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Coordinating Board for Higher Education Meeting Minutes 04-00

April 13, 2000

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education met at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2000 in the Blum Student Union Building at Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph. Members present were:

Ray Henry, Chairman
Lynn Ewing, Jr., Vice Chairman
John Bass, Secretary
Marie Carmichael
Mary Findley
Dudley Grove
Sandra Kauffman
Jim Summers, Jr.
Mary Joan Wood

Also attending were:

Kala M. Stroup, Commissioner of Higher Education
John Wittstruck, Deputy Commissioner
Robert Stein, Associate Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Planning
Terry Barnes, Assistant Commissioner for Community Colleges & Technical Education
Joy Casada, Secretary to the Board
Janet First, Administrative Assistant
Mindy Harris, Administrative Intern
Cheryl Kesel, Public Information Officer
Dan Peterson, Deputy Director for MOSTARS
Leroy Wade, Director for Proprietary School Certification
Andrew White, Research Associate

There being a quorum present, Chairman Henry called the meeting to order. A list of guests attending the meeting is attached. (Attachment A)

Comments from Chairman Henry

Chairman Henry expressed the board's appreciation to Dr. Janet Murphy and the staff of Missouri Western State College for their gracious hospitality.

Minutes of the February 10, 2000 CBHE Meeting

Mr. Ewing moved that the minutes of the February 10 CBHE meeting be approved as submitted. Mr. Summers seconded the motion, and it was unanimously passed.

Minutes of the March 29, 2000 Special CBHE Meeting

Mrs. Findley moved that the minutes of the March 29 special meeting be approved as submitted. Mrs. Wood seconded the motion, and it was unanimously passed.

Report of the Commissioner

Commissioner Stroup also thanked President Murphy and the Missouri Western staff for their assistance with the meeting arrangements. Dr. Stroup informed the board that now that they have approved the minutes of the March 29 special meeting those minutes will be distributed to the higher education community as interest has been expressed in seeing those minutes. Commissioner Stroup reported that lately most of her time has been spent working with the legislature on the higher education budget and on legislation that effects higher education. Dr. Stroup also noted that she along with John Bass, Sandra Kauffman, and Joy Casada attended the Association of Governing Boards annual meeting in New Orleans.

Report of the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee Meeting

Dr. Marianne Inman reported that the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee met earlier in the morning and that the following items were on the agenda: Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning/Web-based Courses; 2000 Report on Progress Toward the Statewide Public Policy Initiatives and Goals; Changes in Funding for Results for FY 2002 and Beyond; and Proposed State Level General Education Policy Revision.

The discussion from the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting follows.

Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning/Web-based Courses

Dr. Andrew White stated that the CBHE Advisory Committee on Technology and Instruction (CTI) continues to advance Missouri higher education by encouraging more meaningful learning experiences and greater access to higher education through the use of technology.

Dr. White noted that as distance learning and web-based courses become more common, the need to assure their high level of quality becomes increasingly important. Many other states and regional and national organizations have adopted "principles of good practice" statements which guide institutions of higher education in ensuring consistent quality in the delivery of distance-learning courses and programs. At the time the CBHE adopted its Policy and Procedures for the Review of Academic Program Proposals: New Academic Programs, Off-site Delivery of Existing Programs and Program Changes in 1997, it acknowledged the need for a consistent framework addressing the development of new distance learning and web-based courses and programs delivered in an asynchronous mode. These "principles of good practice" were developed after the staff had conversations with the CTI and the Missouri higher education community. Feedback was also sought from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, the Kentucky Virtual University, and the Serviceman's Opportunity College. The original recommendation was revised to include the proprietary schools. It was suggested that these principles could also be applied to courses developed for on-campus use. Discussion was held on the University of Phoenix and how these principles will relate to it. Commissioner Stroup stated that the University of Phoenix will serve adult learners and will adhere to the principles. Mr. Leroy Wade commented that the University of Phoenix has submitted an application for certification in Missouri and the initial review has been completed.

2000 Report on Progress Toward the Statewide Public Policy Initiatives and Goals for Missouri Higher Education

Dr. John Wittstruck reported that instead of focusing on the 24 quality goals contained in the Blueprint for Missouri Higher Education this year's report focused on progress made in improving the access, quality, and efficiency of Missouri higher education. Its findings establish the framework for future discussions of higher education initiatives. There were several reports released in 1999 that will guide the development of public policy initiatives, quality goals, and strategic initiatives in the beginning of the 21st Century. These reports include: Toward an Affordable Future; Mathematics in Missouri; Action Plans for Collaboration; and Show-me Results.

Dr. Wittstruck commented that increasing the quality of new teachers is a priority for the Coordinating Board, which has encouraged institutions to meet higher standards than the minimum set by the State Board of Education. Institutions are provided incentives to work toward the Coordinating Board's goal of having 80 percent of their newly certified teachers achieve scores on the state-mandated exit assessments that equal or exceed the national average, scoring at or above the 50th percentile. In FY 1999, 59 percent of teacher education graduates in Missouri who took national exit examinations scored at or above the 50th percentile. Mrs. Carmichael expressed concern that the exit scores for prospective Missouri teachers are consistently behind the national median in cut-scores and emphasized the need for Missouri's cut-scores to be raised to the national average. Dr. Stein commented that the State Board of Education has statutory responsibility to set both minimum entry and exit requirements and has used an extensive process to determine cut-scores. Based on the importance placed on the quality of new teachers, the Coordinating Board set higher entry and exit standards than the minimum standards set by the State Board of Education for teachers.

Mrs. Kauffman emphasized the need to exceed the minimum standards in order to train good teachers and stated that it will be difficult to pursue excellence when there are two standards and wondered if the two boards have discussed this matter. Mrs. Carmichael suggested that this item should be placed on the agenda for the joint meeting of the CBHE and the State Board of Education on May 18. Dr. Julio Leon commented that DESE sets the exit score standards based on the demand for teachers and not the quality and that although the CBHE sets higher standards for future teachers, the demand for teachers prevails. Dr. Leon is concerned that higher education is blamed for the lack of quality teachers but that K-12 schools sometimes hire teachers with only temporary certification. Dr. Dean Hubbard asked for information on how DESE established their standards and stressed that the higher education institutions need to assign a higher priority to teacher preparation. Dr. John Keiser mentioned that there is a debate over whether or not the exit examination should dictate the curriculum. Mr. Bass expressed concern that some substitute teachers only have 60 hours of college credit and those hours are often not subject-specific.

Dr. Stein reported that both the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education are exploring alternative teacher education methods. The departments' leadership wants to raise the quality of teachers but not add to the bureaucratic burden of providing alternative certification. Mrs. Carmichael requested major field achievement test scores of teacher education students taking assessments in the content field. Dr. Pacheco applauded the results-oriented assessments in use. He stated that the improvement in assessment test scores from the student's first-year to graduation is essential to evaluate the quality of teachers.

The report indicates that in fall 1999, 93 percent of entering freshmen took the CBHE recommended 16-unit core curriculum in high school compared to 46 percent in 1992. The number of Missouri public and private high schools that offered Advanced Placement courses has increased from 114 to 187 and the number of AP examinations taken by Missouri high school students has nearly doubled, from 4,585 in 1992 to 8,775 in 1999. The number of graduate students enrolling in graduate and professional programs of study at the University of Missouri who scored above the 50th percentile on graduate admissions examinations has increased from 82 percent to 85 percent and from 53 percent to 61 percent at the state's public master's degree-granting universities. Between FY 1992 and FY 1999, the amount of funds obtained for research on a competitive basis by the University of Missouri campuses has increased 91 percent, from $53,711,000 in FY 1992 to $102,505,656 in FY 1999.

The number of graduates from the state's colleges and universities has increased each year between FY 1992 and FY 1999, from 46,618 to 52,129 respectively. In addition between FY 1992 and FY 1999, the number of degrees conferred to minorities by the state's public and independent two- and four-year colleges and universities has increased from 4,598 to 6,918 (an increase of more than 50 percent) and from 2,763 to 4,287 African-Americans, a 55 percent increase. During the same time, the proportion of degrees conferred to minorities increased from 10.4 percent to 14.2 percent, and to African-Americans from 6.3 percent to 8.9 percent.

Dr. Wittstruck pointed out that the data and other information contained in this report demonstrate that much has been accomplished, and substantial progress has been made in improving the state's system of higher education. However, new challenges are ahead as higher education responds to the need for an accessible, high quality, and efficient system in the 21st Century.

Discussion of Changes in Funding for Results for FY 2002 and Beyond

Dr. Stein reported on the status of changes in Funding for Results for FY 2002 and beyond. The FFR Advisory Council met on February 25 and extensively reviewed all aspects of FFR, including whether to continue this initiative.

