A New Plan for a New Economy: Reimagining Higher Education
Full Report
Executive Summary
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2013
For Additional Information Contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125
Commission Calls for New Master Plan
In a study released today, “A New Plan for a New Economy: Reimagining Higher Education," the Little Hoover Commission calls for a new master plan for higher education that addresses both the state’s need to substantially increase the number of graduates and the reality that state resources are limited.
Though the state was well-served by the 1960 Master Plan, substantial changes in California, together with new opportunities, warrant a rethinking of the state’s strategy for higher education, one that looks at what best serves students and the state as a whole.
“The Master Plan is dead and probably has been for a long time. California’s future depends on a new, transformative Master Plan that will be smart enough to take us through the next 50 years,” Commission Chair Jonathan Shapiro said.
The Great Recession forced state government to slash spending for public higher education and for public colleges and universities to turn away California students. California is recovering, but it must change its model for higher education if it hopes to meet the needs of a growing population and provide workers with the skills to compete in the world of the 21st century.
The Commission found that that the state lacks a strategy for achieving statewide goals for higher education. It urges California’s leaders to start the public discussion about how to change the state’s higher education system to meet the state’s current and future civic and workforce needs with the finite financial resources it has.
The Commission found that online education has enormous potential to expand the reach of public higher education, if used in a manner that benefits students. California’s colleges and universities already are using online courses, though they have yet to aggressively engage online education in ways that could help more students complete their programs on time and transfer course credits between systems. This is an area in which California higher education institutions, so long recognized as national leaders, should be setting the standard.
The Commission encourages the Legislature to provide incentives for developing online courses, particularly for high-demand and bottleneck courses, that would be awarded credit system-wide and, ideally, across all three segments.
The Little Hoover Commission is a bipartisan and independent state agency charged with recommending ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state programs. The Commission’s recommendations are submitted to the Governor and the Legislature for their consideration and action. For a copy of the report, visit the Commission’s website: www.lhc.ca.gov.
Fact Sheet
Study Description
For this study, the Commission reviewed higher education in California. The Commission evaluated the impact that the decline in state funding has had on California's higher education institutions, and how the postsecondary education system can help produce an informed citzenry and a workforce with the advanced certificates and degrees that the state's econonic future depends on.
Previous Studies
- Serving Students, Serving California: Updating the California Community Colleges to Meet Evolving Demands
(Report #210, February 2012)
- Open Doors and Open Minds: Improving Access and Quality in California's Community Colleges
(Report #154, March 2000)
- Inadequate Financial Accountability in California’s Community College System
(Report #69, February 1986)
Agenda
Overview
In this report, the Commission calls for a new master plan for higher education that addresses the state’s need to substantially increase the number of graduates while recognizing that state resources are limited.
During its review, the Commission found that the state lacks a strategy for achieving statewide goals for higher education. The Commission also found that online education has enormous potential to expand the reach of public higher education, if used in a manner that benefits students.
The Commission recommends developing incentives to expand use of online courses across all segments.

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February 262013Higher Educationat approximately 2:30 p.m., Long Beach City College, Building T, RoSubcommittee MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Long Beach City College
Building T, Room 2002
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA
The Commission subcommittee meeting will convene at approximately 2:30 p.m. The precise time will depend upon the length of the business meeting and will be determined at the discretion of the chair.- Status and next steps for potential recommendations
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February 262013Higher Education9:00 a.m., Long Beach City College, Building T, Room 1100, 4901 EasPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
Long Beach City College
Building T, Room 1100
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA
Opening RemarksStudent Aid and Postsecondary Financing
- David Longanecker, President, Western Commission for Higher Education (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
Going Online: MOOCs and Beyond
- Daphne Koller, Co-founder, Coursera and Professor, Stanford University (Written Testimony)
- Sebastian Thrun, Co-founder, Udacity and Former Professor, Stanford University
- Dean Florez, President and Chief Executive Officer, Twenty Million Minds Foundation
Going Online: UC and CSU- Keith R. Williams, Interim Director, UC Online Education and Senior Lecturer, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
- Ruth Claire Black, Executive Director, Cal State Online
- Robert Samuels, President, University Council-American Federation of Teachers and Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles
The Role of the Faculty- Robert Powell, Chair, University of California Academic Senate and Professor, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
- Diana Guerin, Chair, California State University Academic Senate and Professor, California State University, Fullerton
Comments Submitted by Members of the Public
- San Jose State University (Written Comments)
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2013For Additional Information Contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Tuesday, February 26, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct its third public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Building T, Room 1100, on the campus of Long Beach City College, 4901 East Carson Street in Long Beach, CA.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system. The February 26 hearing will focus on the issues of financing and student aid, online education and the role of the faculty.
