C OM M O N W E A LT H OF V I R G I N I A SAC MINUTES Student Advisory Committee Minutes Friday, SCHEV Main Conference Room Members Present: Olivia Baker (Mountain Empire Community College), Michael Bamisile (Christopher Newport University), Katherine Brandon (University of Virginia), Noah Butler (Old Dominion University), Alexander Clegg (University of Mary Washington), Marian Cole (ECPI), Abigail Marie Jones (College of William and Mary), Trey McClendon (Norfolk State University), Matt Mueller (James Madison University), Kyle Mummau (Central Virginia Community College), Alexa Parsey (Virginia Tech), Cadet Luke Philips (VMI), Sarah Rainey (Radford University), J ontea Smith (Richard Bland College), Sharmae Stringfield (University of Virginia s College at Wise); Shai West (Virginia State University), Bill Yonker (Longwood University) SCHEV Staff Present: Beverly Covington, Jodi Fisler, Ashley Lockhart, Paula Robinson, Gregory Weatherford Paula Robinson (SCHEV) brought the meeting to order at 1:00 pm and distributed member binders compiled at the suggestion of the last SAC meeting (electronic version to be posted). Requested suggestions for inclusion of additional information CVCC SGA president, Kyle Mammau - budget shortfall is impacting CVCC with expected $435,000 cut. Participating in GA talking to senators; trying to get student government more active CNU SGA president, Michael Bamisile (SAC chair) Working on gender neutral housing proposal (ODU, UVA, William & Mary, UVA also working on this effort, all currently in different phases up through implementation), other areas of concern/effort include sexual assault awareness and mental health awareness ODU Noah Butler - Some peaceful protests on campus. Received positive coverage. President sent out a message to all students. Budget cuts are a concern JMU SGA president, Matt Mueller (SAC vice chair) projected $5 million cut will primarily affect staff, which is of great concern. Trying to figure out the impact of immigration and refugee ban on campus. Protests in Harrisonburg City (resettlement site). Pushing for open access text book system for textbook affordability and more gender neutral bathrooms on campus UVA Wise SGA Vice President, Sharmae Stringfield concerned about declining budget; campus protests in planning phases; some students participating in local marches; efforts on gender neutral bathrooms ECPI Marian Cole - represents non-traditional students, particularly those who have returned to college for career; prefer physical textbooks for long term career reference; student activity/cohesion is difficult with the way courses are scheduled and student family commitments Radford Sarah Rainey - affordability is good at RU, but study abroad and research are limited due to low funding; concerned about students who do not finish and 5-years becoming the new norm for completion; under sustainability campus hosts a Recyclathon but still need more recycle trash cans; concerns about parking; career development - low attendance from employees at fairs; need expanded mental health and counseling services, tutoring and mentorships; better inclusion of international students in student life; no known direct student impact from immigration changes Longwood Bill Yonker (stand-in) student activities fees reduced resulting in a lower student 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 1
activity budget; gender neutral bathrooms funded; national Vice Presidential debate on campus resulted in more discourse and engagement in the election process and recent actions; conducted student poll following the election VMI Cadet Luke Philips - national speakers representing current government/defense coming to campus VA Tech SGA president, Alexa Parsey Immigration protest on campus with about 2500 students and President and Provost presence; motion sensor LED lighting installed; a diversity summit planned for April; Diversity EDU and Alcohol EDU required for every freshman next year; bike share program (UVA has a strong program); duck pond clean-up after spring game; cycling classes help generate power; national sexual assault and suicide hotline numbers put on campus ID; need-based SGA scholarship formed; highest number of bias reportings to date MECC Olivia Baker - campus has been quiet; progress on food on campus, the bookstore is taking responsibility for the service; mid-day activity period (30 min), 75 minute classes, no classes on campus Fridays; trying to schedule more family friendly events to encourage more student engagement VSU - SGA president, Shai West budget cuts may affect faculty and staff; addressing textbook affordability by looking at timely communication between faculty and bookstore and use of Trojan dollars on Amazon; few gender neutral bathrooms now; housing is not at full capacity this year, transfer has increased; graduation ceremony location unknowns up in the air considering ticketing and multiple ceremonies; class scheduling; Academic Center for Success for student advisement (ACS advisors); revising student handbook; new policies are being added without communication plan for current students, new students are receiving it, i.e. no tolerance for violence policy; planning a March multi-cultural event; student organizations do not have official offices to meet, working to identify and decorate a shared space for meetings UMW SGA president, Alex Clegg dining contracts, quality is not a concern, but catering for events is not affordable for student activities; budget cuts impacting faculty, compression results in poor moral; peaceful protests on