Proposed State Level General Education Policy Revision

Dr. Robert Stein provided an update on the process involved in designing recommendations for state level general education policy revisions, emphasizing the extent of collegiality and openness that has been prevalent for the past two years. The Committee on Transfer and Articulation has received the recommendations of the General Education Steering Committee and a minority report filed by the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Stein introduced Dr. Don Doucette and Dr. Fred Janzow, co-chairs of the General Education Steering Committee. They reported that the General Education Steering Committee believes that the proposed policy revisions maintain local governance and are responsive to student needs. They described the major features of the policy and the rationale for recommending revisions to existing policy. Mr. Ewing asked if the 42-hour general education block would transfer from one institution to another although they may not be the same at both institutions. Drs. Doucette and Janzow replied that the block will address the same educational outcomes, but institutions will still have the autonomy to address them differently. Dr. John Park stated that the institutions may face difficulties and some have agreed to abandon some unique features of their general education programs to accommodate the new policy.

(End of discussion from the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting.)

2000 Report on Progress Toward the Statewide Public Policy Initiatives and Goals for Missouri Higher Education

(See this section of the minutes of the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting.)

Chairman Henry commended Dr. Wittstruck for the reorganization of the progress report, stating that it is much more readable and understandable than the previous format. Mrs. Findley called the board's attention to Chart B9 (Percentage of Certified Public School Teachers Meeting CBHE Admission Recommendations (ACT Composite at the 66th Percentile and/or a Score of 265 or Above on the C-BASE.) She stated that she was appalled that at some institutions the percentage of certified public school teachers meeting CBHE admission recommendations has decreased rather than increased, and suggested that particular attention needs to be paid to this area. Dr. Wittstruck pointed out that there was a lengthy discussion in the Presidential Advisory Committee meeting regarding this issue but that the staff would examine the data presented in this chart. Dr. Wittstruck stated that although there could be some improvement related to mission differentiation of the system, the board should take pride in the fact that through its policies, a sustained differentiated system, from open enrollment to moderately selective, to selective, to highly selective institutions with different programmatic themes and different performance measures related to freshman success rates, completion rates, and graduation rates has been established. Dr. Wittstruck noted that a sustained commitment to continue working on meeting those goals that the board established for these different types of institutions should be made.

Mr. Summers asked if the staff's data would indicate that the highly selective and moderately selective schools are achieving a higher four-year graduation rate than the less selective schools? Dr. Wittstruck responded that that information has not been assembled but could be done so for the four-year rate.

Discussion of Changes in Funding for Results for FY 2002 and Beyond

Dr. Stein commented that Funding for Results is used as a funding strategy both to promote and acknowledge results. FFR is used to demonstrate accountability to the governor, the legislature, and the public as requests for new money are justified. Dr. Stein acknowledged that all public institutions have maintained their commitment to be engaged in teaching and learning improvement projects. Staff realizes the need to align the FFR elements with the NCA standards. A major change being proposed for FY 2002 will be the elimination of the FFR element for doing assessment with more emphasis placed on the actual performance of students on particular assessments.

Appointments to the MOSTARS Advisory Board

Commissioner Stroup stated that she is still trying to complete the list of members to the MOSTARS Advisory Board but that the following have agreed to serve:

John Dillingham, president, Dillingham Industries
Barbara Burns, superintendent of schools, Lamar
Ken Dobbins, president, Southeast Missouri State University
Gustavo Valedez Ortez, president, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley
Ed Strong, president, Culver-Stockton College
Larkin Hicks, president, Allied Medical College
Ted Farnen, chairman, House Education Committee
Anita Yeckel, member, Senate Education Committee
Ron Maupin, vice president of financial affairs, Southwest Baptist University
William Zielonko, chairman, MOHELA
Celeste Ferguson, asst. commissioner for urban and teacher education, DESE
Henry Givens, president, Harris-Stowe State College, Advisor

Missouri Western State College: Results of State Investments in the First Cycle of Mission Review and Enhancements

In January 1995, the Coordinating Board designated Missouri Western State College as an open enrollment institution providing associate and baccalaureate degree programs that meet the needs of the citizens, businesses, and industries in its designated service region. In addition, the board recommended that the college develop such academic support programs as it deems necessary and appropriate to an open enrollment institution to improve the success of students. As a result of Missouri Western's five-year mission review conducted by the CBHE in 1995, the institution received a state investment of $2,908,400 in mission enhancement funding between FY 1997 and FY 2000.

President Janet Murphy addressed the board and stated that Missouri Western State College continues to honor its tradition of open access believing that citizens should have the opportunity for higher education. The major emphasis of the enhanced mission of Missouri Western State College rests on the understanding that providing open access while important, is simply not enough. Missouri Western believes that with the commitment to open admissions, comes a responsibility to work with students to succeed academically. Access Plus is the program they have implemented to enhance Missouri Western's open access mission.

The purposes of Access Plus are:

to increase retention rates, particularly between the freshman and sophomore year;
to improve graduation rates;
to enable students to successfully navigate the academic curriculum; and
to enhance students' ability to meet the standards required for entrance into major fields of study.

