Duties

(a) It is the duty of the commission on a continuing basis to study the use of public funds for higher education in this state and to analyze programs and needs in the field of higher education. Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!(b) The commission shall establish and ensure that all postsecondary institutions in this state cooperatively provide for an integrated system of postsecondary education. The commission shall guard against inappropriate and unnecessary conflict and duplication by promoting transferability of credits and easy access of information among institutions. (c) The commission shall: (1) Provide planning and policy leadership, including a distinct and visible role in setting the state’s higher education policy agenda and serving as an agent of education transformation; (2) Develop and advance the education public policy agenda of the state to address the challenges facing higher education in Tennessee; and (3) Develop public consensus and awareness for the Tennessee higher education public policy agenda. (d) (1) The commission shall develop a statewide master plan to increase the educational attainment levels of Tennesseans through strategic future development of public universities, community colleges, and colleges of applied technology. (2) In the development of this master plan, the commission shall actively engage with state institutions of higher education and their respective governing boards, as well as key stakeholders, and the appropriate state agencies. (3) The commission shall engage regional and statewide constituencies for input and information to ensure the master plan supports the development of higher education opportunities for Tennesseans. Additionally, provisions of the master plan shall facilitate regional cooperation and alignment among postsecondary institutions, secondary educational institutions, business, and industry, as well as civic and community leaders. (4) This master plan shall be reviewed and revised as deemed appropriate by the commission, and shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the following provisions: (A) Addressing the state’s economic development, workforce development, and research needs; (B) Ensuring increased degree production within the state’s capacity to support higher education; (C) Using institutional mission differentiation to minimize redundancy in degree offerings, instructional locations, and competitive research, and to realize statewide efficiencies through institutional collaboration; and (D) Establishing eligible incarcerated individuals housed in correctional facilities in this state as a focus population in order to increase the degree attainment of such individuals. (5) Following completion of the master plan and to expedite implementation, the commission shall submit any necessary higher education policy recommendations to the governing boards of the various institutions, the governor, and the general assembly through the education committee of the senate and the education administration committee of the house of representatives. (e) Concurrent with the adoption of each revised master plan and in consultation with the respective governing boards, the commission shall approve institutional mission statements. Submitted by state institutions, an institutional mission statement shall characterize distinctiveness in degree offerings and shall address institutional accountability for the quality of instruction, student learning, and, where applicable, research and public service to benefit Tennessee citizens. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit any institution from pursuing research and related activities that are consistent with the institution’s mission. (f) (1) The commission shall develop and utilize an outcomes-based funding formula model to ensure the fair and equitable distribution and use of public funds among state institutions of higher education. (2) This funding formula model shall further the goals of the statewide master plan by emphasizing outcomes across a range of variables that shall be weighted to reinforce each institution’s mission and provide incentives for productivity improvements consistent with the state’s higher education master plan, including: (A) End-of-term enrollment for each term, student retention, and timely progress toward degree completion and degree production; and (B) Student transfer activity, research, and student success, as well as compliance with the transfer and articulation policies required in this section. (3) The funding formula model shall consider the impact of tuition, maintenance fees, and other charges assessed by each institution in determining the fair and equitable distribution of public funds. The commission shall also consider capital outlay programs and operating expenses, which shall be utilized to determine the higher education appropriations recommendation. (g) (1) The commission shall establish a review committee to aid in development or