The Florida Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC) has released its annual report for 2016, recommending that state leaders address areas of performance metrics, articulation, incentives for business and education partnerships, and better alignment and prioritization of education funding.
The report provides actionable recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, higher education sectors, state agencies and the Articulation Coordinating Committee. Among the recommendations to the state legislature:
1. Endorse and support the Higher Education Coordinating Council’s ambitious goal of 55 percent of Floridians holding a high-quality postsecondary credential by 2025. The Higher Education Coordinating Council is committed to ensuring that Florida has the talent it needs to meet our growing population and future economic, civic, and social challenges.
2. Continue to encourage and support all education sectors in defining key performance metrics to align with statewide higher education policy and fiscal goals, recognizing that performance benchmarks might differ by delivery sector and program.
3. Continue and broaden its commitment to seamless articulation pathways by linking available resources for students to develop graduation pathways and by incentivizing higher education institutions to increase the number and proportion of transfer students receiving credit towards their intended program of study, always keeping in mind issues of accreditation and quality.
4. Expand incentives to promote collaboration and engagement between the business community and the education system, utilizing our higher education assets as a component of our economic development activities.
5. Continue to align, prioritize, and incentivize education funding to better meet Florida’s industry talent needs through the use of the best available labor market intelligence and industry data.
6. Support Florida’s participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). In order for Florida postsecondary institutions to be competitive nationally in online programs and experiential learning opportunities it is important the Florida Legislature support legislation for Florida to participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) administered by the national compact, National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and continue to be an active participant in the regional compact Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
This is the sixth report issued by HECC, which serves as an advisory board to the governor and state legislature. The council includes representatives of public and private postsecondary education, state agencies, political appointees, and workforce and economic development boards.
To view the full report, click here.