March 22, 2024

Senate Education Committee Closes

The Senate Education Committee completed their work this week and adjourned subject to the call of the Chair. Actions by the Senate should give direction to the House Education Committees as they seek to complete their work in the coming weeks. Bills receiving a negative action in the Senate may cause the House companion bill to be taken off notice.

The House Higher Education Subcommittee was unable to complete their work on Monday as hoped. Therefore, they will seek to finish considering their bills by Monday, March 25th. Bills that pass the Subcommittee will then be referred to the House Education Administration Committee.

Bill Addressing Accreditation

HB2625/SB2528 causes public colleges and universities to regularly evaluate their accrediting affiliations and determine if they best align with the programs offered by the campuses. Accreditors may not compel public colleges and universities to violate state law. The measure allows the campus the right of action against an accreditor if it does so and instructs the institution to seek a new accreditor during the next accreditation cycle.

The bill has gone through various iterations that have, at times, included TICUA member institutions. TICUA expressed concern about the measure as originally drafted. This week the House and Senate sponsors placed amendments on the proposed legislation removing TICUA members from the bill.

Action Taken on THEC/TSAC Bill

HB2676/SB2713, abolishes the governing board of directors for the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC) and designates the corporation as a division of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). Currently, TSAC and THEC have separate Boards governing the two separate corporations even though the Executive Director of THEC oversees both. TICUA’s president is secured a voting position on the TSAC Board by statute. If the bill passes as drafted, TICUA will no longer have a place at the table. The bulk of the bill seeks to redefine the role of THEC among public colleges and universities by vesting the universities with more power and reconstituting the nominees to the Commission.

The House bill, which vests public institutions with more power, was passed in the House chamber and has been sent over to the Senate for consideration. The Senate Education Committee passed their version out of committee this week which will place it in a position to be placed on the Senate Chamber calendar.

The House and Senate amendments are in very different positions. The Senate version, amended by Senator Jon Lundberg, continues to vest THEC with its current responsibilities and creates an advisory board to the TSAC division. TICUA is specifically mentioned in the Senate amendment securing the Association a place on the TSAC Advisory Board. Since the House and Senate have differing views on the legislation it will likely go to a conference committee to attempt to resolve the differences.

NC-SARA Fee Bill Moves Forward

HB2393/SB2826, as drafted, de-couples the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s fees from the NC-SARA fee structure. It allows THEC to not increase the state share of participating in NC-SARA when the national fees increase. Today, THEC’s fee is directly tied to the NC-SARA structure which has only increased over time.

When the decision was made for THEC to serve as Tennessee’s NC-SARA portal, it was agreed that the state fees would be tied to the direct operating expenses of the portal. TICUA is supportive of this proposal which will reduce the burden on campuses.

The bill passed the Senate Chamber on March 11th and in the House, the bill has been assigned to the Government Operations Committee for consideration on March 25th.