Because research has shown that the first year for students is absolutely critical and that students often made up their minds after only two or three weeks of classes whether to continue with their education, the Access Plus Program included the establishment of the Freshman Year Experience Office which is now part of a more inclusive office called Student Success Programs. Programs focussed on freshmen include:

enhanced orientation programs;
the College 101: Freshman Seminar course;
Freshman Interest Groups;
introduction to professional studies courses; and
an intrusive freshman advising program.

Over 500 students participate each year in the Freshman Seminar Course. Freshman Interest Groups have also been added. They consist of two or three classes around a common theme. The same 20-22 students attend all classes in the cluster to promote a learning community. Instructors are often the advisors of these students. Research on the Freshman Interest Groups indicates that students enrolled have a higher overall grade point average and are retained in higher numbers than students not enrolled in the groups. Access Plus also provides the opportunity to offer additional sections of introductory courses in the professional studies division which include Introduction to Business and Introduction to Criminal Justice. Access Plus has provided for a Center for Excellence in Teaching. The objectives of the center are to:

identify innovative teaching methods;
develop collegial and mentoring relationships among faculty;
develop resources for the improvement of teaching and learning; and
ensure that faculty have the proficiency necessary to make full use of classroom technology.

Mission enhancement funds are also being used to establish multimedia capability in all classrooms by this summer.

Dr. Murphy noted that at the heart of the Access Plus Program's success is the intensive advising program which was implemented. Over 125 faculty members and 20 professional staff have volunteered to be freshman advisors. These volunteers, in conjunction with the three new full time advisors added through Access Plus, work long and hard to ensure that freshmen make a successful adjustment to college. Missouri Western has also received enhancement funding for the development of postsecondary technical education with Metropolitan Community Colleges, Excelsior Springs Area Career Center, Hillyard Technical School, North Central Area Vocational-Technical School, and the Northland Career Center.

Since the advent of Access Plus the freshman to sophomore year retention rate has increased 10 percent. The retention rate of Honor's students has increased 15 percent. The student success rate has increased from 41 percent in 1992-93 to 54 percent in 1998-99. The goal for open admissions institutions in Missouri is 55 percent and Missouri Western has nearly reached that mark. The number of freshmen on probation after one semester has decreased nearly 13 percent since the fall of 1995. The number of freshmen suspended after two semesters has been cut in half since 1995-96. The one-year retention rate increased 29 percent for underprepared students. The probation rate for underprepared freshmen has decreased 30 percent since 1996.

Some of the recognition which Missouri Western has received for Access Plus include:

Access Plus was recognized as one of the top 100 programs by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities;
Dr. Murphy was asked to lead a roundtable discussion on "successful retention measures" at the Association of Governing Boards National Conference on Trusteeship in Seattle in 1999 with Karen Baker, president of the Board of Regents;
The Access Plus Program was named as one of the 1999 National Retention Execellence Award winners at the National Conference in San Francisco sponsored by the USA Group Noel-Levitz;
Dr. Murphy was presented with the Pacesetter Award by the National Academic Advising Association last fall;
The program was featured in the national newsletter, produced by the National Resource Center on the Freshman Year which was founded by John Gardner;
Dr. Murphy recently made a presentation on Access Plus at the national conference of the American Association for Higher Education in Anaheim; and
Proclamations have been received from the Missouri House and Senate and the Governor.

Commissioner Stroup called the board's attention to the Missouri Western State College Mission Enhancement Accountability Measures contained in the board book. These accountability measures show what the board asked Missouri Western to do in terms of mission enhancement funding. Missouri Western received $2,908,400 for this purpose. Dr. Stroup said that the information presented today by Dr. Murphy demonstrates the merits of the board's mission enhancement accountability measures.

Mr. Bass emphasized that a goal related to cultural diversity should be a part of every institutions mission and outcomes performance measures. President Murphy responded that through mission enhancement funding a Unity Services Center was established to help students succeed at Missouri Western. The center is staffed by minorities and does an enormous job of tutoring students.

Missouri Southern State College: Results of State Investments in the First Cycle of Mission Review and Enhancements

In January 1995, the Coordinating Board designated Missouri Southern State College as a moderately selective admissions institution providing associate and baccalaureate degree programs that meet the needs of the citizens, businesses, and industries in its designated service region. In addition, the board recommended that the college develop such academic programs as it deems necessary and appropriate to establish international or global education as a distinctive theme of its mission. As a result of the CBHE's five-year mission review of Missouri Southern State College in 1995, the institution has received a state investment of $2,390,090 in mission enhancement funding between FY 1997 and FY 2000.