campus; decrease in diversity enrollment, despite increase in acceptances; James Farmer Multi-cultural center very active; gender neutral housing; student involvement is low, particularly in SGA voting and filling positions; installed new president; 2% faculty raise, campus meetings; increasing online majors to bring in more revenue Richard Bland SGA President, J ontea Smith - November Peace and Love rally; budget concerns/reductions; expanding tutoring and students taking advantage of opportunities; trying to bring back some sports; transforming cafeteria offerings and modernizing facilities; book vouchers; internet access may be cut if students don t complete certain requirements W&M Abigail Marie Jones - peaceful protests, transportation provided to local rallies; students are respectful of both views; athletics supports local elementary schools, greek life is also very service oriented; sexual assault education and awareness has increased, but more is needed beyond student freshman year; mental health awareness and programming needed, esp. for coaches and student athletes UVA SGA Director of Government Relations, Katherine Brandon - climate has been reactionary to election and inauguration, women s march on grounds and expressions of concern for Muslim immigrant rights; many students were affected by immigration changes; President announced that they will not be revealing student ethnicity ; budget concerns; particularly for ACCESS UVA program, which supports student diversity; and the potential required state/out of state proportion; President term ending in 2018; celebrating bicentennial; February is sexual assault prevention month, sexual assault education has greatly increased; several biased related incidents on campus; voter registration went up, looking to add voter table at student orientation; diversity module may be added as part of student development courses; 20 year dining contract. NSU reviewed budget and allocation of fees, campus trips for high school students; highest enrollment in 3 years; new mathematics and social science building; recently renewed dining contract with 3 new venues; working to create more of a family feeling with student body Presentation by Ashley Lockhart on Sexual Assault (PowerPoint slides attached) o May replace title IX campus process for sexual/gender bias cases, investigation, reporting, etc. o Hoping to help prevent lack of support/services for students at more under-resourced schools to ensure that equal and just support and follow-up is provided o Report for the study is due in August 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 2
o Access to trained nurses, kits and equipment is challenging for many lower resourced communities o Looking at a mobile unit to make services more efficient, accessible and compassionate o UVA - Lots of student organizations have Title IX training o Law school students could be trained to be victim advocates o Virginia is one of the first states exploring this concept of regional and mobile investigative and support units o Transportation and being able to have gender preference in nurse care are concerns o Having a neutral body may support increased reporting o Common campus procedures statewide is part of the discussion Michael/Chair encouraged more visibility of SAC and continuity; suggest that the SGA presidents serve where possible, but focused on the need to create as much stability in membership as possible, i.e. selecting juniors who may serve more than one term (code requires that at least 1 student must be a returning member annually); creating opportunities to share the work of SAC with campus community and to get feedback; need more guidance and information from SCHEV to share its role and what SAC is, suggested a powerpoint (NSU rep. offered to help develop PP) or newsletter summarizing services/activities/topics SGA president mandated role, though helpful with continuity, may limit participation and leadership opportunities. Influence varies greatly across campuses, as well as availability Bring incoming SAC rep to final meeting, when possible; exchange of information (binder, hard copy or electronic) Community College, non-profit and for-profit institution representative rotation creates a challenge for consistency and sharing information 14 seniors present creates a challenge for continuity, important to create avenues to ease the transition Suggested sending minutes from last meeting to new members in the fall of the new year when they come on board Greg Weatherford inquired about how students access information and find out about info on campus Spread the word about SAC and what is happening during meetings and how it can be used branding, logo, facebook, campus newsletter, Greg suggested that students resolve to go back to campus and submit an article to the student paper. Offered SCHEV support in communications. Suggested coordinating formal meetings with student affairs and other leadership, other media sources Radford - RU Involved, student portal; UMW Student activities Weekly, posters; RB bimonthly meetings; UVA mass distribution email through VP for Student Affairs; UVA Twitter is used widely; W&M facebook page (Overheard); JMU organizational facebook Other suggested forms of communication including -Mass media, Op. Ed., face-to-face, and hard copy materials; Yammer; TV monitor slides; ODU - daily university announcements (Dean of Students); NSU student seminar suggestion (create a general powerpoint that every representative can use/customize) Suggested developing a newsletter from each meeting with talking