Higher Education Commission releases report
The Governor's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, chaired by R. Crosby Kemper of Kansas City, released its report to the governor Dec. 31. The report includes a series of recommendations for improving the participation rate and quality of higher education.
The Missouri Commission on the Future of Higher Education Recommendations:
- Increase the number of high schools offering core curricula and increase the K-12 core curriculum standards to include more rigorous courses in math, language arts, science, history, and social studies as a requirement for high school graduation.
- Align K-12 curricula with the skill levels expected at the postsecondary level and by employers. A strong focus on math, reading, and writing is of utmost importance.
- Provide rewards, incentives and professional recognition to promote teacher quality an raise standards for teacher graduation.
- Simplify financial aid and ensure its availability to qualified students, including consolidating current programs so that there are only two student financial aid programs: one merit-based and one need- and merit-based.
- Align regional public two-and four-year colleges and universities into formal partnerships to respond collaboratively to regional needs.
- Measure performance in value-added learning at higher education institutions and expand and build upon an already impressive assessment record.
- Provide incentives for institutional quality improvements and support for the best programs at higher education institutions, thereby creating more centers of excellence in the state.
- Promote research, technology transfer and technology-related training.
- Establish an alliance led by private-sector citizens to promote awareness of and improvement in the benefits of higher education and to promote a greater investment in higher education.
- Establish an action-oriented education leadership task force to explore issues requiring further development.
The Department of Higher Education is now seeking feedback from the higher education community. To read the full report visit: http://www.cbhe.state.mo.us/commission/pp/finalreport.pdf