President Julio Leon commented that he doesn't believe that the statistics contained in the charts and graphs that he will be presenting can truly convey what is happening at Missouri Southern State College. He shared a report with the board that deals with the human impact on the lives and the attitudes and the beliefs of the people and the departments within the institution as a result of the transformation of the institution into one that thinks of itself as an internationally oriented institution. Missouri Southern set the following goals and priorities for its mission implementation:

They would rely heavily on a set of recommendations made by a 70-member faculty taskforce;
The long-term goal of internationalization at Missouri Southern would be achievement of an international education culture that would permeate throughout the institution;
In order to generate strong awareness of the international mission and to begin to develop enthusiasm, the initial efforts would concentrate on study and travel abroad opportunities for students and faculty;
A second area of priority at the beginning would be the expansion and development of the foreign language program;
As funds became available in subsequent years, other important areas would be emphasized, such as internationalization of the curriculum, development of exchange relationships with foreign universities, international cultural programs, outreach programs with public schools and businesses, etc; and
The implementation of the planned international activities would be entrusted to a newly created Institute of International Studies whose director would be responsible to the vice president for academic affairs and, ultimately to the president of the college.

Dr. Leon presented a chart that showed that approximately 170 students and 50 faculty members traveled abroad in 1999-2000. Students traveled to 34 different countries and faculty to 45 countries. In order to share information with other institutions, Missouri Southern developed a web-site that acts as a clearinghouse on international education. The web-site contains a listing of every program related to international education in every college in the United States and also programs in other parts of the world. Missouri Southern expanded the teaching of foreign languages by adding Chinese, Japanese, Russian, French and German. They were already teaching Spanish. Approximately 750 Missouri Southern students enrolled in foreign language classes in the fall of 1999. They developed two new majors, one in French and the other in German and also developed minors in each of the foreign languages being taught.

President Leon noted that they created an International Language Resource Center for the teachers of foreign languages in area schools. They began by sending some of their teachers as well as some foreign language majors and international students to the elementary schools in the area and offered Spanish free for anyone who wanted to take it after classes. The response was so tremendous that the Joplin School District decided, as a pilot project, to begin the teaching of foreign languages at one of its elementary schools. That program was so successful with tremendous response from the parents that the school district decided to expand the teaching of foreign languages to all of its elementary schools.

Missouri Southern holds a foreign language field day each year in which high school students come to campus to compete in everything related to foreign languages. About 1,300 students participate in this event, and they have had to turn away some participants because they don't have the capacity to have more students participate in the competition. About 55 percent of Missouri Southern's budget for mission enhancement has gone into personnel, mostly faculty in foreign languages.

Dr. Leon stated that Missouri Southern also has freshman interest groups but they have added an international dimension to their program by offering a couple of blocks available to the students with a foreign language component in Spanish or French. That particular interest group will have an opportunity to travel abroad during the spring semester.

Mrs. Grove inquired as to where the students come from that attend Missouri Southern and take advantage of their international programs. Dr. Leon responded that a significant number of students transfer from Crowder College at Neosho. Crowder College also has a significant number of international programs, and there is an enclave of Russian students there who have found their way to southwest Missouri. Mrs. Grove also asked Dr. Leon if he sees Missouri Southern as drawing from and serving other areas of the state. Dr. Leon answered that they are beginning to get known around the state and are beginning to get lots of inquiries from farther and farther away. Although they do not recruit international students, they are finding Missouri Southern through its web-site. In response to a question about how many of Southern's students would fall into the lower socioeconomic group, Dr. Leon responded that a significant number of their students do not have the means to study abroad and that is why a good portion of their budget is designated for grants to fund travel abroad for students.

Southwest Missouri State University: Results of State Investment in the First Cycle of Mission Review and Enhancement

In January 1995, the Coordinating Board designated Southwest Missouri State University as a selective admissions metropolitan university focusing on professional education (teaching), health care, business and economic development, and performing arts for its statutory district with a special statewide mission in public affairs. The board recognized that SMSU's West Plains campus would focus on postsecondary technical education associate of applied science degree programs, and its research station in Mountain Grove would focus on research of interest to the state. As a result of the CBHE's 1995 mission review of Southwest Missouri State University, the institution received a state investment of $10,506,365 in mission enhancement funding between FY 1997 and FY 2000.

