Section 187-A:28-e - Public Higher Education Strategic Alignment The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall consider and work collaboratively toward the implementation of strategies identified in the report of the public higher education task force, established by Executive Order 2023-06, as necessary to successfully meet projected demands for New Hampshire higher education.
I. The university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall, in accordance with findings identified in the public higher education task force report, develop and implement system-wide higher education alignment strategies to:(a) Increase opportunities to raise education attainment levels, in part to meet workforce needs;(b) Improve accessibility and compatibility for New Hampshire students;(c) Minimize duplication of academic programs as appropriate while optimizing access for students;(d) Create potential for economies of scale and synergy;(e) Enhance regional growth and development;(f) Streamline administrative costs and obligations; and(g) Continue collaborative work establishing curricular pathways for the transfer of program and degree credit across institutions in the 2 systems pursuant to RSA 187-A:16-c and RSA 188-F:6-a.II. The board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and the board of trustees of the community college system of New Hampshire are encouraged to collaboratively develop and implement pilot projects to align administrative functions under guidance, monitoring, and legislative oversight of the public higher education study committee established pursuant to RSA 187-A:28-a. The public higher education study shall include technical support from the director of higher education, New Hampshire department of education, who shall serve as a non-voting committee member.III. The chancellors of the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire shall submit joint quarterly progress reports, addressing higher education strategic alignment outcomes, to the public higher education study committee beginning with the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2024, or as requested by the committee. Beginning November 1, 2024, and each November 1 thereafter, the chancellors shall submit an annual report regarding implementation of comprehensive higher education alignment strategies and findings to the governor and council, the senate finance and education committees, the house finance and education committees, the board of trustees of the university system of New Hampshire and the community college system of New Hampshire, and the commissioner of the department of education.Added by 2024, 198:1, eff. 7/12/2024.