The Commission will hear first about postsecondary financing and student aid from the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The Commission also will be given the opportunity to learn about massive open online courses (MOOCs) from the co-founders of Coursera and Udacity Inc. along with the chief executive officer at the Twenty Million Minds Foundation. They will discuss efforts to integrate MOOCs into the public higher education curriculum. The interim director of UC Online Education and the executive director of Cal State Online will provide an overview of the progress made by the University of California and California State University systems in offering online courses. In the same panel, the president of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers will discuss whether the focus on online is distracting attention from more important issues. The final panel includes chairs of both the UC and CSU Academic Senates. They will address the role of the faculty and efforts to increase college affordability.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in Building T, Room 2002. Immediately following the business meeting, the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Little Hoover Commission will meet in Building T, Room 2002, to discuss the status of the study and next steps for potential recommendations.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, February 19, 2013.
Video - David Longanecker, President, Western Commission for Higher Education (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
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October 232012Higher Education9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 2030, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 2040
Sacramento, CA
Opening RemarksNew Approaches to Higher Education in California
- John Aubrey Douglass, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
A Regional Look: The Long Beach College Promise Program
- Robert Tagorda, Assistant to the Superintendent, Long Beach Unified School District
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Superintendent and President, Long Beach Community College District (Written Testimony)
- F. King Alexander, President, California State University, Long Beach
Setting Goals, Fostering Accountability and Transparency, Implementing Outcomes-Based Funding- Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (Written Testimony)
- Brenda Bautsch, Senior Policy Specialist, National Conference of State Legislatures (Written Testimony)
Public Comments
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2012For additional information contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Notice of Public Meeting
On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system. In this hearing, the Commissioners will explore proposals to operate the system more efficiently, the state’s role in fostering alliances between regional education institutions and performance-based funding.
The Commission will hear first about new approaches to expand higher education opportunities from a senior research fellow with the Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley. The Commission will also be given an overview of The Long Beach Promise Program from representatives from each participating institution: an assistant to the superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District; the superintendent and president of the Long Beach Community College; and the president of California State University, Long Beach. The Long Beach panelists have been asked to discuss key elements of the program and how they could be applied on a statewide basis. The Commission also will be given the opportunity to learn about performance-based funding from the president of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, along with a senior policy specialist from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in the Blue Anchor Building at 1400 10th Street, Conference Room #202, Sacramento. An additional teleconference location accessible to the public during the business meeting will be at the University of Nevada, Reno, Lawlor Event Center, 1500 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445- 2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, October 16, 2012.
Video - John Aubrey Douglass, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
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August 282012Higher Education9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 2040, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 2040
Sacramento, CA
Opening RemarksUniversity of California and California State University: State Funding and the Price of Budget Cuts
- Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University (Written Testimony)
- Daniel M. Dooley, Senior Vice President for External Relations, University of California (Written Testimony)
The Master Plan: Governance and Student Access
- Steve Boilard, Managing Principal Analyst, Legislative Analyst's Office (Written Testimony)
- Hans Johnson, Bren Policy Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California (Written Testimony)
The Challenge Today: Re-Imaging Higher Education in California
- Robert Shireman, Director, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy (Written Testimony)
- Michele Siqueiros, Executive Director, The Campaign for College Opportunity (Written Testimony)
- Patrick M. Callan, President, Higher Education Policy Institute
Public CommentsPublic NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2012For additional information contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Revised Notice of Public Meeting Moved to New Location
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system and will focus on the impact of budget cuts, governance, the future of online education, student access, and the challenges to providing an affordable secondary education.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 21, 2012.
Video - Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University (Written Testimony)

-
February 262013Higher Educationat approximately 2:30 p.m., Long Beach City College, Building T, RoSubcommittee MeetingAgenda
AGENDA
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Long Beach City College
Building T, Room 2002
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA
The Commission subcommittee meeting will convene at approximately 2:30 p.m. The precise time will depend upon the length of the business meeting and will be determined at the discretion of the chair.- Status and next steps for potential recommendations
-
February 262013Higher Education9:00 a.m., Long Beach City College, Building T, Room 1100, 4901 EasPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, February 26, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
Long Beach City College
Building T, Room 1100
4901 East Carson Street
Long Beach, CA
Opening RemarksStudent Aid and Postsecondary Financing
- David Longanecker, President, Western Commission for Higher Education (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
Going Online: MOOCs and Beyond
- Daphne Koller, Co-founder, Coursera and Professor, Stanford University (Written Testimony)
- Sebastian Thrun, Co-founder, Udacity and Former Professor, Stanford University
- Dean Florez, President and Chief Executive Officer, Twenty Million Minds Foundation
Going Online: UC and CSU- Keith R. Williams, Interim Director, UC Online Education and Senior Lecturer, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony)
- Ruth Claire Black, Executive Director, Cal State Online
- Robert Samuels, President, University Council-American Federation of Teachers and Lecturer, University of California, Los Angeles
The Role of the Faculty- Robert Powell, Chair, University of California Academic Senate and Professor, University of California, Davis (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
- Diana Guerin, Chair, California State University Academic Senate and Professor, California State University, Fullerton
Comments Submitted by Members of the Public
- San Jose State University (Written Comments)
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2013For Additional Information Contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Notice of Meeting
On Tuesday, February 26, 2013, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct its third public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Building T, Room 1100, on the campus of Long Beach City College, 4901 East Carson Street in Long Beach, CA.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system. The February 26 hearing will focus on the issues of financing and student aid, online education and the role of the faculty.