points Meet with House and Senate leadership Suggested SCHEV provide members with summarized information about who we are and what we do and talking points from each meeting Greg suggested that students pick at least one topic per meeting to take action on and go back to campus to get feedback/action Beverly Covington gave overview of legislative process, Review of current higher education bills (handout - attached) SCHEV investigating ways to allow for more SAC meetings, provide ease in student participation, use of technology to reduce cost of travel and increase participation, etc. Will continue to work in this effort. Jodi Fisler, facilitate a discussion on education quality - How do you know that you are receiving a quality education? o Confidence in the integrity of the work (honor code, i.e. single sanction) o Small class size o Common references to other institutions o Course rigor 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 3
o Faculty preparedness and expertise/recognition in the subject area o Consistency in resources for all majors and their application post-graduation o Demand o Resources/Funding (equity) o Diversity in resources and support for the majority of students o Partnership agreements / acceptance of credits by other institutions o Student faculty relationships concern for education and opportunity, commitment o Career services (opportunities after college) o Institution and program accreditation o Facilities o Experiential learning opportunities o Diversity and relevance of courses o Successful transition after college with degree Agree that most institutions could do a better job of communicating with students about the quality of education Concern about community college image as second class institutions Shared article on Collective Impact from Stanford University Next meeting: Friday, April 7 th, 12-4 PM The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:05 pm 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 4
Presented by Ashley Lockhart, SCHEV, Regional Center Study Project Manager 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 5
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2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 7
2017 Legislative Update (Beverly Covington) Governing Board Authority HB 1401 (Landes) - Public institutions of higher education; speech on campus. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from abridging the freedom of any individual, including enrolled students, faculty and other employees, and invited guests, to speak on campus, except as otherwise permitted by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. HB 1402 (Landes) - Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; leadership; residency. Requires each chairman, vice-chairman, rector, and vice-rector of the governing board of a public institution of higher education and each chairman and vice-chairman of each committee of the governing board of a public institution of higher education to be a resident of the Commonwealth. Companion Bill: SB 907 (Surovell). HB 1410 (Albo) - Certain educational institutions; designation of governing boards; financial assistance; enrollment. Renames as boards of trustees the boards of visitors of certain educational institutions in the Commonwealth, including baccalaureate public institutions of higher education. The bill prohibits public institutions of higher education from using (i) tuition revenue from any Virginia student to provide financial assistance to any Virginia student or non-virginia student and (ii) more than five percent of tuition revenue from non-virginia students to provide financial assistance to non-virginia students. The bill also requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education, except the Virginia Military Institute, Norfolk State University, and Virginia State University, to ensure that at least 75 percent of the undergraduate students enrolled at the institution have established domicile in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the governing boards of public institutions that do not meet such 75 percent threshold to submit to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia a plan to incrementally increase enrolled undergraduate Virginia students each academic year to ensure compliance no later than the 2020-2021 academic year. HB 2171 (Massie) - Public institutions of higher education; six-year plans; investment fund earnings. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to indicate in its biennial six-year plan the status and planned use of any institution investment fund earnings for the six-year period. SB 907 (Surovell) - Governing boards of public institutions of higher education; leadership; residency. Requires each chairman, vice-chairman, rector, and vice-rector of the governing board of a public institution of higher education and each chairman and vice-chairman of each committee of the governing board of a public institution of higher education to be a resident of the Commonwealth. Companion bill: HB 1402 (Landes) Student Affairs and Health 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 8
