IU Statehouse Report--Summer 2005

September 21, 2005

Summer Legislative Developments

While the pace of government relations work during the summer months is slower and at a lower intensity, there are typically a lot of things to be done to facilitate implementation of state budget and policy matters affecting Indiana University, as well helping legislators with constituent problems and meeting with them on various matters.

This report highlights some of the work done by the State Relations team between May and September. A report on fall activities will be forthcoming.

State Budget Committee Approves IU Projects

More than $101 million in facilities projects were approved by the State Budget Committee over the course of the summer, including:

IU Southeast property purchase -- The authorization of $203,563 to purchase 2.05 acres of land from the IU Foundation. The property, located at 4025 Grant Line Road in New Albany, is located within the IUS master plan.
IU Kokomo qualified energy savings project -- Approval of the issue of $1,659,000 in qualified energy savings borrowing to complete energy savings at the Kokomo campus.
IUPUI Engineering/Technology Building Basement Renovation -- Authorization of a $1,162,000 renovation of 28,812 gross square feet in the basement of the Engineering/Technology Building on the campus of IUPUI. The project will change the space layout to provide additional and appropriate laboratories, offices and infrastructure for units of the School of Engineering and Technology.
IPFW Medical Education Center Building -- Authorization of $12 million in bonding funds for the construction of a new building for the IU School of Medicine Fort Wayne.
IU sublease agreement -- Authorization for IU to enter into a $3,000,000 sublease that provides space in the new state joint facilities located at the northeast corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and Sixteenth Street in Indianapolis.
Research Institute III Facility -- Authorization of $83,333,333 for the construction of a 254,000 gross square feet Research Institute III facility located between the Cancer Research Institute (Research I) and Research Institute II at the IU School of Medicine on the campus of IUPUI.

Indiana reaches reciprocity agreements with Kentucky and Ohio

This summer, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved a Memoranda of Understanding between Indiana and the states of Kentucky and Ohio.

In brief, the memoranda outline the terms under which each state provides reciprocal tuition for residents of specified counties who attend specified postsecondary institutions. These agreements expire June 30, 2007.

No changes were made to the covered counties in either state or the degree programs covered by the agreement. Northern Kentucky University was added to the Indiana-Kentucky agreement, along with a "strike price" concept for determining tuition and fees for reciprocity students. No significant changes were made to the Ohio agreement, although implementation has been hampered by an Ohio law that requires the Ohio Board of Regents to authorize advertising by colleges and universities.

Indiana/Michigan tuition reciprocity agreement elusive

Efforts to secure a tuition reciprocity agreement with Michigan universities in the IUSB service area continue but are hampered by the lack of a higher education coordinating board in Michigan. Apparently, a number of Michigan institutions discount tuition for students from Indiana counties within their service area. Stan Jones, Commissioner of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, has agreed to secure an agreement in time for the next academic year but has no formal counterpart with which to negotiate. He also advised that IUSB could offer discounted tuition, at a rate between the resident and non-resident rates, if IU chooses to pursue this course. Apparently, both ISU and Vincennes University have this arrangement with Illinois counties in their service areas. IUSB and University Administration officials are assessing the financial feasibility of such a program.

New degree programs approved for IUPUI

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education approved two new degree programs to be offered at IUPUI:

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science -- This IU degree program will draw faculty from three different units -- the School of Liberal Arts (Geography Department), the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and the School of Science (Geology Department) -- as well as the Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences. No new state funds were requested for this program, which has a projected annual enrollment of 37 full-time equivalent (or 52 headcount) students.
Master of Science in Technology -- This Purdue degree program, which is similar to the M.S. in Technology offered at Purdue West Lafayette, incorporates a core set of courses but is essentially multidisciplinary in approach. No new state funds are requested for this program, which has a minimum projected annual headcount enrollment of 10 full-time equivalent (or 20 headcount) students.

Stem cell study group underway

Dr. Craig Brater, dean of the IU School of Medicine, has appointed Dr. Eric Meslin and Dr. Hal Broxmeyer to co-chair the Adult Stem Cell Research Center study mandated by the Senate in the 2005 legislative session (SEA268). The IU School of Medicine has received a $50,000 appropriation to support the work of the committee, which is studying the feasibility of establishing an adult stem cell research program at the IU School of Medicine. The report must be submitted to the legislature by the end of the calendar year.

Third Biennial Conference on Transfer and Articulation

The Indiana Commission for Higher Education sponsored a three-day conference in July featuring presenters from the U.S. Department of Education and abroad. Presentations from the conference are available at: http://www.che.state.in.us/STACConference/Agenda.pdf.

During final panel wrap-up discussion, an agenda for action was proposed that included the following:

Establishing a national advocacy organization for transfer and articulation;
Organizing existing national professional organizations to provide "training, lobbying and troubleshooting" nationwide
Aligning with the P-16 initiative advocates to move the transfer and articulation agenda;
Conducting research to track transfer students vs. "native" students' success; and
Increasing institutional assessment and self-study to examine and enhance transfer policies.

Ken Sauer, associate commissioner for research & academic affairs for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, underscored the importance of:

Allies on the national level;
Research;
Technology that facilitates transfer and articulation; and
Tying financial aid to transfer and articulation

Mr. Sauer also questioned the success of dual credit and concurrent enrollment high school students.

State Relations staff and IU representatives to the Statewide Transfer and Articulation Committee (STAC) will continue to work together to monitor this evolving area of state and national postsecondary educational policy.

Health Finance Commission Studies Infertility Clinics

The Health Finance Commission, a summer study committee commissioned by the Indiana General Assembly, is studying the cost of infertility treatment and legal issues surrounding surrogate parents. Although the Indiana University School of Medicine is not directly impacted by the cost charged by private infertility clinics, Sen. Patricia Miller (Indianapolis), chairperson of the committee, requested expert testimony from Dr. Eric Meslin, director of the IU Center for Bioethics, at the first meeting of the Committee on July 5, 2005.

State Relations staff will continue to monitor the work of this group for potential impact on the work and programs of Indiana University researchers.

Interim Study Committee examining residence hall fire safety measures

Representatives of the fire safety industry, elder care activists and masonry industries have raised concerns about fire safety in college dormitories and nursing homes. At their urging, a summer study committee is examining the need for the installation of sprinkler and related fire safety measures. Rep. Jeff Thompson (Lebanon), study committee chair, has asked IU and other four-year public universities to provide information on current efforts and future sprinkler installation plans. Representatives from IU Risk Management and Residential Programs and Services have helped respond to this request. The IU State Relations team will continue to monitor this issue.

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This report has been brought to you by the Indiana University Office of Government Relations with help, and editiorial and technical assistance from IU University Relations and Corporate Partnerships. Staff members from the Office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the Office of the Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer are frequent contributors to this report.

Please contact IU Government Relations via e-mail at gov@indiana.edu or by phone at 812.855.1970 if you have comments, questions or suggestions for improvement.

Related Information:

JT. Forbes
Executive Director for State Relations
state@indiana.edu
812-855-1970

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