Issues to Watch

• Budget: The Alaska legislature considered, but did not pass, a bill adopting a formula for setting the university's operating budget; similar legislation is expected in the 1999 legislative session. Revenue projection shortfalls and lawmakers’ intent to cut the state operating budget over a five-year period will put budget discussions in Alaska at the top of the legislative agenda next session. A formula-funding bill is expected in the 1999 session. California will be looking at performance-based budgeting.

• Information Technology: California will focus on funding education technology. A failed bill in Colorado to establish a statewide multiuse network for all of state government may surface next session. North Dakota continues to develop strategies to plan and coordinate the delivery of distance education in the state.

• Tuition: Efforts in Colorado to remove tuition and fees from constitutional revenue limits failed. Montana is looking at differential tuition for institutions in the university system.

• Financial Aid: The University of Alaska is creating a Scholars Program, modeled after the governor’s failed scholarship bill, for the top 10 percent of Alaska’s graduating high school seniors. Initially funded by the university, legislation will be introduced in the 1999 session to fund the program.

• Access: California will continue to look at ways to accommodate Tidal Wave II in higher education, while North Dakota pursues nonresident enrollment expansion opportunities. To strengthen student preparation for college, Colorado will seek more funding for precollegiate programs during the 1999 session.

• Governance: During the next session, the Colorado legislature will probably see a bill re-emerge to look at higher education governance issues. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education is transitioning to a policy governance model.

• Teacher Education: Legislative initiatives on teacher education reform may surface in Colorado.