44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

FOR THE LEGISLATIVE FINANCE COMMITTEE

AN ACT

RELATING TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION; PROVIDING VERIFICATION FUNCTION FOR THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION; PROVIDING FOR AN ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT; AMENDING AND REPEALING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 21-1-26.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1986, Chapter 24, Section 3) is amended to read:

"21-1-26.3. [AUDIT] VERIFICATION FUNCTION.--The commission on higher education shall annually conduct special [audits] verifications of the institutions of higher education. [These audits] The verifications shall include but not be limited to enrollments, fund balances, compliance with legislation, comparison of expenditures to budgets and other areas to be determined by the commission. Reports on [these audits] the verifications shall be made annually to the department of finance and administration and the legislative finance committee. The commission shall consider the [audit] verification findings in making its annual recommendations to the executive and legislature for higher education funding."

Section 2. Section 21-1-26.7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1990 (1st S.S.), Chapter 4, Section 2) is amended to read:

"21-1-26.7. ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT [CARD].--

A. The commission on higher education shall submit an annual accountability report [card] to the governor and to the legislature [Beginning in 1990, the annual report card shall be published prior to November 15 and presented in a readable format so as to easily compare the state's public, post-secondary institutions] by December 31. Prior to publication, the commission on higher education shall distribute a draft of the accountability report [card] to all public, post-secondary institutions and shall allow comment upon the draft report.

B. The commission on higher education in consultation with the public post-secondary educational institution shall develop and adopt the content and a format for the report [card. Each four-year, post-secondary institution shall submit to the commission on higher education], including the following information:

[(1) the results of the institution's learner outcomes assessment program and steps taken to improve learner outcomes;

(2) the retention rate of students;

(3) the percent of lower division instructional courses taught by full professors;

(4) the number of hours per student per semester spent by faculty members in student advisement;

(5) the percent of graduate and undergraduate students participating in sponsored research programs;

(6) placement data on graduates;

(7) the percent change in the participation rate of students from minority groups and other underrepresented populations;

(8) the percent of graduate students who received undergraduate degrees at the institution, within the state, within the United States and from other nations; and

(9) the number of full-time students who have transferred from a two-year, post-secondary institution.

C. The commission on higher education shall develop and adopt a format for the report card. Each two-year, post-secondary institution shall submit to the commission on higher education the following information:

(1) the results of the institution's learner outcomes assessment program and steps taken to improve learner outcomes;

(2) the retention rate of students;

(3) the percent of remedial or developmental education courses taught by full-time faculty members;

(4) the number of hours per student per semester spent by faculty members in student advisement;

(5) placement data on graduates;

(6) the percent change in the participation rate of students from minority groups and other underrepresented populations; and

(7) the number of students who have transferred into a four-year, post-secondary institution]

(1) student progress and success;

(2) student access and diversity;

(3) affordability and cost of educational services; and

(4) public and community service by the institutions.

[D.] C. The commission on higher education shall make no funding recommendation, capital outlay recommendation, distribution or certification on behalf of any public, post-secondary institution that has not submitted the information required pursuant to this section."

Section 3. REPEAL.--Section 21-1-26.6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1990 (S.S.), Chapter 4, Section 1) is repealed.