STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Thursday,
January 29, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Carlson, Lyndon
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy
Members excused:
Anderson, S.
Solberg, Loren
A quorum was present.
Chair Rukavina welcomed Chancellor McCormick to the committee.
Chair Rukavina asked Doug Berg, Fiscal Analyst, to review the higher education budget.
Doug Berg, Fiscal Analyst, presented information on the budget and provided a handout to the members.
Chair Rukavina welcomed a group of 9th to 12th grade students from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy who were in the audience observing the hearing.
Chair Rukavina again welcomed Chancellor McCormick to the committee and asked him to begin his presentation.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
January 29, 2009
Page Two
James McCormick, Chancellor, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, introduced himself and noted that MnSCU Trustee Tom Ranier, Vice Chancellor Laura King, North Hennepin Community College President Ann Wynia, Minnesota State University Mankato President Richard Davenport, Vice Chancellor Bill Tschida, and Senior Vice Chancellor Linda Baer were also present to assist with his presentation.
Tom Ranier, MnSCU Board Trustee, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding the budget and the proposed cuts.
Chancellor McCormick presented an overview of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
Chancellor McCormick asked Laura King to continue the presentation with budget information.
Chair Rukavina welcomed Vice Chancellor Laura King to the committee and invited her to begin her presentation.
Laura King, Vice Chancellor and CFO, introduced herself and presented information on past and present MnSCU budgets.
Questions and discussion followed.
Ann Wynia, President, North Hennepin Community College and Richard Davenport, President, Minnesota State University Mankato came to the table to provide testimony on their budgets.
Chair Rukavina commended Normandale Community College President Joe Opatz on being creative and innovative for offering classes free of charge to unemployed persons.
Normandale Community College President Joe Opatz provided testimony on that program and also noted that Anoka Ramsey Community College President Pat Johns, also present at the hearing, offers that same program at his campus.
Questions and discussion followed.
Chair Rukavina welcomed Ann Wynia and Richard Davenport to the committee and invited them to begin their presentations.
Ann Wynia, President, North Hennepin Community College, introduced herself and provided testimony on her campus and the budget.
Richard Davenport, President, Minnesota State University Mankato, introduced himself and provided testimony on behalf of the four-year MnSCU campuses and their approach to budget cuts.
Questions and discussion followed.
Laura King provided further testimony regarding the budget deficit, and provided an informational handout.
Chancellor McCormick provided final comments on the budget deficit.
Questions and discussion followed.
Bill Tschida, Vice Chancellor, Human Resources, introduced himself and assisted in answering questions.
Questions and discussion continued.
Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
January 29, 2009
Page Three
Chancellor McCormick and Laura King continued their presentation.
Vice Chair Bly assumed the chair at 2:05 p.m.
Questions and discussion continued.
Representative Slocum moved that the minutes of January 27, 2009 be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Questions and discussion continued.
Bill Tschida again assisted in answering questions.
Linda Baer, Senior Vice Chancellor, MnSCU, introduced herself and assisted in answering questions.
Questions and discussion continued.
Representative Poppe requested that the Chancellor provide information to include flow charts and job descriptions for all Central Office employees.
Questions and discussion continued.
Vice Chair Bly announced the agendas for next week’s meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 P.M.
Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant