Committee Summary for Public Higher Education Study Committee (05/23/2025)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:05:28.000 - 9:02:29 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Moren Mooney, State Representative from Merrimack Information Only00:05:28.000 - 9:02:29 AM; Representative Mooney introduced herself as a member of the public higher education study committee and stated her representation from Merrimack.
Unclear: Glenn Cordelli, representing Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, and Ossipee Information Only00:05:28.000 - 9:02:29 AM; Glenn Cordelli introduced himself as a member of the committee representing the towns of Tuftonboro, Wolfeboro, and Ossipee in the lakes region.
Unclear: Senator Tim Lang, Senator for the Lakes region Information Only00:05:28.000 - 9:02:29 AM; Senator Tim Lang introduced himself as the Senator for the Lakes region, humorously referencing a New Jersey phrase for his district's coverage.
Unclear: Rick Ladd, State Representative from Alstead Information Only00:05:28.000 - 9:02:29 AM; Rick Ladd introduced himself as a state representative from Alstead, also noting his role as chair of House Education and his interest in discussing higher education.
Unclear: Wayne Burton, State Representative from Durham Information Only00:06:37.360 - 9:03:38 AM; Wayne Burton introduced himself as a state representative from Durham, competing with another cultural center, and a member of the education funding committee.
Unclear: Ruth Ward, Senator from District 8 Information Only00:06:37.360 - 9:03:38 AM; Senator Ruth Ward introduced herself as the senator from District 8, which extends from Dunbarton to the Connecticut River.
Unclear: Katherine Preventure, Chancellor of the state's university system Information Only00:07:31.800 - 9:04:32 AM; Chancellor Katherine Preventure expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the ongoing activities at the university system and its collaboration with the community college system, although she did not have a written report or presentation.
Unclear: Katherine Preventure, Chancellor of the state's university system Information Only00:07:31.800 - 9:04:32 AM; Chancellor Preventure updated the committee on the ongoing work of the university system, including the move of the system office to the NHTI campus in Concord, which is ahead of schedule. This move is expected to save students a quarter of a million dollars annually and provide a revenue source for the community college system. She also discussed ongoing collaborations on transfer pathways between the community college and university systems, and the use of CRM databases to inform students about direct admit opportunities. The university system is restructuring due to declining enrollment caused by demographic shifts and competition, aiming to reduce costs significantly over the next five years to ensure financial sustainability. Additionally, she mentioned ongoing efforts in risk management, procurement, and footprint reduction, including exiting leases to partner with the community college system's capacity.
Unclear: Mark Rubenstein, Chancellor of the community college system Information Only00:11:47.600 - 9:08:48 AM; Chancellor Rubenstein highlighted the commencement season and the conferral of nearly 2200 degrees and certificates across the community college system. He noted the success of students transferring to the university system and the ongoing partnership enhancements. He discussed the system's engagement with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to improve structure and efficiency, and plans to introduce an academic governance council to facilitate seamless student transitions. He also addressed the potential impact of proposed changes to federal PEL grants, which might affect students who enroll in fewer than 7.5 credits, emphasizing that many community college students are part-time due to work and family responsibilities.
Unclear: Katherine Preventure, Chancellor of the state's university system Information Only00:15:54.720 - 9:12:55 AM; Chancellor Preventure added to the discussion on the Governor's scholarship fund, noting that it currently only benefits full-time students who do not stop their studies, which disadvantages part-time community college students. She mentioned ongoing discussions at the college savings tuition advisory commission about potential statutory amendments to address this issue, aligning with Chancellor Rubenstein's comments on PEL grant changes and credit loads.
