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:
The Nebraska Legislature adjourned April 17 after debating and passing numerous higher-education bills. The Coordinating Commission offered testimony on 10 bills and monitored their progress throughout the session.
The Commission also worked with several senators and their staff as they researched and drafted legislation.
The Coordinating Commission has formally begun its search process for a new executive director. The Commission is filling the vacancy left by Dr. Marshall Hill, who resigned in August 2013 to accept another higher-education position in Colorado. Since then, Dr. Carna Pfeil has served as the Commission’s interim executive director. Pfeil was associate director for finance and administration and has been with the Commission for more than 20 years. Those interested in learning more about the executive director position and the search process should visit the Commission's website.
The Coordinating Commission recently voted to fund four projects through a U.S. Department of Education grant program designed to improve K-12 teachers’ content knowledge and professional skills.
The Coordinating Commission offered testimony on 10 higher-education-related bills currently being considered by the State Legislature. Interim Executive Director Carna Pfeil spoke on behalf of the commission for five of the bills; the commission submitted testimony in letter form for the others. Below is a brief description of those bills, as well as a link to the commission's submitted testimony.
The Coordinating Commission recently elected Colleen Adam of Hastings as its new chair and Carol Zink of Lincoln as its vice chair for the upcoming year.
Adam represents District 5 and has been a member of the Commission since 2003. Zink is an at-large commissioner and has been with the Commission since 2007.
The Coordinating Commission is governed by an 11-member board of commissioners. Six of the commissioners represent each of the state's supreme court judicial districts; five are at-large members. Commissioners serve six-year terms.
Gov. Dave Heineman has appointed two new commissioners to the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. Lori Warner of South Sioux City will represent District 3, which covers northeast Nebraska. Dwayne Probyn of Papillion will be an at-large member of the commission.
Warner is president and CEO of the South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce. She held the same position with the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2012. Warner earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Peru State College.
Due to inclement weather in parts of the state, the Coordinating Commission has cancelled its work session scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 4, in Lincoln. The Commission's regular meeting is still scheduled for Dec. 5.
The Coordinating Commission recently welcomed two new employees to its research staff.
Jill Heese is the commission's new research coordinator. She comes to the commission from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she was a survey data analyst. Heese earned her bachelor's degree in Business Administration and master's degree in Survey Research and Methodology, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
