LAC Sidebar

×

LAC 2017 Annual Meeting

Park City Marriott  |  Park City, Utah
September 19-20, 2017

DOWNLOAD AGENDA

Tuesday, September 19

LEGISLATIVE SPOTLIGHT: UTAH’S HIGHER EDUCATION PRIORITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

This session featured a discussion with the Chair of Utah’s Senate Education Committee and focused on the state’s upcoming legislative priorities for higher education and a reflection on their key legislative accomplishments and challenges over the last session.

Moderator:
Spencer Jenkins, assistant commissioner, Utah State Board of Regents

Speakers:
Senator Ann Millner, Utah

KNOCKING AT THE COLLEGE DOOR: WHAT WICHE’S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE PROJECTIONS MEAN FOR THE WEST

In 2016 WICHE released its latest iteration of high school graduate projections, detailing projections by state through 2032. The data showed slowing growth in the number of graduates in the West through the mid-2020s, followed by a decrease in the overall number of graduates. During this period, growth is anticipated to be largely driven by a decrease in the White student population and growth in the Hispanic youth population, with variation across the Western states. The session explored trends for the Western states and policy approaches states and institutions are taking to respond to these changing demographics.

Moderator:
Joseph Garcia, president, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Speakers:

  • Dennis Jones, president emeritus, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems
  • ​Russell Poulin, director, Policy and Analysis, WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) | Distance Education Price and Cost Report

FINANCING ATTAINMENT: WHAT DOES AN EDUCATED WORKFORCE COST AND WHO PAYS FOR IT?

States across the West have set ambitious postsecondary attainment goals to meet the evolving needs of their workforce. Yet, what will meeting these goals actually take? Higher education finance experts were joined by one of WICHE’s LAC members to discuss the projected costs states will face in achieving attainment goals and the state’s role in financing sustainable higher education systems  to serve a new generation of students.

Moderator:
Dennis Jones, president emeritus, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems | Higher Education Funding Policy: The Role of Legislatures in Better Aligning Funding to Achieve State Priorities

Speakers:

THE AFFORDABILITY QUESTION: WHAT DOES “AFFORDABLE” MEAN IN THE CONTEXT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

With cost of attendance rising steadily over the last decade, there is legitimate concern among students, families, policymakers, and others about the impact on students pursuing higher education – especially those from low-income backgrounds. The question of what an “affordable” postsecondary education means is now more important than ever. This session examined different perspectives on what an affordable higher education can and should look like and possible strategies for addressing rising costs for students.

Moderator:
Demarée Michelau, vice president, Policy Analysis and Research, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Speakers:

  • Ben Cannon, executive director, Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission | PRESENTATION
  • Jamey Rorison, director of research and policy, Institute for Higher Education Policy | PRESENTATION

STUDIES IN SUCCESS: SERVING A NEW GENERATION OF STUDENTS

Institutions across the West are striving to prepare students from diverse backgrounds for high-quality jobs. Leaders in the region shared programs and practices they are using to ensure success for all of their students and the lessons they have learned along the way.

Moderator:
Joseph Garcia, president, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Speakers:

  • Michael Cartney, president, Lake Area Technical Institute | PRESENTATION
  • Bert Glandon, president, College of Western Idaho | PRESENTATION

Wednesday, September 20

OPPORTUNITIES WITH OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Open Educational Resources “OER” hold great promise for reducing student costs for attendance, yet successfully implementing OER requires navigating a complicated array of considerations. This session provided an overview of North Dakota’s journey through OER implementation, including the challenges, successes, and implications for other states in the West.

Moderator:
Russell Poulin, director, Policy and Analysis, WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) 

Speakers:

  • Representative Mark Sanford, North Dakota
  • Tanya Spilovoy, director of open policy, WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) | PRESENTATION

THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS

This session presented highlights and trends from the 2017 legislative sessions and during the subsequent facilitated discussion, LAC members shared their perspectives.

Speaker:
Christina Sedney, policy analyst, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education | PRESENTATION