CCPE Commissioner Dr. Deborah Frison of Omaha has been selected to fill a newly created leadership position at the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). Frison will begin her duties as Deputy Commissioner of School Improvement this fall. She will continue her work with the Coordinating Commission, as well.

Frison currently is principal at Omaha Burke High School, a position she has held since 2008. Prior to Burke, Frison was principal at Morton Middle School and King Science and Technology Magnet School, both in Omaha. She began her career in education as a music teacher.

The Coordinating Commission recently produced a series of fliers that offer an overview of the need-based financial aid programs the Commission administers; the state's current postsecondary attainment levels and where it needs to be by 2020; and the Commission's duties and responsibilities.

The Coordinating Commission recently voted to fund five projects through a U.S. Department of Education grant program designed to improve K-12 teachers’ content knowledge and professional skills.

The Coordinating Commission recently approved its 2015 meeting calendar, which includes visits to Chadron State College, Central Community College and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

At a Legislative hearing Nov. 19 the Coordinating Commission made the case for continuing to use a share of State lottery revenue to help fund a need-based financial aid program for Nebraska college students.

The Coordinating Commission at its Oct. 14 meeting approved its 2015-2017 budget recommendations for the University of Nebraska, State College System and the state’s community colleges. The Commission now forwards those recommendations to the Legislature and Governor for their consideration before they approve higher-education budgets during the upcoming Legislative session.

Gov. Dave Heineman has appointed John Bernthal, a retired professor and department chair at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to fill the 1st District vacancy for the Coordinating Commission.

Before retiring in 2011, Bernthal was a professor and served as chair of the Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also has served in leadership positions in professional associations and is the past president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Nebraska has been approved for participation in a national reciprocity agreement that will streamline the process for institutions to offer distance learning courses to out-of-state students.

Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education has hired Dr. Michael Baumgartner as its next Executive Director.

The Commission voted unanimously to hire Baumgartner after interviewing him in Lincoln on July 11. Baumgartner currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for Complete College America, a national nonprofit organization that works with states to increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations.

The Commission recently approved the latest of many reports it issues, Nebraska Postsecondary Enrollment, Tuition & Fees, and Financial Aid: 2013 Supplemental Data Report.  This report focuses on enrollment, tuition and fees, and financial aid for Nebraska's public postsecondary institutions. A few of the report's key findings: