diversification of higher education providers; and

     WHEREAS, due to budget constraints, the state has reduced higher education funding while shifting a larger portion of the overall cost of higher education to students at high-tuition institutions; and

     WHEREAS, the continued expansion of developmental and remedial education consumes limited resources and restricts higher education opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's economic well-being requires the comprehensive provision and continued improvement of higher education; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative education study committee is prohibited from studying higher education and making recommendations other than with respect to the training of licensed teaching personnel; and

     WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes the need to focus on higher education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to create a two-year interim legislative "higher education committee" to consult with and assist the higher education department; public higher education institutions that offer bachelor's and graduate degree programs; community colleges; branch community colleges; vocational and technical institutions; learning centers; and off-campus instructional facilities; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education committee examine:

          A. opportunities to coordinate disciplines and degrees across institutional lines to assure adequate coverage of degree or program offerings by multiple institutions, particularly in high-demand and burgeoning industries;

          B. the impact of regional and national accreditation and professional standards on curriculum and graduation requirements and the relationships between state funding, institutional practices and students' perceptions of why students do not complete courses and programs;

          C. the relationships that currently exist and the future relationships that should be fostered between the institutions that offer bachelor's and graduate degree programs and the institutions and facilities that offer associate's degree programs or other higher education opportunities;

          D. education outcomes and work force needs by economic and geographic sectors;

          E. higher education's accommodation of the state's changing demographics;

          F. the faculty, staff, program and facility needs of all public institutions and facilities that offer any higher education courses;

          G. higher education administrative and teaching staff recruitment, retention, research and compensation;

          H. the adequacy and equity of the funding sources and amounts of funding distributions to all public institutions and facilities that offer any higher education courses;

          I. present and future funding and resource allocations to all public institutions and facilities that offer any higher education courses, based on student needs, immediate and long-term work force needs and possible mission-differentiated higher education funding formulae; and

          J. dedication of a revenue stream for higher education, similar to that provided for public education for students in kindergarten through grade twelve; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education committee develop recommendations and report to the legislature by November 30, 2012 and again by November 30, 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council and to the secretary of higher education.

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