HB 1447 (Miyares) - Higher education; student housing; substance abuse recovery housing program. Requires, by July 1, 2021, certain baccalaureate public institutions of higher education (those with at least 25 percent of undergraduate student population living in on-campus housing) to establish a substance abuse recovery housing program to provide recovering students with a substance-free dormitory environment and appropriate support services. The bill allows participating institutions to designate a portion of a dormitory, and states that no participating institution shall be required to designate an entire dormitory, for such program. HB 1842 (Knight) Alcoholic beverage control; neutral grain spirits or alcohol sold at government stores; proof. Increases from 101 to 151 the proof of neutral grain spirits or alcohol that is without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color that may be sold at government stores. The provisions of the bill will expire on July 1, 2022. HB 1911 (Yost) Public institutions of higher education; resident assistants; mental health first aid training. Each resident assistant in a student housing facility at a public institution of higher education shall participate in Mental Health First Aid training prior to the commencement of his duties. HB 2127 (Levine) Rights of victims of sexual assault; physical evidence recovery kits. Requires that victims of sexual assault be advised by the investigating law-enforcement agency of their rights regarding physical evidence recovery kits. The bill requires the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services of the Virginia Department of General Services (the Division) and lawenforcement agencies to store physical evidence recovery kits for a period of 50 years or for an additional 10 years following a written objection to the destruction from the victim. The bill requires the Division or any law-enforcement agency to notify the victim at least 60 days prior to the intended date of destruction of the kit. In accordance with existing law, the bill provides that no victim of sexual assault shall be charged for the cost of collecting a kit SB 944 (Chafin) - Institutions of higher education; possession and administration of epinephrine. Authorizes and provides liability protection for employees of a public or private institution of higher education who are authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine to possess and administer epinephrine. Academic Affairs HB 1512 (Bell) - Public institutions of higher education; academic credit for American Sign Language courses. Clarifies that each public institution of higher education is required to count credit received for successful completion of American Sign Language courses at institutions of higher education from which students transfer or transfer such course credit toward satisfaction of the foreign language entrance requirements of the public institution of higher education. HB 1592 (James) - Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit. Requires the State Board for Community Colleges to require each comprehensive community college to develop policies and procedures for awarding academic credit to enrolled students who have successfully completed a state-approved registered apprenticeship credential. Companion Bill: SB 999 (Ruff) HB 1662 (Greason) - Public institutions of higher education; course credit; dual enrollment courses. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with the governing board of each public institution of higher education, to establish a policy for granting undergraduate course credit to any entering freshman student who has successfully completed a dual enrollment course at a comprehensive community college pursuant to an agreement for 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 9
postsecondary degree attainment. The bill requires SCHEV and each public institution of higher education to make the policy available to the public on their websites. HB 2007 (Bell) Students who receive home instruction; dual enrollment courses. Requires each school board to permit any student who receives home instruction and resides in the local school division to apply for enrollment as a part-time student of the local school division in any dual enrollment course offered pursuant to an agreement for postsecondary degree attainment at a public high school in the local school division or at the comprehensive community college. The bill specifies that no such student shall be required to pay more in tuition or fees than the tuition or fees paid by public school students to enroll in such course. HB 2262 (Cox) Online Virginia Network Authority established. Establishes the Online Virginia Network Authority (the Authority) as an educational institution in the Commonwealth to act as the coordinating and administering entity for the delivery of each online course, degree program, and credential program offered by a public institution of higher education or a consortium of public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill requires the Authority to be governed by a 17-member board that consists of six members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates, four members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, three nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, two nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the board of visitors of George Mason University, and two nonlegislative citizen members appointed by the board of visitors of Old Dominion University. The bill sets forth the duties of the Authority, including determining tuition and fee rates and establishing a seamless enrollment and course scheduling infrastructure. The bill grants the Authority operational flexibility in the areas of procurement and information technology, provided that the Authority adopts and complies with certain policies. SB 999 (Ruff) - Comprehensive community colleges; academic credit. Requires the State Board of Community Colleges to require each comprehensive community college to develop policies and procedures for awarding academic credit to enrolled students who have successfully completed a state-approved registered apprenticeship credential. Companion Bill: HB 1592 (James) SB 1234 (Dunnavant) Public institutions of higher education; transferable credits. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council), in consultation with each public institution of higher education, to develop a passport credit program that will be offered at each associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education. Under the program, each passport credit course shall satisfy a lower division general education requirement at any public institution of higher education, and any student who completes a passport credit course at an associate-degreegranting public institution of higher education shall be permitted to transfer all such credit hours earned to any public institution of higher education to which the student has been admitted and apply such credit hours toward the general education requirements at such institution. The bill requires the Council to develop such program by June 1, 2018 and each associate-degreegranting public institution of higher education to offer such program by the 2018-2019 academic year. SB 1534 (Sturtevant) Public institutions of higher education; course credit; dual enrollment courses. Requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), in consultation with the governing board of each public institution of higher education, to establish a policy for granting undergraduate course credit to any entering freshman student who has successfully completed a dual enrollment course at a comprehensive community college pursuant to an agreement for postsecondary degree attainment. The bill requires SCHEV and each public institution of higher education to make the policy available to the public on their websites. 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 10
Financial Aid and In-State Tuition HB 1721 (Anderson) - State Board for Community Colleges; reduced rate tuition and mandatory fee charges; certain students who are active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Permits the State Board for Community Colleges to charge reduced rate tuition and mandatory fees to any student who is (i) an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States; (ii) enrolled in a degree program at a comprehensive community college, provided that any such comprehensive community college that offers online degree programs is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity; and (iii) enrolled in training that leads to a Military Occupational Specialty in the Army or Marine Corps, an Air Force Specialty Code, or a Navy Enlisted Classification. HB 1848 (Hester) Comprehensive community colleges; tuition grants. Provides that certain Virginia students who were in foster care or in the custody of the Department of Social Services or considered a special needs adoption and are enrolled in a noncredit workforce credential training program in a comprehensive community college may qualify for a grant for the payment of tuition and fees. HB 1965 (Massie) Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution. Broadens eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program by including students whose Expected Family Contribution, as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is no more than $12,000. Currently the program is available only to students whose Expected Family Contribution is no more than $8,000. The bill does not affect additional eligibility requirements for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program. HB 2427 (Cox) Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; grants. Makes several changes to the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (Program),including adding requirements that (i) each student eligible for the Program receive a grant from the institution's appropriations for undergraduate student financial assistance before grants are awarded to students with equivalent remaining need,(ii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than other grants awarded to students with equivalent remaining need, (iii) each eligible student receive a Program grant in an amount greater than the grant of each eligible student with equivalent remaining need in the next-lowest class level, and (iv) each Program grant be determined by a proportionate award schedule adopted by each institution and vary according to each student's remaining need and the total of tuition, fees, and other necessary charges, including books. SB 1026 (Dunnavant) - Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program; Expected Family Contribution. Broadens eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program by including students whose Expected Family Contribution, as calculated by the federal government using the family's financial information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is no more than $12,000. Currently the program is available only to students whose Expected Family Contribution is no more than $8,000. The bill does not affect additional eligibility requirements for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant Program. SB 1527 (Saslaw) Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program; eligibility; renewal; amount of grants. Changes the student eligibility criteria for Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program grants by removing the requirement that the recipient be a dependent and by requiring the recipient to be enrolled full time. The bill places the following conditions on renewal of Program grants: (i) no recipient shall receive a subsequent grant until he has satisfied the requirements to advance to the next class level, as defined in the bill; (ii) no recipient shall receive more than one year of support 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 11
