2021 April MHEC News
MHEC Celebrates 30 Years
We are excited to embark upon yet another new decade of service to our member states. Saturday, April 10, marked the beginning of our third decade since MHEC was founded. Back in 1991, we started small with two employees and have grown over the years to 16 full-time employees, two part-time employees, and consultants. MHEC has benefitted greatly from the generous contributions of our volunteers - whether MHEC commissioners or committee members. We are grateful to all of you and look forward to celebrating this important milestone throughout the year.
CONVENING
April 20 & 22 - MHEC Collaborates with Lumina Foundation’s Strategy Labs and HCM Strategists on Strategic Virtual Learning Opportunities for Midwest Region's Key Stakeholders
MHEC commissioners, commissioner alternates, and other key stakeholders will participate in strategic finance virtual learning opportunities on April 20 and 22, by sharing best practices and actionable solutions based on the Lumina Foundation and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s report [Higher Ed Budgets for the Post-COVID Era <https://www.luminafoundation.org/resource/higher-ed-budgets-for-the-post-covid-era/>] . These sessions build on MHEC's [February 5 event <https://www.mhec.org/convening/higher-education-finance-post-covid-era>] Higher Education Finance in the Post-Covid Era. The April 20 webinar will explore [Investing to Drive Economic Growth <https://www.mhec.org/convening/investing-drive-economic-growth-follow-higher-education-finance-post-covid-era>] and the April 22 webinar will explore Advancing Credential Completion
May 26 Webinar - OER in Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Programs: Current Practice and Best Practice
MHEC and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) will host Jennifer Zinth, of Zinth Consulting, LLC, on Wednesday, May 26, for a webinar on OER in Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Programs: Current Practice and Best Practice . Zinth will present early findings on a current study funded by MHEC and SREB that examines current use of OER in dual and concurrent enrollment courses, and best practices and lessons learned from states as well as dual enrollment partnerships pioneering these efforts.
MHEC Hosts Discussion on the American Rescue Plan and What it Means for Midwestern States and Higher Education
On March 24, Dr. Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations for the State Higher Education Executive Officers, addressed questions about the American Rescue Plan for MHEC commissioners, commissioner alternates, and key higher education and legislative leaders. The timely discussion provided an opportunity to hear about federal government plans and funding, a chance to ask questions and provide feedback as policy is being fine-tuned and finalized at the federal level. [Resources, slides, and the recording are available <https://bit.ly/210324ARPupdate>] from this presentation on the MHEC website.
POLICY & RESEARCH
May 13 - Midwest Credential Transparency Alliance Convening
MHEC and Credential Engine will host a kick-off of the Midwest Credential Transparency Alliance (MCTA) on Thursday, May 13. With over 100,000 credentials being offered in the Midwest and no consistent way to compare them, it is important to bring clarity and accessibility to information about the full range of credentials leading to careers. The objective for this meeting is to bring together key stakeholders from across the Midwest region to foster a community of practice around credential transparency by developing best practices, resources, and use cases as examples for the whole region.
The work of defining, accessing, combining, describing, and sharing information about credentials is important work that can be advanced more easily by collaborating across the region. The alliance will focus on meeting each state where it is and support focused on delivering a comprehensive online credential registry to job seekers, employers, industries and students. MHEC and Credential Engine look forward to engaging with these stakeholders, whether just interested, at the beginning stages of credentialing efforts, or further down the pathway.
For more details, please contact Sara Appel, associate director for policy initiatives, at (612) 677-2778.
PROGRAMS
Midwest Student Exchange Program Council Meets to Address Potential Recommendations for Program Improvements
The Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) Council met on Tuesday, April 6. (MSEP) offers reduced tuition rates to students in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Council discussed the results of the MSEP Program Goals Survey and determined that clarifying program goals is a critical step forward to updating and optimizing the program. Members agreed that there is a need for each state to have two MSEP contacts for cross training purposes however, each state will continue to be allowed only one vote. Additional work and research will be completed and shared at the next MSEP Council Meeting. In order to establish consistent communication with the Council, members voted to hold meetings on a quarterly basis starting in July. For more details about MSEP, please contact Sara Appel, associate director for policy initiatives, at (612) 677-2778.
CONTRACTS
MHEC Announces Two New Contract Awards
Virtualization and Data Center Modernization (Contract: #MHEC-01312021)
Instructional Design and Instructional Training Services
Ease Learning <https://www.mhec.org/contracts/technology/services/ease-learning>] (Contract #MHEC01292021)
Access the list of available contracts or contact Nathan Sorensen, MHEC director of government contracts, with additional questions at (612) 677-2767.
COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS
David Eisler
President
Ferris State University
Term: 3/26/2021 to 3/18/2025 (reappointment)
South Dakota
Erin Healy
State Representative; Member, Education Committee
South Dakota Legislature
Term: 3/29/2021 to 12/31/2022 (reappointment)
V.J. Smith
State Senator; Member, Education Committee
South Dakota Legislature
Term: 3/29/2021 to 12/31/2022 (reappointment)
Reynold Nesiba
State Senator; Member, Joint Committee on Appropriations
South Dakota Legislature
Term: 3/29/2021 to 12/31/2022 (reappointment)
Marli Wiese
State Representative; Member, Education Committee
South Dakota Legislature
Term: 3/29/2021 to 12/31/2022 (reappointment)
David Murphy
State Representative; Chair, Committee on Colleges and Universities
Wisconsin State Legislature
Term: 3/29/2021 to 6/30/2023
Stephen Nass
State Senator
Wisconsin State Legislature
Term: 3/18/2021 to 1/1/2023
TEAM UPDATES
Jenny Parks, MHEC vice president, co-presented with Amy Williams, executive director of the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) at the Higher Learning Commission's [2021 Annual Conference on April 7. The conference theme was Crisis and Community and their presentation, Responses to the Concurrent Enrollment Teacher Credentialing Crisis, focused on helping various concurrent enrollment stakeholders understand the history of the issue.
ARTICLES AND RESOURCES OF INTEREST
Biden's $103B Budget Proposal for the Ed Dept Would Boost Pell, MSI Funding
Higher Ed Dive | April 9, 2021
Vaccine Mandates: The Next Political Battlefront
Inside Higher Ed | April 8, 2021
For Higher Ed, Stimulus Relief Offers Flexible Spending
Governing | April 7, 2021
Why Students Aren't Filling Out the FAFSA
Inside Higher Ed | April 6, 2021
Record Number of Iowa High School Students Receive Dual Credits
CBC | April 2, 2021
Modernized Ace Military Guide Expands College Credit Opportunities for Military Learners
American Council on Education | April 1, 2021
VA Creating New Digital Platform to Modernize GI Bill Benefits
Fed Scoop | March 22, 2021