ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
Forty-eighth Legislature – Second Regular Session
HOUSE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON EQUITY IN UNIVERSITY FUNDING
Minutes of Meeting
House Hearing Room 3 -- 11:00 a.m.
Chairman Nichols called the meeting to order at 11:02 a.m. and attendance was noted by the secretary.
Members Present
Representative Lopes Representative Robson
Representative Nichols, Chairman
FIVE-MINUTE PRESENTATIONS ON FISCAL YEAR 2010 BUDGET REQUEST
Arizona State University
Richard Stanley, Senior Vice President for University Planning, Arizona State University (ASU), gave an overview of ASU’s FY 2010 State Budget Request totaling $35 million in new funding (Attachment 1). He responded to questions regarding the reduction for student base funding from $31 million to $10 million, the Arizona Board of Regent’s (ABOR) role in allocating funds to the universities, and tuition.
In reference to the reduction for student base funding, Mr. Robson remarked that the universities’ total needs should be related to the Legislature.
Mr. Stanley explained to Chairman Nichols how research is factored into the funding evaluation.
Northern Arizona University
Pat Hauser, Vice President, Planning Budget and Research, Northern Arizona University (NAU), related NAU’s FY 2010 Budget Request, which includes $9.8 million for enrollment growth and $3.4 million for strategic investments. She responded to questions concerning the student body profile, the Yuma campus, graduation and retention rates, admission requirements, and initiatives.
University of Arizona
Jim Florian, Budget Director, University of Arizona (UA), gave an overview of UA’s FY 2010 State Budget Request totaling $29 million (Attachment 2). He responded to questions regarding utilization of funds requested for building renewal in conjunction with lottery funds designated in legislation for building renewal, bringing faculty and staff salaries to market, the impact of the last round of budget cuts on UA, and the proportion of graduate and undergraduate students.
Mr. Robson asked if the cost per student at undergraduate, Master’s and doctorate levels has been calculated. Mr. Florian responded that the ABOR is attempting to quantify the difference in cost between those levels.
Mr. Florian addressed the graduation rate at UA.
Mr. Stanley related that the graduation rate for transfer students from a community college is measured on a four-year basis, and on a six-year basis for students who enter as freshmen. The assumption is that because of the community college experience, it does not take as long to get through the system.
DISCUSSION
Christine Thompson, Assistant Executive Director for Government Affairs, Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), stated that information requested previously will be provided to the Members at the end of the week.
Chairman Nichols indicated that one more meeting will be held.
Ms. Thompson indicated to Mr. Lopes that ABOR is in the midst of developing a funding adequacy formula. ABOR and the universities are in the process of identifying peer institutions that would normally be used in the context of developing an adequacy model for funding, tuition and other determinations for each of the institutions. Discussion followed.
Dr. Sandra Woodley, Chief Financial Officer, Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), related that about 15 states have peer-based models, and the methodology for selecting the peer set is evaluated every four to five years. The peer methodology currently being studied takes into account public institutions with the same mission, the same cost factors, and the same percent of upper division graduates compared to undergraduates. The idea in the peer-based model is to compare each university to the comparison group they should be compared to based on cost and mission-differentiated factors.
Chairman Nichols thanked everyone for attending and stated that another meeting will be scheduled as soon as possible.
Without objection, the meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.
_______________________________
Linda Taylor, Committee Secretary
October 31, 2008
(Original minutes, attachments and audio on file in the Chief Clerk’s Office: video archives available at http://www.azleg.gov).
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HOUSE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON
EQUITY IN UNIVERSITY FUNDING
October 29, 2008
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