IFS REPORT TO EOU FACULTY SENATE FEBRUARY 2016 The Interinstitutional Faculty Senate (IFS) met at the University of Oregon in Eugene on January 22 and 23. IFS was joined by a number of invited guests including Arnie Roblan, Chair, Senate Education Committee; Michael Dembrow, Chair, Senate Workforce Development Committee; Veronica Lujon, Director of Academic Policy and Planning, HECC; Scott Coltrane, Provost, University of Oregon; and representative of the Associated Students of the University of Oregon. 2016 Legislative Overview A review of the upcoming ‘short’ session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly was provided by Senators Roblan and Dembrow. Key issues during the session include (hyperlinks are to Introduced versions of bills and are subject to amendments)

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Minimum Wage. HB 4054, which would increase Oregon’s minimum wage rate in graduated steps to $13.50 per hour by 2019. The increase coincides with that proposed by SB 1592. An alternative bill, SB 1532, would establish tiered system for determination of minimum wage based on size and geographic location of employers. Legislative action is expected on this issue during the February session in an attempt to manage the size of the increase vis-à-vis an initiative that may appear on the November ballot raising the minimum wage to $15.00 an hour. Affordable Housing. SB 1582 Directs Housing and Community Services Department to develop and implement Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program to expand state's supply of affordable housing for low income individuals or families.

Proposed legislation effecting higher education includes

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5th Year High School Programs. SB 1537 establishes criteria by which school district may establish post-graduate (5th year) scholar program to receive and expend certain State School Fund moneys for certain students who have satisfied requirements for high school diploma. Directs Department of Education and HECC to submit reports related to programs to interim legislative committees on education. “Free” Math Degrees. SB 1540 directs HECC to conduct evaluation on providing tuition waiver for students at community colleges and public universities who are pursuing mathematics-related degrees. This is a ‘make a study’ bill with a January 15, 2017 deadline to buttress a request by the bill’s sponsor for permanent funding for the Oregon Promise program to be introduced during 2017 session. Student Health Records Confidentiality. SB 1558 prohibits disclosure of records of college or university student health center, mental health center or counseling center, or records of health professional retained by college or university to provide health care, mental health care or counseling services to students, to other individuals, offices or entities within, affiliated with or acting on behalf of college or university. Budgetary Accountability and Transparency. HB 4010 requires each public university to report to Legislative Assembly detailed list of all university expenditures on state programs, focusing on salary and wages, services and supplies and expenditures related to centers and programs focused on economic development & natural resource management. Student Debt. HB 4021 requires State Treasurer to conduct study to assess viability of establishing student loan refinancing program within office of State Treasurer Budgetary Process. SJR 204 proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to require Legislative Assembly each biennium to spend percentage of legislatively approved budget for education and for public safety. Passage by the legislature would result in a referendum appearing on the November 2016 ballot.

Other Business The Governor’s Task Force on Campus Violence will be convened in the near future. Rob Kyr of UO and Donna Lane of SOU have been nominated by IFS to serve. A discussion of HECC’s Draft Strategic Plan highlighted IFS hard work in highlighting the centrality of academic quality to higher education. Upon the recommendation of IFS, the HECC’s Vision Statement will include an explicit reference to academic quality. The topic of Accelerated Learning was discussed. There will be a statewide convening on February 19 to discuss proposed standards. After the gathering IFS members will facilitate discussions in their Faculty Senates to seek input before final submission of the standards to HECC in April 2016. The EOU Faculty Senate should plan on discussing this important policy issue at their March 2015 meeting.