1Establishing a Higher Education Action Committee to implement
2solutions to further the success of Pennsylvania's higher
3education system.

4WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes the critical
5need for developing and enacting innovative result-oriented
6policies to provide a more efficient governance structure for
7higher education that balances the inherent autonomy of each
8institution within a framework specifically designed to prepare
9students for success in our State's transforming economy; and

10WHEREAS, There is a pressing need to provide today's higher
11education leaders with sufficient authority to ensure well-
12planned coordination of academic programs by enhancing
13articulation agreements for seamless transfer of earned credits
14and to facilitate efficient use of resources; and

15WHEREAS, In February 2012, in the midst of unprecedented
16funding cuts in State support for higher education, Governor

1Corbett established the Advisory Commission on Postsecondary
2Education to address the fiscal crisis and this Commonwealth's
3workforce development demands; and

4WHEREAS, Over a nine-month period the 31-member commission
5convened 16 public meetings and heard testimony from 58 higher
6education experts; and

7WHEREAS, The commission's report, issued in November 2012,
8contained 19 recommendations to "further promote innovation and
9help postsecondary learning to become more accessible and
10affordable with outcome-based results to enhance the economic
11vitality of our Commonwealth"; therefore be it

12RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives establish a
13Higher Education Action Committee to prepare an action plan that
14will recommend policies to be adopted by institutions of higher
15education operating in this Commonwealth and legislation to be
16enacted by the General Assembly, where required, that provide
17for focused improvements to the Statewide coordination of higher
18education by implementing the commission's recommendations in
19the following ways:

20(1) Review the baseline of State support recommended by
21the advisory commission and identify a funding mechanism to
22provide long-term fiscal predictability for higher education.

23(2) Arrive at a consensus on how to implement the
24advisory commission's recommendation for a State-funded
25initial performance fund to be distributed through an agreed
26upon performance-based model.

27(3) Clearly identify the role and mission of each tier
28within Pennsylvania's structure of higher education,
29including proposed changes to their respective governance
30structures and how they coordinate with each other.

1(4) Consolidate resources and eliminate redundancy while
2recognizing the need to support access to diverse higher
3education options in every region of this Commonwealth.

4(5) Expand on proven programs, such as the Pennsylvania
5Targeted Industry Program and the Distance Education Pilot
6Program, to enhance student access.

7(6) Improve tax policies to incentivize job training
8programs to meet workforce needs;

9and be it further

10RESOLVED, That the committee be comprised of:

11(1) The chair of the Advisory Commission on
12Postsecondary Education, who shall be the chair of the
13committee.

14(2) The Chancellor of the State System of Higher
15Education.

16(3) Two presidents of member institutions of the State
17System of Higher Education, appointed by the Commission of
18Presidents of the State System of Higher Education.

19(4) The presidents of The Pennsylvania State University,
20Temple University, the University of Pittsburgh and Lincoln
21University.

22(5) The chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania
23Commission for Community Colleges.

24(6) The Secretary of Education.

25(7) The chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania
26Higher Education Assistance Agency.

27(8) A faculty representative designated by the
28Association of Pennsylvania State College and University
29Faculties.

30(9) A faculty representative and a student

1representative from a community college.

2(10) A faculty representative and a student
3representative from a State-related university.

4(11) A student representative from an institution within
5the State System of Higher Education;

6and be it further

7RESOLVED, That the members of the committee serve without
8compensation and that the State System of Higher Education shall
9provide support services to the committee; and be it further

10RESOLVED, That the committee initially meet within 30 days
11following the adoption of this resolution; and be it further

12RESOLVED, That the committee be authorized to call upon any
13department, office or agency of State government to provide
14assistance deemed necessary to discharge its responsibilities;
15and be it further

16RESOLVED, That each Commonwealth department, officer and
17agency is urged, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to
18cooperate with the committee and to furnish the committee with
19such assistance on a timely basis to accomplish the purposes of
20this resolution; and be it further

21RESOLVED, That the committee's action plan include a timeline
22for implementation of the committee's recommendations; and be it
23further

24RESOLVED, That the committee submit its action plan to the
25Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Education,
26Finance and Appropriations Committees of the House of
27Representatives no later than November 30, 2014.