Governing W.Va. Higher Education
Many West Virginians probably assume the Higher Education Policy Commission and the Council for Community and Technical College Education have substantial amounts of authority over public colleges and universities. That may not be entirely true — and if so, it is something state legislators should discuss.
An analyst for the Legislature’s Performance Evaluation and Research Division has issued a report questioning whether the $3.5 million in taxpayers’ money that supports the HEPC and the CCTCE is being spent effectively. In essence, the report states the two agencies operate primarily in advisory capacities and don’t enforce accountability on public colleges and universities.
Officials at both agencies dispute that — of course. They say the analyst does not understand the authority granted the HEPC and the CCTCE under state law. HEPC Chancellor Paul Hill told a reporter the agencies can review college and university programs but do not have the power to eliminate them. And the agencies do not approve individual college and university budgets.
Well, precisely what do the HEPC and the CCTCE do?
If they are, as the analyst suggests, operating mostly in advisory capacities, lawmakers may want to reconsider two things:
First, could funding for the HEPC and the CCTCE be spent more effectively?
Second, if the two agencies are not overall managers of state colleges and universities, who is? Or are the institutions of higher learning being left to their own devices, through their individual boards of governors, subject only to budget appropriations by lawmakers?
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