Education Commission report

Rep. Allen Andrews

I recently had the privilege to attend the Annual Commission Meeting and Policy Summit of the Midwest Higher Education Compact.

It is an honor to have been appointed as the Missouri commissioner for an organization that does so much to expand postsecondary opportunity and success, and that works to make education more affordable for both students and states.

MHEC was formed in 1991 as a nonprofit regional organization that serves Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. During Missouri’s time as a member of the organization, MHEC has helped to save the state more than $10.4 million annually in educational expenses.

During my time at the meeting, I was able to provide a brief update on education-related issues in Missouri. My talk included an overview of our current fiscal picture, including our funding levels for state scholarships ($137.8 million) and for all educational institutions ($919.5 million, which is a 5 percent funding increase compared to the previous fiscal year).

I also spent time discussing the Coordinating Board for Higher Education’s mission to increase the percentage of working-age adults with a two- or four-year degree or a professional certificate to 60 percent by 2025.

Finally, I reviewed some of the legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly during the 2015 session, including residency requirements for state scholarships, the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, and the Campus Free Expression Act.

The meeting was a great experience and I am extremely grateful I had the opportunity to attend and meet colleagues and education professionals from our surrounding states.

The meeting was also a reminder of how I am continually thankful for our leaders at NWMSU who consistently set the bar high in academic performance, funding efficiencies, and overall campus quality. Dr. John Jasinski, along with his team of top-notch faculty and staff, continue to strive for excellence as they have become a role model for institutions of higher education around our state.

Moving forward, I believe Missouri’s continued membership in MHEC will produce enormous benefits as we seek to improve the quality and accessibility of education here in Missouri.