2020 August e-News
“Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed.” borrowing a line from the chorus of John Lennon’s song Nobody Told Me , we are being challenged and tested in ways we had never imagined before. The difficulties arising from the pandemic and the racial unrest that has spread across the country also present opportunities for us all to learn and improve with a focus on better and more equitable outcomes for all students, particularly those who are underserved. While the MHEC staff tries to note, highlight, and share these learnings and opportunities, we invite you to do the same. We hope you will share lessons learned and innovative approaches you’ve come across or developed that could help serve our states, institutions, and students more effectively and efficiently. As summer wanes and we get ready for fall, I am reminded of the strong work ethic and values that have served us well in the Midwest also prepare us to effectively face the future.
- Susan Heegaard, MHEC President
Cooperative Purchasing Contracts for Safe Return to Campus
Many of you have reached out to us about purchasing supplies and equipment related to the pandemic. MHEC is pleased to share the following [cooperative purchasing contracts for supplies <https://www.mhec.org/contracts/covid-19-supplies>] available to higher education (public and private not-for-profit); K-12 districts and schools; and cities, counties, local subdivisions; and state government. MHEC was not involved in the negotiation of these contracts, but rather shares these resources to assist member states in their efforts to ensure a safe return to campus for students, faculty, and staff. MHEC makes every attempt to stay as informed as possible but acknowledges the rapid pace of information change during the pandemic. We continue to explore opportunities to solicit, negotiate, and manage purchasing contracts and will keep you informed of our progress. If you know of any opportunities that MHEC ought to explore and potentially pursue, please let us know. As always, suggested improvements to these efforts and others undertaken by the Compact are welcomed and encouraged.
CONVENING
MHEC to Hold Annual Commission Meeting Virtually
Based upon feedback from data gathered from our commissioners, MHEC President Susan Heegaard and the MHEC officers have made the decision to hold the 2020 November Annual Commission Meeting which was to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, virtually on November 9 and 10. The format and content for the meeting are currently being discussed. Commissioner feedback revealed important topics for discussion. Those topics related to the impact of COVID-19 include: lessons learned from this fall, plans for the spring semester, how the pandemic has changed higher education, short-term and long-term effects, support for higher education during financially challenging times, adaptation to virtual classroom teaching, the equity framework discussion, ensuring readiness of children for college, and overall the future of higher education and credentials. If there are additional topics and/or speakers that you would like us to consider, please let us know by emailing mhec@mhec.org.
The Midwest CIO: Navigating the Impact of COVID
MHEC recently hosted a moderated discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on information technology (IT) and the higher education institution in The Midwest CIO: Navigating the Impact of COVID. Two Midwestern chief information officers (CIO) – Daniel Mincheff, CIO for Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, and Rob Caffey, chief applications officer/deputy CIO for applications for the University of Kansas, offered their perspectives. Their discussions focused on critical IT issues at the onset of the pandemic, their adaptation to change, and the role of IT in higher education rapid changes continue to unfold as institutions make plans for the fall. A national perspective was also offered from EDUCAUSE's President and CEO John O'Brien, who emphasized the CIO being an essential institutional leadership team member, now more than ever, and how technology is a strategic asset integral to determining institutional success.
POLICY & RESEARCH
Higher Learning Commission Extends Deadline for Institutions to Comply with Faculty Qualifications Expectation
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the regional accreditor for all twelve MHEC states, has extended the deadline for institutions to comply with Assumed Practice B.2.a. regarding faculty qualifications as they apply to dual credit faculty. Many institutions and states have worked hard in recent years to help dual credit instructors (usually high school teachers teaching college classes for college credit to high school students on a high school campus) attain the additional graduate credits needed to meet HLC’s expectations for instructors of college courses. For most states meeting the previous 2022 deadline to have all dual credit instructors fully credentialed was going to be a challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified that challenge. In acknowledgement of that challenge, at its June 2020 Board of Trustees meeting, HLC decided to extend the compliance deadline by one year to September 1, 2023. Dual credit stakeholders across the region are deeply grateful for this extension and continue to support efforts to help teachers enhance their credentials.
MHEC Affordability Series: College Student Debt
Student loans are widely used to help pay the cost of college, and concerns have grown about possible problems stemming from the accumulation of student debt. Adding to the confusion are misunderstandings and at times distortions about the magnitude of the problem. College Student Debt: What State and Institutional Leaders Should Know discusses evidence about student borrowing over time, differences in debt among demographic groups, and policy initiatives that will help the students who most need additional support. The goal of the paper is to provide a better understanding of debt grounded in reliable data and ultimately to have borrowers who are well informed consumers.
MHEC COMMISSIONERS
New North Dakota Appointment
Welcome Tim Mihalick
Board Member, State Board of Higher Education
Term: 7/21/2020 to 6/30/2021
Tim Mihalick is a senior vice president for First Western Bank & Trust and is responsible for business development and facilities. He was appointed to a four-year term (2019-2023) for the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education beginning in July 2019. He replaces Don Morton who served on the MHEC commission since July 2012.
ARTICLES AND RESOURCES OF INTEREST
State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) Report - FY19
SHEF provides the earliest possible review of state and local support, tuition revenue, and enrollment trends for the most recently completed fiscal year.
State Higher Education Executive Officers
State Higher Education Finance - State Profiles Section
State Higher Education Executive Officers
Schools hit with rate hikes as pandemic complicates planning
Business Insurance | August 18, 2020
UNC Pulls the Plug on In-Person Fall. Will Other Campuses Follow?
The Chronicle of Higher Education | August 17, 2020
Window of Opportunity for OER
Inside Higher Ed | August 13, 2020
Prioritizing Equity in Dual Enrollment
Education Commission of the States | August 12, 2020
Equitable Transitions During Pandemic Disruptions
Education Commission of the States | August 12, 2020
August wave of campus reopening reversals
Inside Higher Ed | August 12, 2020
As Safety Concerns Mount, Many Colleges Hold Fast to Reopening Plans
The Chronicle of Higher Education | August 3, 2020