STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION – TOPIC SUMMARY

Topic: Strategic Reserve Funds for Columbia Gorge Community College and Linn-Benton Community College

Date: June 19, 2009

Staff/Office: Camille Preus, Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development

Action Requested: Information Only Policy Adoption Policy Adoption/Consent Calendar

ISSUE BEFORE THE BOARD: Allocation of CCWD Strategic Fund funds, by the Commissioner, to Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) and Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC).

BACKGROUND: According to the resolution passed by the Board on June 21, 2007, “The State Board of Education establishes a Strategic Fund to be used at the Board’s discretion, with the recommendation of the Commissioner. For 2007-09, the Strategic Fund will be no greater than one percent of the total legislatively approved Community College Support Fund allocation.”

The maximum amount available for the Strategic Fund is $5,000,000 (1% of the CCSF appropriation). The funds have been withheld from formula calculations and are available to be used at the Board’s discretion. Any unused portion of the Strategic Fund will be allocated through the CCSF Distribution Formula at the end of the biennium.

Department Review and Recommendation: CCWD reviewed the two requests and measured the proposals against the parameters set out in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 589-002-0100 Section 7.c.E:

(i) Purpose of the proposal.

(ii) How does the activity the initiatives and work plans of the Department and the State Board?

(iii) Does the activity relate to the Department’s Key Performance Measures or other program-specific measures?

(iv) Is the funding one time (for this Biennium) or will additional funding be needed in the future?

(v) If future funding is needed, how will those resources be obtained? Is the activity sustainable?

(vi) What is the activity’s impact on the State three years from now? Five years from now?
(vii) What change is anticipated?

(viii) How will progress be measured?

COMMISSIONER’S ACTION: The CCWD Commissioner and staff have allocated strategic reserve funds to CGCC (as the host college) to develop an Oregon community college green framework and statewide proposals for the Oregon Community College Green Initiative. The Commissioner and staff determined the proposal met the parameters outlined above and will further the initiatives and goals of the State Board of Education at the statewide level. The Commissioner has approved the allocation of $23,299 to support this statewide initiative.

The Commissioner has also allocated strategic reserve funds to LBCC Community College to act as the lead college in the Survey of Entering New Student Engagement (SENSE). SENSE is a national assessment for community and technical colleges focusing on the need for redesign of college practices in order to more successfully engage entering students. The Commissioner and staff determined the proposal met the parameters outlined above and will further the initiatives and goals of the State Board of Education at the statewide level. The Commissioner has approved the allocation of $41,000 to support this statewide initiative.

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