2020 May e-News

MHEC recognizes the difficult time postsecondary institutions are experiencing in the Midwest and across the nation.  Feedback is welcome on how MHEC might be helpful from a regional perspective to institutions and states.

MHEC Sets in Motion a New Strategic Framework for the Future

May 1, 2020 (Minneapolis, Minn.) – The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) is pleased to announce a new strategic framework  with four new actionable priorities that build upon MHEC’s current strategic plan. The priorities are:

-Increase access, promote affordability, and improve outcomes for all of the region’s learners, including the historically underserved;
-Foster a culture of continuous learning through increasingly aligned educational and workforce systems;
-Sustain and advance affordable, high-quality educational opportunities through cost-savings initiatives; and
-Understand and communicate the value of and return on investment in higher education.

MHEC Strategic Framework

“I’m pleased to have this strategic framework in place, especially during these uncertain times," stated Susan Heegaard, MHEC president. "We have worked closely with our commissioners, staff, and other key higher education leaders from across the country to seek their input and feedback to ensure we are providing value to our member states.”

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New Collaboration Will Support Credential Transparency Across the Midwest

April 20, 2020 (Washington, DC)–Today, Credential Engine and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), announced a new partnership to support and accelerate credential transparency across the twelve Midwest states in the Compact: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. This work will continue to build on and expand efforts to improve the vital credential and competency data connections that tie education, jobs, and the economy together.

”The opportunity to work with Credential Engine is exciting for MHEC,” said Susan Heegaard, MHEC President. “Since Indiana first started leading this work with them several years ago, five other MHEC states and others across the nation have engaged in the effort to make credentials in their states transparent and more accessible. Each of our states’ approach to this work is unique, something we appreciate and support at MHEC. From the work of the six states already connected with Credential Engine, we will be able to learn and recommend efficient, effective ways for other states to move toward credential transparency in the future.” 
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CONVENING

MHEC to Host Midwest Legislators on the Impact of COVID-19 in Higher Education

MHEC and the Council of State Governments (CSG) Midwestern Legislative Conference will host an informative and timely discussion with Midwestern legislators on the impact of the Coronavirus on the Midwest region on Monday, May 18. Highlights will include perspectives on how the pandemic will impact higher education state budgets, other key issues, and how states can best position themselves. Hosts Mike McCabe, CSG Midwestern office director, and Susan Heegaard, MHEC president, will welcome Dr. Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations for the State Higher Education Executive Officers, along with Rep. Rick Carfagna (OH), Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (IL), and Sen. Karen K. Krebsbach (ND). The meeting will be recorded and made available on MHEC's website.

WEBINARS: Learn more about MHEC's work with Credential Engine

MHEC will host Credential Engine as they lead attendees through two webinars and share details of this recent partnership. Two times are offered for each webinar. Click the preferred date for more webinar details.

Regional priorities for a connected learn-and-work ecosystem: Results from the Midwest Credential Transparency Survey

Tuesday, May 26, at 1:00 p.m. CDT

Thursday, May 28, at 1:00 p.m. CDT

Technology services for a connected learn-and-work ecosystem: Results from the Midwest Credential Transparency Survey
 
Tuesday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. CDT

Thursday, June 4 at Noon CDT

MHEC to Hold Executive Committee Meeting Virtually MHEC President Susan Heegaard has announced that she along with the MHEC officers have made the decision to hold the June Executive Committee meeting virtually on June 10.

POLICY & RESEARCH

MHEC Supports Participation in 2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is currently collecting data for the 2019–20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20), which is designed to provide both national and state-level financial aid data, similar to the prior study conducted in 2018 (the data for which are forthcoming). This will enable researchers, policymakers, and other higher education stakeholders to generate state-representative undergraduate financial aid estimates and compare aid programs at the state level.

MHEC supports NPSAS:20, which will help fill important gaps in the postsecondary education data landscape, and encourages institutions to participate if selected for the study. Institutional participation is particularly important for achieving state-representative estimates. Upon conclusion of the study, participating institutions will receive a data feedback report allowing staff to see how their institution compares to financial aid estimates at the sector, state, and/or national levels (depending on response rates).

Institution data collection for NPSAS occurs in two main phases. The first is enrollment list collection, during which institutions are asked to submit a list of all students enrolled during the 2019-20 academic year. In the second phase, student records collection, institutions are asked to provide financial aid and other data for a subset of students sampled from their list. Enrollment lists will be collected until early July 2020 with student records collection continuing through the Fall.

NPSAS:20 is being administered by RTI International on behalf of NCES. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Austin Caperton, manager of Institution Outreach.

PROGRAMS

MHEC Welcomes Southeast Missouri State University to Cyber Program

Southeast Missouri State University recently signed on to participate in MHEC's Cyber Insurance Program. As the higher education workforce continues to work from home, institutions can be susceptible to increased cyber attacks. Cyber criminals are capitalizing on the pandemic and deploying COVID-19 related phishing attacks and exploiting home network vulnerabilities, according to a recent Business Insurance article "Surge in working from home raises cyber exposure issue." Institutions are encouraged to review their cyber liability insurance coverage. MHEC is ready to assist additional campuses with securing new or reviewing existing coverage. For more details, please contact Carla Ahrens, property program manager, at (612) 677-2776.

CONTRACTS

MHEC Providers Ready to Support Institutions in Technology Needs

Education institutions are seemingly taking part in the largest online global learning and work-from-home experiment in history, due to the Coronavirus. Students, faculty, and staff are also perpetually logging into their institutions’ infrastructure through cellular and unknown Wi-Fi networks. They are using several devices to access all sorts of data on-premise and across varied public and private clouds, all of this is occurring and being managed outside of the typical campus-based IT infrastructure to address these unique access, security, and privacy risks. Technology will continue to play a critical role in the ever-changing education delivery landscape.

MHEC wants to assist in addressing institutional technology needs in the short- and long-term and is ready to assist by providing technology contract options and to identify the appropriate point-of-contact with each of MHEC’s technology providers. They are ready to serve institutions by identifying hardware devices, software solutions, mobility alternatives, financing considerations, and creating options for fulfilling expedited orders. Some shortages exist for hardware, so please expect product shipment delays. MHEC encourages institutions to discuss needs over the next six to eighteen months with their providers.

List of Available MHEC Contracts

MHEC is committed to seeking input from the technology community and providing notice regarding anticipated technology solicitations. MHEC has several solicitation initiatives over the next eight months playing an important role in delivering anytime, anywhere, and any device access. These important solicitations include Virtualization and Data Center Modernization, Research and Advisory Services, Security Services, and e-Transcripts/Digital Credentialing Services. For more information about upcoming solicitations or participating on a workgroup, contact Nathan Sorensen, MHEC director of government contracts.

 

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES OF INTEREST

The HyFlex Option for Instruction if Campuses Open This Fall
Inside Higher Ed | May 13, 2020

Ep. 6: The Great Online Pivot and What Comes Next The Key with
Inside Higher Ed | May 12, 2020

Increasing Recognition of Military-based Learning in the Midst of the Coronavirus Crisis
Military Times | May 10, 2020

Budget Blog
NASBO | May 8, 2020

Biggest Gap Year Ever? Sixteen Percent of High School Seniors Say They’ll Take a Gap Year
The Hechinger Report | May 5, 2020

Coronavirus Proves US Broadband Infrastructure Is Essential
FitchRatings | May 5, 2020

Big Idea: A National Digital-Cyber Land-Grant University System
Inside Higher Ed  | April 15, 2020

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