§ 2886 - Commission on higher education funding
§ 2886. Commission on higher education funding
(a) A commission on higher education funding is created for the purpose of:
(1) developing and, when necessary, refining Vermont's goals for higher education;
(2) developing and, when necessary, updating a multiyear plan to meet Vermont's higher education needs;
(3) annually recommending to the governor a level of state financial support for higher education which best uses state resources to meet the goals developed by the commission;
(4) reviewing expenditures made from the higher education endowment trust fund, evaluating the impact of the expenditures made, and making recommendations to the general assembly for further expenditures from the fund.
(b) The commission shall consist of 14 members as follows:
(1) The president of the University of Vermont;
(2) The president of the Vermont student assistance corporation;
(3) The chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges;
(4) A sitting president of a Vermont state college, appointed by the chancellor in consultation with the governor, for a term of two years;
(5) The president of the association of Vermont independent colleges and one sitting president of an independent college, selected by the association in consultation with the governor, for a term of three years;
(6) A representative of the Vermont low income advocacy council, chosen by the council for a term of one year;
(7) Two members at large appointed by the governor, for a term of three years each;
(8) Four legislative members, who shall be entitled to per diem expenses from the legislative appropriation, as follows:
(A) Two members from the house appointed by the speaker of the house, each to serve until the end of the biennium in which she or he is appointed. However, if the member leaves the legislature during that term, the speaker shall appoint another member for the remainder of the biennium;
(B) Two members of the senate appointed by the committee on committees, each to serve until the end of the biennium in which she or he is appointed. However, if the member leaves the legislature during that term, the committee on committees shall appoint another member for the remainder of the biennium;
(9) The secretary of administration.
(c) The executive, legislative and higher education staff shall provide support to the commission as appropriate to accomplish its tasks. Primary administrative support shall be provided by the legislative council.
(d) The cost of the commission, including any costs for per diem and expenses for at-large members and the representative of the low income advocacy council, shall be equally apportioned among the following: the administration, the University of Vermont, Vermont state colleges, the Vermont student assistance corporation and the association of Vermont independent colleges.
(e) The commission shall elect one of its members to be chair. (Added 1999, No. 27, § 1; amended 2001, No. 58, § 2.)