The Commission will hear first about postsecondary financing and student aid from the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The Commission also will be given the opportunity to learn about massive open online courses (MOOCs) from the co-founders of Coursera and Udacity Inc. along with the chief executive officer at the Twenty Million Minds Foundation. They will discuss efforts to integrate MOOCs into the public higher education curriculum. The interim director of UC Online Education and the executive director of Cal State Online will provide an overview of the progress made by the University of California and California State University systems in offering online courses. In the same panel, the president of the University Council-American Federation of Teachers will discuss whether the focus on online is distracting attention from more important issues. The final panel includes chairs of both the UC and CSU Academic Senates. They will address the role of the faculty and efforts to increase college affordability.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in Building T, Room 2002. Immediately following the business meeting, the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Little Hoover Commission will meet in Building T, Room 2002, to discuss the status of the study and next steps for potential recommendations.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s website, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, February 19, 2013.
Video - David Longanecker, President, Western Commission for Higher Education (Written Testimony, PowerPoint Presenation)
-
October 232012Higher Education9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 2030, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, October 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 2040
Sacramento, CA
Opening RemarksNew Approaches to Higher Education in California
- John Aubrey Douglass, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
A Regional Look: The Long Beach College Promise Program
- Robert Tagorda, Assistant to the Superintendent, Long Beach Unified School District
- Eloy Ortiz Oakley, Superintendent and President, Long Beach Community College District (Written Testimony)
- F. King Alexander, President, California State University, Long Beach
Setting Goals, Fostering Accountability and Transparency, Implementing Outcomes-Based Funding- Dennis Jones, President, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (Written Testimony)
- Brenda Bautsch, Senior Policy Specialist, National Conference of State Legislatures (Written Testimony)
Public Comments
Public NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2012For additional information contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Notice of Public Meeting
On Tuesday, October 23, 2012, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system. In this hearing, the Commissioners will explore proposals to operate the system more efficiently, the state’s role in fostering alliances between regional education institutions and performance-based funding.
The Commission will hear first about new approaches to expand higher education opportunities from a senior research fellow with the Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley. The Commission will also be given an overview of The Long Beach Promise Program from representatives from each participating institution: an assistant to the superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District; the superintendent and president of the Long Beach Community College; and the president of California State University, Long Beach. The Long Beach panelists have been asked to discuss key elements of the program and how they could be applied on a statewide basis. The Commission also will be given the opportunity to learn about performance-based funding from the president of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, along with a senior policy specialist from the National Conference of State Legislatures.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments. Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in the Blue Anchor Building at 1400 10th Street, Conference Room #202, Sacramento. An additional teleconference location accessible to the public during the business meeting will be at the University of Nevada, Reno, Lawlor Event Center, 1500 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445- 2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Tuesday, October 16, 2012.
Video - John Aubrey Douglass, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley (Written Testimony)
-
August 282012Higher Education9:00 a.m., State Capitol, Room 2040, Sacramento, CAPublic HearingAgenda
AGENDA
Public Hearing on Higher Education
Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at 9:00 a.m.
State Capitol, Room 2040
Sacramento, CA
Opening RemarksUniversity of California and California State University: State Funding and the Price of Budget Cuts
- Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University (Written Testimony)
- Daniel M. Dooley, Senior Vice President for External Relations, University of California (Written Testimony)
The Master Plan: Governance and Student Access
- Steve Boilard, Managing Principal Analyst, Legislative Analyst's Office (Written Testimony)
- Hans Johnson, Bren Policy Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California (Written Testimony)
The Challenge Today: Re-Imaging Higher Education in California
- Robert Shireman, Director, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy (Written Testimony)
- Michele Siqueiros, Executive Director, The Campaign for College Opportunity (Written Testimony)
- Patrick M. Callan, President, Higher Education Policy Institute
Public CommentsPublic NoticePUBLIC NOTICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2012For additional information contact:
Stuart Drown, Executive Director
(916) 445-2125Revised Notice of Public Meeting Moved to New Location
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on higher education in California. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 2040 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
The Little Hoover Commission is reviewing California’s higher education system and will focus on the impact of budget cuts, governance, the future of online education, student access, and the challenges to providing an affordable secondary education.
There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site, www.lhc.ca.gov. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, August 21, 2012.
Video - Charles B. Reed, Chancellor, California State University (Written Testimony)