HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 34

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Gail Chasey and Timothy M. Keller

A JOINT MEMORIAL

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

     WHEREAS, Article 12, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico specifies the state educational institutions, including the university of New Mexico, New Mexico institute of mining and technology, New Mexico state university, western New Mexico university, eastern New Mexico university and New Mexico highlands university; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to the universities and northern New Mexico college, there are ten branch community colleges, seven independent community colleges and numerous instructional sites offering post-secondary courses; and

     WHEREAS, the center on education and the workforce has determined that two-thirds of all American jobs will require some level of post-secondary 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 a priority through factors in the higher education funding formula, financial aid, distance education and learning centers; 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, restricting higher education opportunities; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's economic, public safety and health interests are heavily dependent on the well-being of the state's higher education efforts; and

     WHEREAS, the legislative education study committee is prohibited from studying higher education and making recommendations other than with respect to the training of certified 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 the higher education institutions and the higher education department to advance the state higher education effort; 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. education outcomes and work force needs by economic and geographic sectors;

          D. the state's changing demographics and institutional statistics; and

          E. faculty and staff compensation, including salaries and benefits, and academic and research recruitment and retention; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education committee consider:

          A. funding adequacy and equity and resource allocation, including mission-differentiated higher education funding formulae; and

          B. dedication of a revenue stream, similar to that provided for public education, to address the deferred maintenance condition of higher education; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the higher education committee develop recommendations and report to the legislature by November 30, 2011 and again by November 30, 2012; 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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