NOMINEE REQUIRING SENATE CONFIRMATION

EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT BACKGROUND SUMMARY

NOMINEE:               Laura Palmer Noone

POSITION:               Institution Offering a Baccalaureate Degree Member of the        Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education

REPLACING:          Reappointment

APPOINTING GOVERNOR:        Janice K. Brewer

DATE OF APPOINTMENT:  May 5, 2009          

TERM ENDS:  January 21, 2013

FUNCTION OF THE Board:

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-3003, the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (“Board”) licenses and regulates 192 private postsecondary educational institutions serving approximately 343,800 students annually.  The Board provides license applications, determines compliance, investigates complaints and violations, and takes disciplinary action on all private postsecondary institutions that offer vocational and/or degree programs, which the exception of cosmetology, barber, real estate, or professional driving schools.  In addition, the Board administers the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (“Fund”) which consists of at least $500,000 assessed from licensed institutions.  The Fund is used to compensate students financially injured when a licensed school closes before a student has completed contracted coursework. 

STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION:

The Board consists of seven gubernatorial appointments that serve four-year terms.  To be eligible for this position, the appointee must hold an executive or managerial position in a private educational institution offering a baccalaureate or higher degree, or both (A.R.S. § 32-3002).

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP AND TERM EXPIRATIONS:

Appointed Members Position Term Expiration

Laura Palmer Noone*           Private Institution Offering Baccalaureate                1/21/2013

                                                Degree or Higher        

Scott Rhude*                          Commerce and Industry within Arizona                     1/21/2013

Spring Zutes*                          Private Institution Offering Vocational Programs   1/21/2013

James Dugan                           Private Institution Offering Baccalaureate Degree    1/17/2011

                                                or Higher

Patricia “Trish” Leonard         Commerce and Industry within Arizona                     1/17/2011

KC Miller                                Private Institution Offering Vocational Programs      1/17/2011

Vacant                                     Private Institution Offering Associate Degree

* Subject to confirmation

SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION:

Board members are eligible to receive compensation as determined by A.R.S. § 32-611 or fifty dollars, whichever is more, for each day actually spent in the performance of their duties and reimbursement for all expenses necessary and properly incurred in attending meetings or hearings of the Board (A.R.S. § 32-3002).  

BUDGET AND FTES:       

The Board’s FY 2008-2009 total appropriated budget is $318,400 with four full-time equivalent positions.  The Board receives revenue through monies collected from the examination and licensing of private postsecondary institutions.  The Board is a 90/10 agency.

NOMINEE’S QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:    

The Union Institute, Doctor of Philosophy, Higher Education Administration (2000)

University of Iowa, Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (1983)

University of Dubuque, Bachelor of Business Administration (1980)

Employment:

Piccolo International University, Chief Executive Officer (2008 – Present)

Harvard University Graduate School of Education, Faculty Lecturer (1998 – Present)

University of Phoenix, President (2000 – 2006), Provost and Senior Vice President                                   (1998 – 2000), Vice President for Academic Affairs (1994 – 1998), Director of                             Academic Affairs, Phoenix Campus (1991 – 1994), Senior Faculty, Phoenix                            Campus (1990 – 1991)

Other Qualifications:

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, Member (1999 – Present),                                Chair (2007), Complaint Committee Chair (2002 – 2007)

Child Crisis Center, Board of Directors (2001 – Present)

Lumina Foundation for Education, Board of Trustees (2007 – Present)

Arizona Governor’s P-20 Council, Member (2005 – 2007)

Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, Commissioner (1996 – 1999)

Member of the American Bar Association, the Arizona Bar Association, and the                                        Maricopa County Bar Association

Education Accountability and Reform Committee