Unclear: Melinda Treadwell, President of Keene State College Information Only00:40:15.520 - 9:37:16 AM; President Treadwell discussed the importance of accreditation, particularly in light of recent executive orders, and its role in ensuring educational quality and consumer protection. She detailed how accreditation processes, including peer reviews and financial screenings, help maintain the viability and quality of educational institutions. She emphasized the importance of post-secondary education for economic vitality and personal transformation, and how the university system is working to align with workforce needs through partnerships and innovative credentialing.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:22:39.840 - 10:19:40 AM; The speaker discusses the importance of universities delivering high-quality, high-value education free from unlawful discrimination and ideological overreach. They mention a previous effort by Trump to impose a loyalty oath against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, which was stayed by Judge McAlliffus. The speaker expresses concern about the potential chilling effect of such orders on educational content and practices, particularly regarding DEI efforts. They reference their experiences leading students to rebuild houses in New Orleans and teaching about the disproportionate impact of the Vietnam War on African-Americans, questioning if such activities would be considered DEI violations under the current order.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:24:57.360 - 10:21:58 AM; The speaker continues to discuss the potential implications of anti-DEI orders on educational practices, particularly citing their experiences with minority students in Lynn, Massachusetts. They express concern that such orders could have a detrimental effect on educational programs and the ability to teach a diverse range of topics, emphasizing the importance of serving diverse student populations as expected by accreditation agencies.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:26:12.440 - 10:23:13 AM; The speaker provides context regarding a White House brief and an executive order dated April 23rd. They mention that the order is being introduced into the record, along with a response from the president of Neti. The speaker emphasizes the importance of competition and high-quality accreditation in higher education and disputes some of the assertions made in the order, stating they do not reflect the reality on the ground at New Hampshire institutions.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:28:17.040 - 10:25:18 AM; The speaker addresses concerns about the broad conclusions drawn in the White House summary regarding the negative return on investment of certain degrees and graduation rates. They argue that these statistics do not accurately represent the performance of New Hampshire's university system institutions and express a need to provide specific evidence to demonstrate compliance with educational expectations.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:30:48.159 - 10:27:49 AM; The speaker responds to concerns about intellectual diversity among faculty and students' freedom to express differing opinions. They highlight the University System of New Hampshire's commitment to free speech rights, including their green light rating, and efforts to ensure diversity of thought and expression. They also mention Keene State's involvement in the American Democracy Project to expose students to various political ideologies.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:33:06.159 - 10:30:07 AM; The speaker discusses a conversation with the chief diversity officer at UNH about supporting students from diverse backgrounds to succeed. They mention a destination survey indicating conservative students felt their voices were not heard, leading to efforts by the university to address this through faculty meetings and civil discourse workshops. The speaker emphasizes the inclusive aspect of DEI and mentions efforts to support veteran students, leading to UNH's recognition as a yellow ribbon campus.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:36:49.199 - 10:33:50 AM; The speaker references a Business New Hampshire magazine article highlighting the positive impact of DEI initiatives on employee retention and satisfaction. They suggest sending this information to the committee for consideration alongside other documents.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:37:43.679 - 10:34:44 AM; The speaker expresses interest in discussing facilities and capital costs at the next meeting, mentioning issues like a housing shortage at Plymouth State and the potential need for consolidating or repurposing facilities. They suggest looking into deferred maintenance, leasing, and revenue generation from unused properties.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:38:46.239 - 10:35:47 AM; The speaker mentions that UNH is currently developing a complete master plan for its campus, suggesting it as a good time to review facility use. They also discuss scheduling the next meeting, considering the availability of the LOB and other potential venues like Granite City College or the event center at the learning center.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:39:44.560 - 10:36:45 AM; The speaker suggests scheduling the next meeting after the budget is finalized, possibly in mid-July or August, and mentions logistical issues like the availability of legislative mileage and the state of the Department of Education building due to renovations. They propose a meeting in June if feasible, otherwise, consider late August.
Unclear: Unknown Speaker Information Only01:43:10.280 - 10:40:11 AM; The speaker discusses the timing of the next quarterly report related to bills 1450 and 1530, focusing on transferability of credits and alignment. They suggest scheduling the next meeting in September to align with the budget cycle and facility planning efforts across the university system.