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McCook Gazette

Hearings set for community college study

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

The Nebraska Legislature recently passed LB 340 directing the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education to investigate the role and mission of the state's community colleges, the weighting of courses for reimbursement purposes, the role of the Nebraska Community College Association or a similar entity, membership in such an entity, and coordination in the absence of such an entity.

The NCCPE will subsequently hold a hearing to receive public testimony regarding the study of Nebraska's community college system as mandated by Neb. Laws 2009, LB 340 on June 18, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room 1524 at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. All interested persons are invited to attend and testify at the hearing. Interested persons may also submit written comments prior to the hearing to the Commission address noted below or to nebccstudy@gmail.com.

According to Dr. Michael Chipps, President of Mid-Plains Community College, the study's findings are vital to the future of the community college system in Nebraska.

"Equalization is an integral part of the new funding formula, as its intent is to ensure that all of Nebraska's citizens have equal access to higher education opportunities across the state. The new formula was researched and developed over a number of years and is responsive to the utilization of multiple financial resources. Simply put, it works. I believe that the results of this study will provide clear evidence that the new formula provides greater equity for all rural and urban citizens."

For more information, interested parties are encouraged to write the office of the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education, 140 North 8th Street, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE 68508, call the Commission at (402) 471-0026, or check the Web site, at www.ccpe.state.ne.us.

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  • The NCCPE is supposed to examine "the weighting of courses for reimbursement purposes", not re-examine or re-invent the state funding formula for community colleges. Granted, the funding formula and the crybabies at Metro are the cause of the study, but the bill does not specify the re-examination of the funding formula. I think Dr. Chipps is going to be disappointed in the results of the study. Also from what I understand the funding formula was never based on any type of study on what it costs to offer different types of classes and has never even been used for funding at all. Why we can't use the formula for a couple of years and the re-examine it if needed is beyond me.

    -- Posted by SMK on Tue, May 26, 2009, at 4:23 PM
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