Dr. John Keiser commented that Southwest describes themselves as a three-campus metropolitan university system whose single purpose is to develop educated persons while focusing on five themes: professional education, health care, business and economic development, and performing arts, with a statewide mission in public affairs. Southwest is the second largest university in the state with just under 19,000 students who come from every county in Missouri, 48 states and 81 foreign countries. Dr. Keiser said they operate efficiently and effectively as a three-campus system using existing administrators in a coordinated fashion. Southwest has worked hard to build a reputation based on its pledge to say what they mean, do what they say, and be held accountable for the results. Toward that end, SMSU subscribes to a continuous planning model with the CBHE and that process resulted in their five-year plan, Welcoming the 21st Century 1995-2000. Dr. Keiser said he is very pleased with the plan and they have addressed nearly very item in the plan and accomplished 85 percent of them. They are now finalizing their next long-range plan, a six-year plan, from 2000 - 2006 titled Countdown to the SMSU Centennial.

Dr. Keiser addressed the six mission enhancement goals established by the CBHE for Southwest.

Goal I deals with incorporating the statewide mission in public affairs into the curriculum. Southwest has incorporated public affairs into a more focused general education program; reducing the number of general education courses from 347 to 85. They have aggressively and effectively incorporated service learning into the curriculum where the student provides 40 hours of service relevant to the course topic. They have incorporated volunteerism into the fabric of university life with a total of 106,000 hours volunteered last year. One of the results of this has been SMSU's recognition by the Templeton Foundation for the second time. In 1999, no other institution was recognized in more categories of the Templeton Guide, and SMSU was one of only four public institutions nationwide listed on the Honor Roll. Southwest hopes to be the location of a statewide campus compact organization, which would allow SMSU to share its public affairs activities with other institutions.

Goal II-A-1 deals with strengthening the graduate program. Graduate enrollment increased from 1,733 in fall 1994 to 2,952 in fall 1999 and the percentage of graduate students increased from approximately 10 percent to nearly 17 percent. SMSU added 17 new masters' degree programs, two cooperative masters', and one cooperative doctorate with the University of Missouri System. The result of this effort is that SMSU is now the third largest public provider of graduate education in the state.

Goals II-A-2 and II-A-3 deal with the proportion of entering freshmen who meet the selective admissions requirement and the success rate for SMSU students. Since 1994, SMSU has gone from open admissions to a selection index of 100 on the way to a goal of 120. The retention rate increased from 63.6 percent to 73.2 percent. Students completing the high school core curriculum increased from 50 percent to 98 percent. The average ACT score for entering freshmen increased significantly from 21.0 to 23.5. The success rate for students has increased from 48.7 percent to 68.1 percent. Dr. Keiser stated that one of the explanations for these results is the model partnership SMSU has established with Ozarks Technical Community College.

Goal II-B deals with improving distance education in SMSU's service region, especially as it relates to graduate courses. They are accomplishing this goal through a three-part strategy: interactive video, Internet-based instruction, and telecourses. The SMSU interactive video is called BearNet. SMSU Online provides full master's degree programs, as well as other graduate-level programming, via the Internet. They also intend to participate in the Missouri Learners' Network. Last Fall SMSU's Master of Science in Computer Information Systems online program was ranked as one of the top 10 Techno MBA Programs in the United States by Computerworld. Through this concerted effort, SMSU's enrollment in distance learning has served more than 2,000 students each of the past two years.

The final goal relates to new AAS degree programs at SMSU-West Plains. There has been growth in specific AAS degree programs and the students served by each.

Results of the State Plan for Postsecondary Technical Education

Dr. Terry Barnes noted that in April 1999 the CBHE approved a set of performance measures for monitoring the role of the state's community colleges and Linn State Technical College in meeting its goals for the state's postsecondary technical education initiatives, as well as mission enhancement results from five years of institutional planning. These measures are basically intended to measure the results of the state's investment in new and expanded postsecondary technical education programs that make a difference in Missouri's workforce development system. Since 1997, the state has invested about $20 million for technical education. This year's request is for the final $5 million to make a total of $25 million.

Dr. Henry Shannon discussed the results of the state's investment in postsecondary technical education that show improvements in geographic and programmatic access, student access to employment and financial opportunities, and program quality. The number of communities becoming access points for the delivery of postsecondary technical education is increasing. There are now 68 communities with access to postsecondary technical education. The inventory and capacity of targeted AAS/AS and baccalaureate technical degree programs are increasing with 102 new targeted postsecondary technical programs being initiated since July 1996. These programs consist of 31 technical certificates and 71 technical AAS degree programs, a 42 percent increase over the baseline established before FY 1997. The number of articulation agreements and partnerships between AVTS' secondary and adult programs and two- and four-year institutions delivering targeted postsecondary technical education programs is increasing. By the conclusion of FY 1999, all 57 of the AVTS's had secondary and adult preparatory articulation agreements with one or more of the state's public two-year institutions, Missouri Western State College, Linn State Technical College, and SMSU-West Plains. The number of articulation agreements and partnerships between private career (proprietary) schools and targeted postsecondary technical programs is increasing. The number of articulation agreements between targeted two-year AS/AAS degree programs and public baccalaureate technology programs is also increasing.

