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MEETING CALENDAR | EVENTS | ETI WEBINARS | NEWS RELEASES South Dakota joins MHEC
The South Dakota Legislature passed legislation for South Dakota to become the twelfth state to join the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC). Senators Orville Smidt, Ed Olson, Dennis Schmidt, and Nancy Turbak Berry along with Representatives Larry Tidemann and Mark Kirkeby sponsored Senate Bill 153 and guided the legislation through both houses of the legislature. Governor Mike Rounds signed the bill on Friday, March 14. Now all eligible Midwestern states have joined the Compact.
“South Dakota will benefit from collaborating with other Midwestern states that face similar challenges and opportunities to educate the future workforce, which is critical to the state’s and region’s economy,” said Senator Smidt, a prime sponsor of the bill. He also said he supported joining the Compact because all public and private non-profit higher education institutions can participate in MHEC, including the 4-year universities, vocational technical colleges, tribal colleges and K-12 schools.
Representative Tidemann, the bill’s other prime sponsor, said, “We already actively participate with legislators and governors from the Midwest on other activities, and we will now work together with the Midwestern higher education community to offer cost savings, participate in student access and be part of the regional voice in higher education policy discussions.” MHEC Commission Chair and Missouri Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields said, “MHEC states welcome South Dakota’s presence at the MHEC table.” He added, “Their participation will bring additional innovative ideas to MHEC discussions and permit South Dakota to receive many benefits that other Midwestern states already enjoy.”
“Last year MHEC saved its member states and its citizens nearly $43 million with its cost savings and student access programs,” reported MHEC President Larry Isaak. “In addition, MHEC sponsors an annual policy summit bringing together governors, legislators and leaders representing business, higher education and K-12 from across the Midwest. This year’s policy summit in November will be on Making Opportunity Affordable, which will explore ways of providing affordable higher education to more of the Midwest’s citizens.” Isaak said, “We welcome South Dakota’s participation in all of these activities and events.”
MHEC continues 2008 state visits
MHEC President Larry Isaak visited the Compact's Commissioners, state legislators, and advisory committee members in Ohio on February 19, Illinois on March 4, Minnesota on March 5, and Iowa on March 17. He shared information on participation in MHEC programs, and reviewed key policy indicators for the Midwest as well as for each individual state. He was joined by staff members Pam Schutt, director of government relations, and Mary Feilmeyer, director of communications and marketing.
 Promising Practices series launched
The inaugural report in MHEC’s new Promising Practices series was released this week. The Role of Context and Transferability in Learning from Promising Practices, written by Barbara Bolin, is available online. The report is based on a presentation given by Dr. Bolin at the Education to Workforce capstone policy summit in Des Moines in November. The report series Promising Practices: What Works in the Midwest will showcase innovative initiatives and effective ways to address common challenges and unique opportunities in higher education. The series aims to provide information related to exemplary and noteworthy models of higher education policy and practice; to facilitate collaborative approaches and application of successful experiences to others in the region; and to inspire thoughtful discussions on issues of common concern to higher education leaders and policymakers.
The Promising Practice series will be a resource for knowledge about what is working, how it is working, why it works, and obstacles that have been overcome to achieve success. For more information contact Ann Grindland at 612-624-1848.
All Insured Members hold annual meeting Property Insurance program members participate in 10th anniversary of the Loss Control Workshop Participating members of the Master Property Program (MPP) gathered for their annual meeting on Wednesday, March 12. Following the day long meeting, risk managers were joined by additional campus professionals – including those from purchasing, the physical plant, health and safety, finance, and, law enforcement – for an opening reception to the 10th anniversary of the program's annual Loss Control Workshop. Over 180 people attended the workshop held March 13-14 in St. Louis, Missouri. The opening speaker, Jeffrey Allison of the FBI, addressed the issue of Campus Public Safety in a Homeland Security Environment. Given growing concerns over the potential eruption of violence on campuses, crisis management was a theme throughout the workshop. Other session topics were offered on underwriting, facilities, and environmental health & safety oriented topics. The MPP has thirteen states participating and insures over $58.2 billion on over 100 campuses. If you would like to learn more information about the program, please contact Rob Trembath at 612-624-1812.
MHEC campus safety survey underway
MHEC’s nationwide survey of campus safety initiatives was launched on February 29. The survey was sent to approximately 3,500 chief student affairs officers and campus safety directors across the country. The survey is designed to assess the actions taken by colleges and universities to improve campus safety and security in response to the tragic events at Virginia Tech in April 2007, including revisited or revised policies, procedures, and communications systems. Lexington Insurance Company, the underwriter for MHEC’s Master Property Program, is sponsoring the project. Survey data will be collected through mid-March; a report of the results will be available in late April. For more information write to safetysurvey@mhec.org.
MHEC holds annual Technologies Committee meeting
 The MHEC Technologies Committee annual meeting was held February 24-25 in Chicago with 18 of the committee’s members attending the meeting. Members heard reports on the status of RFPs, scheduled “health checks” for existing contracts, and they decided which RFPs to pursue in the coming year. Two current vendors – Xerox and TrendMicro – each shared strategic marketing informaiton. Members then discussed ways to better market MHEC and its cost savings activities. At the evening meal sponsored by TrendMicro, President Larry Isaak presented plaques to several committee members, thanking them for service to MHEC and our member states. Those honored for their continuing service on the technology executive committee include: Dennis Linster, Wayne State College (NE); Ernie Kramer, Indiana State University; and Ken Niemi, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; Thomas Phillip, Concordia University (WI) was recognized for his service on the technology steering committee; and Peggy Quisenberry, University of Missouri was honored for chairing the anti-virus software RFP committee. President Isaak also charged the technology executive committee to draft a recognition policy.MHEC partners with Pathways to College Network
MHEC recently joined the Pathways to College Network as a partner organization. The Pathways to College Network is an alliance of over 30 national organizations and funders committed to using research-based knowledge to improve college access and success for the nation's underserved students, including underrepresented minorities, low-income students, first in families to attend college, and students with disabilities. The Network's activities cover: 1) Academic Preparation and Support, 2) Access and Information, 3) Financial Aid, 4) College Success, 5) Research, and 6) Policy. Jennifer Dahlquist, MHEC director of student access, will be MHEC's representative to the Network. Annual Report to the States 2006-07 available on MHEC website
MHEC's Annual Report to the States 2006-07 can be downloaded on MHEC's website. The report, completed in December 2007, covers fiscal year 2006-07 and outlines MHEC cost savings, student access, and policy research activities for each of the Compact's eleven member states. Either the full report or the state section of the report can be downloaded from the Member States pages of the MHEC website. President Larry Isaak will share copies of the report with MHEC Commissioners during his upcoming visits to each of the member states. Additionally, commissioners, governors, legislative leadership, and state higher education executive officers will be mailed copies.
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