MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

1:00 PM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.012

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher Education was held on Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.012, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kel Seliger, Chair	Senator Paul Bettencourt
Senator Royce West, Vice Chair
Senator Dawn Buckingham
Senator José Menéndez
Senator Larry Taylor
Senator Kirk Watson

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The chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair laid out and made opening remarks on the following interim charge:

System/Campus Expansion: Consider what role the state should have in overseeing the approval and development of new higher education locations into geographical areas already served by existing institutions. Develop a long-term statewide strategy for authorizing new locations and programs which includes a plan to ensure adequate support for expansion. Explore where there are underserved areas of the state and what type of programs would best serve the population to fill regional workforce needs.

The chair then called invited testimony (see attached witness list).

The chair then opened public testimony (see attached witness list).

The chair moved that the public testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

There being no further business, at 2:52 PM Senator Seliger moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Kel Seliger, Chair

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Daniel Warner, Clerk