The delivery of targeted technical programs via instructional television (ITV) networks to communities located in the service regions is increasing. A portion of the technical education distributions from the Missouri General Assembly has been used for each RTEC to enhance geographic and programmatic accessibility through investments in the development of synchronous interactive two-way instructional television networks. The number of recent high school graduates entering targeted postsecondary technical programs is increasing and the number of participants and course completers in targeted technical programs are increasing at both on- and off-campus sites. At the conclusion of FY 1999, the number of students participating in targeted technical programs reached 12,352, a 37 percent increase since FY 1995.

According to a study of a sample of 1,149 students graduating during FY 1997 from targeted technical certificate, AS/AAS, or technology bachelor's degree programs, these students generally earn salaries and wages that are higher than average salaries than do FY 1997 graduates in general. Technical AAS degree graduates earned on average $28,374 compared to $18,656 for non-technical AAS degree graduates. At the baccalaureate degree level, those receiving technology-related bachelor's degrees earned on average $35,034 compared to $22,190 for graduates in other non-technical fields. The number and percent of students who complete targeted technical programs and find jobs in related occupational fields are increasing and the number of students graduating with certificate, AAS/AS, and baccalaureate degrees from targeted technical programs is increasing.

The number of relationships between union and non-union apprenticeship training schools and the state's system of two-year providers has greatly increased. Effective June 30, 2000 all two-year institutions and Missouri Western State College will have initiated or already implemented plans to renew or achieve accreditation of all new targeted technical programs added since FY 1997. The number of students graduating from targeted certificate and AAS/AS degrees and then graduating from baccalaureate technology programs at public four-year institutions is increasing. The number of graduates from targeted technical programs passing licensure, registration, certification, or applicable industry-based skills set examinations is also increasing.

Dr. Shannon noted that there are still issues needing further attention and discussion. Some of those are the need to prioritize investments in new targeted technical programs that are at the emerging and advanced "cutting-edge" of technology. Institutions should initiate realistic plans to seek appropriate national accreditation for all targeted technical programs by FY 2003. All students must be encouraged to earn an AAS degree before leaving for employment. The potential for collaborative educational ventures between the two-year providers and the proprietary sector needs to be fully explored. The State Plan for Postsecondary Technical Education must be completed.

At the conclusion of Dr. Shannon's presentation, Commissioner Stroup reported Linn State Technical College is currently undergoing a North Central Association review process. The results of the state's investment in the mission of Linn State Technical College and its CBHE approved five-year master plan will, therefore be on the agenda for the June meeting.

Proposed State Level General Education Policy Revision

(See this section of the Minutes of the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting.)

Dr. Robert Stein called attention to page 12 of the CBHE Guidelines for Student Transfer and Articulation among Missouri Colleges and Universities and pointed to Section A1 of the policy, which refers to general education. This section of the current policy has been in effect since 1987 (in total 1 ½ pages). The CBHE Committee on Transfer and Articulation and then the General Education Steering Committee were challenged to conduct a review of general education transfer, with a particular emphasis on competencies and to make recommendations for changes to this section of the policy. The proposed revisions which are the result of two years of discussions with Missouri's academic community, represent an attempt to be more explicit about state-level guidelines to reinforce the importance of students completing a coherent general education program, to maintain institutional autonomy and faculty control of the curriculum, and to be responsive to students' needs for an effective and efficient transfer system.

Chairman Henry stated that the new policy is unique as it depends upon good faith being exercised on the part of all institutions or it won't work. Dr. Henry stressed that everyone needs to be kept informed of the new policy and that that is the only way to salvage a rather unique agreement.

Dr. Janzow and Dr. Doucette, Co-chairs of the GESC were introduced. They referenced the earlier discussion at the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting and reemphasized that the current proposal represented the hard work of academicians over the past two years and was the best policy (albeit a compromise among contending perspectives) that they could devise. They urged the CBHE to support these recommendations. Dr. Stein informed the board that after the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee Meeting and the CBHE meeting, the Committee on Transfer and Articulation will evaluate the proposed changes with an intent to forward its recommendations for any changes in state-level general education policy for transfer students to the CBHE for action at its June 8, 2000 meeting.

Update on the Missouri K-16 Coalition

Mrs. Carmichael stated that staffs from the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the University of Missouri are making progress on the implementation of several key recommendations contained in the K-16 report. They have developed a planning grid to assist in monitoring progress.

Dr. Stein explained that the planning grid contains a description of the current status of each of the 27 recommendations contained in the coalition's report, Mathematics in Missouri. It also contains desired outcomes and potential implementation steps. As an illustration, one recommendation is the appointment of a standing mathematics technical advisory committee. Staff is working on identifying potential members, ensuring representation and designing a charge for the committee. Mrs. Carmichael said that one of the charges to the coalition was the alignment of the math curriculum in grades 11-14 and since that wasn't accomplished that that would be an excellent charge for the mathematics technical advisory committee.

Mrs. Carmichael stated that one of the key recommendations of the coalition report was to engage presidents and chancellors more directly in making teacher education a priority. As a result of that recommendation, a meeting was held with Commissioners Bartman and Stroup and the presidents of the public four-year institutions. After meeting with these presidents and chancellors, the commissioners called for an educational summit set for April 25, 2000. All presidents and chancellors of the two- and four-year public and independent institutions were invited to the summit. Presidents and chancellors are being encouraged to become more actively involved in the important issues surrounding teacher education. The topics to be discussed include: strategic connection of teacher education to the mission of the institution; greater participation on the parts of arts and sciences faculty in the education of teacher candidates; stringent admission standards for teacher candidacy; and increased recruitment of minority students into the teaching profession. Mrs. Carmichael noted that the presidents and chancellors have already committed to review the status of teacher education programs on their own campuses with particular attention to teacher preparation profiles, to help in the identification of academic leaders including presidents and chancellors themselves to serve on site teams that will review teacher education programs, and to review and assess the strengths and challenges of the regional professional development schools that are located on their campuses. Currently the staffs of the CBHE and SBE are working on ways to formalize the role that the CBHE will play in the review of teacher education programs which is one of the recommendations of the coalition report.

Mrs. Carmichael commented that the coalition report will be discussed at the May 18th meeting of the State Board of Education and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. They will also discuss the focus of a future Missouri K-16 Coalition. The staffs have recommended that the next coalition focus on promoting partnerships for urban schools success. Mrs. Carmichael inquired of the board what their feelings would be regarding that as a charge to the next coalition. Mrs. Kauffman and Mrs. Grove had questions as to just what the definition of urban schools as used in this context would be. Mrs. Carmichael responded that they would have to define urban schools as broadly as possible and suggested that they might look for another way to be more specific about what they are actually trying to get at because urban means some things to some people and other things to others. She emphasized that they are not dropping the charge to the first coalition but are expanding it to include an urban focus. All three sponsors will be working on developing a charge for the next coalition.

Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning/Web-based Courses

(See this section of the minutes of the CBHE Presidential Advisory Committee meeting.)

Mrs. Grove moved that the board adopt the Principles of Good Practice for Distance Learning/Web-based Courses contained in the board book (Attachment B) and direct staff to work with chief academic officers and officials of Missouri proprietary schools to design methods by which the principles can be used to ensure quality in the technology-mediated asynchronous courses and programs listed on the Missouri Learners' Network and in the programs listed in the CBHE program inventory. She further moved that the Committee on Technology and Instruction (CTI) inform all 2- and 4-year institutions of these actions. Mr. Summers seconded the motion, and it was unanimously passed.

Summary and Status of Selected Higher Education Legislation and the FY 2001 Appropriation Request

Commissioner Stroup reported that both the House and Senate made reductions in the higher education budget. One of those was the deletion by the Senate of $5.8 million for the technical education plan. In the House's capital budget, higher education lost $4.5 million in projects and gained back only $1.9 million in projects many of which had not been recommended by the CBHE. The department still has not received authorization to spend additional funds from the Missouri College Guarantee Program fund. It is expected that most of the items where funding has been reduced or eliminated will be decided by the conference committee. In response to questions from board members regarding what they could do to assist in restoring the higher education budget to what was recommended by the governor, Commissioner Stroup stated that the board might make its concerns known to the budget conference committee. However individual members of the conference committee haven't been named yet. Representative Dick Franklin and Senator Wayne Goode both will serve on the committee as chairmen of their respective budget committees. Board members could contact these two individuals.

Appointment of a Nominating Committee for Selection of CBHE Officers

Chairman Henry appointed the following CBHE members to serve as a nominating committee.

Jim Summers, Chair
Mary Joan Wood
John Bass

The committee will present its slate of officers at the June CBHE meeting.

Information ItemsThe board received the following information items:

Academic Program Actions
Proprietary School Certification Actions and Reviews
Final List of Designated Academic Programs for the Advantage Missouri Program
Third State Aid and Technical Education Payments, and Capital Reimbursements to Community Colleges, FY 2000

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

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Ray Henry, Chairman

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John Bass, Secretary