(2) The commission shall report biennially to the Legislative Assembly on the implementation and results of the plans. The report may include recommendations on ways in which the Legislative Assembly can assist in increasing the number of diverse educators. [Formerly 351.077]
Note: Sections 1 and 2, chapter 533, Oregon Laws 2021, provide:
Sec. 1. Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education. (1) The Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education is established.
(2) The task force consists of eight members appointed as follows:
(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint four members from among members of the Senate.
(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint four members from among members of the House of Representatives.
(3) The task force shall visit public post-secondary institutions of education in this state for the purpose of meeting with prospective, current and former students from populations that are underrepresented in the student bodies of these institutions, including students who:
(a) Qualify as an underrepresented person as defined in ORS 342.120;
(b) Qualify as diverse as defined in ORS 342.433;
(c) Are from rural communities in this state;
(d) Are from low-income families;
(e) Experience disability, including intellectual developmental disabilities;
(f) Identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, nonbinary or another minority gender identity or sexual orientation;
(g) Are undocumented; and
(h) Have been a foster child.
(4) The task force shall meet with faculty, staff and community partners who support underrepresented students through academic and student service programming.
(5) Based on conversations with the students and parties described in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, and in consultation with subcommittees with subject matter expertise created under subsection (12) of this section, the task force shall develop student success policy and funding proposals for the 2023 regular session of the Legislative Assembly. Policy proposals developed under this section shall focus on increasing the likelihood of student success in higher education for students described in subsection (3) of this section by addressing:
(a) Access, including recruitment, admissions, placement, cost of attendance, financial aid and funding;
(b) Retention, including student support, student services, transfer programs, increased diversity of faculty, housing needs, food insecurity, child care costs, health care costs, mental health care access and counseling;
(c) Graduation, including time to degree, career readiness and student debt; and
(d) Entry into the workforce, including internships, advanced and continuing education, job and career placement, assessment on the return on investment for attaining a post-secondary degree, the correlation between degrees awarded and job placement and the correlation between student costs for higher education and earnings after graduation.
(6) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
(7) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the members of the task force.
(8) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.
(9) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective.
(10) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the task force.
(11) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force.
(12) In addition to the tasks described in subsections (3) to (5) of this section, the task force may:
(a) Create one or more subcommittees of subject matter expertise for the purpose of advising the task force on how to best fulfill its duties. The task force may appoint any individual as a member of a subcommittee under this section. A subcommittee member is not entitled to vote as a member of the task force.
(b) Presession file legislation in the manner provided in ORS 171.130 for interim committees. All legislation recommended by official action of the task force must indicate that it is introduced at the request of the task force.
(13) The task force shall report its findings and any student success policy proposals developed under this section to the Legislative Assembly in the manner provided in ORS 192.245 no later than December 15, 2022.
(14) The Legislative Policy and Research Director may employ persons necessary for the performance of the functions of the task force. The Legislative Policy and Research Director shall fix the duties and amounts of compensation of the employees. The task force shall use the services of continuing legislative staff, without employing additional persons, to the greatest extent practicable.
(15) All public bodies, as defined in ORS 174.109, are directed to assist the task force in the performance of the duties of the task force and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the task force consider necessary to perform their duties. [2021 c.533 §1]
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this 2021 Act is repealed on December 31, 2023. [2021 c.533 §2]