Strategic Plan Report (language only)

Item 131 #5h

Language
Page 87, strike lines 8 through 24 and insert:
“A. 1. In furtherance of its work in the development of funding guidelines for public colleges and universities as set forth in Item 1, and pursuant to the recommendations of the Governor's Commission to Evaluate the Needs and Goals of Higher Education in Virginia in the 21st Century, it is the intent of the General Assembly that institutions of higher education develop strategic plans that sustain and promote the quality, accountability, and affordability of Virginia’s public institutions of higher education.
2.  By September 1, 2000, each four-year and two-year public institution of higher education shall submit to the Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education a progress report on implementing its strategic plan. Each institution shall report on the progress it has made through its strategic plan to meet the following objectives:
a.  Efforts to improve the quality of instruction, public service, research, and student life;
b.  Efforts to maximize student access to higher education and minimize the cost to students and the state;
c.  Efforts to enhance administrative efficiency and productivity; and
d.  Efforts to use budget and management best practices.
3.  As part of its report, each institution shall propose measures to evaluate its progress on the objectives identified in the strategic plan and identify the resources needed to meet the objectives.  The report also shall include proposals for enhancing managerial autonomy and streamlining operations as a means for improving managerial flexibility in meeting its strategic plan objectives.
4.  The progress report shall be prepared according to a format approved by the Secretary of Education and the State Council of Higher Education.  
5.  By November 1, 2000, the Secretary of Education shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the status of the institutions’ strategic plans, including the items enumerated above.  The Secretary's report shall include a recommendation for consideration by the 2001 General Assembly on which institutions are ready to move from the strategic plan to specific institutional performance agreements, pursuant to the report of the Governor’s Commission to Evaluate the Needs and Goals of Higher Education in Virginia in the 21st Century.  Such a recommendation shall include a process for developing an agreement and a plan for incorporating the findings of the Joint Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding Policies into the performance agreement."

Explanation
(This amendment deletes language relating to a progress report on institutions' strategic plans and directs the Secretary of Education to report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees on the institutions' plans. It also directs the Secretary to recommend for the 2001 General Assembly's consideration a plan for developing institutional performance agreements.)