per class level for a maximum total of two years of support at an associate-degree-granting public institution of higher education or more than one year of support per class level for a maximum total of four years of support at a baccalaureate public institution of higher education; and (iii) no recipient shall receive more than a combined lifetime total of four years of support. The bill permits public institutions of higher education to use Program funds to provide larger awards to students in a higher class level or to students who enroll in 15 or more credit hours per semester. The provisions of the bill become effective beginning with the first-time entering freshman class of the fall 2018 academic year. Student Loans SB 1036 (Howell) - Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority; refinancing loan guaranty program. Establishes the Virginia Student Loan Refinancing Authority (the Authority), to be governed by a 10-member board, for the purpose of developing and implementing a program by which the Authority may guarantee the obligations of an individual who incurred qualified education loan debt as a Virginia student at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth under loans that refinance such education loan debt. The Authority is authorized to issue bonds to finance its obligations under such loan guarantees. SB 1053 (Howell) - Student loan servicers; student loan ombudsman. Prohibits any person from acting as a student loan servicer without first obtaining a license from the State Corporation Commission (SCC) and establishes procedures pertaining to such licenses. Banks and credit unions are exempt from the licensing provisions. The servicing of a student loan encompasses (i) receiving any scheduled periodic payments from a student loan borrower pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; (ii) applying the payments of principal and interest and such other payments with respect to the amounts received from a student loan borrower, as may be required pursuant to the terms of a student education loan; and (iii) performing other administrative services with respect to a student education loan. Student loan servicers are prohibited from, among other things, (a) misrepresenting the amount, nature, or terms of any fee or payment due or claimed to be due on a student loan, the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, or the borrower's obligations under the loan; (b) knowingly misapplying or recklessly applying student loan payments to the outstanding balance of a student loan; and (c) failing to report both the favorable and unfavorable payment history of the borrower to a nationally recognized consumer credit bureau at least annually if the loan servicer regularly reports information to such a credit bureau. The measure also establishes the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman within the SCC's Bureau of Financial Institutions. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is required to provide timely assistance to any student loan borrower of any student education loan in the Commonwealth. The Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is further required to establish and maintain a student loan borrower education course, which shall cover key loan terms, documentation requirements, monthly payment obligations, income-based repayment options, loan forgiveness, and disclosure requirements. Violations are subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2019. Data Collection and Publishing HB 1664 (Greason) - State Council of Higher Education for Virginia; collection and publication of wage data and the Virginia Longitudinal Data System. Authorizes the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (Council) to publish data on the proportion of graduates of each public institution of higher education and each nonprofit private institution of higher education eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program who are employed at 18 months and 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 12
five years after the date of graduation. The bill directs that the data include the program and the program level, as recognized by the Council, for each degree awarded by each institution; the percentage of graduates known to be employed in the Commonwealth; the average salary and the average higher education-related debt for the graduates on which the data is based; rates of enrollment in remedial coursework for each institution; individual student credit accumulation for each institution; rates of postsecondary degree completion; and any other information that the Council determines is necessary to address adequate preparation for success in postsecondary education and alignment between secondary and postsecondary education. The bill requires each such institution of higher education to provide a link to such published postsecondary education and employment data. The bill also requires the Council to administer the Virginia Longitudinal Data System as a multiagency partnership for the purposes of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data; improving the efficacy of state services; and aiding decision making. 2016-2017 Student Advisory Committee 13