January, 2003

WESTOP Board of Directors Meeting
January 10-11, 2003
Radison City Center
Tucson, AZ

Fiscal 2003 Appropriations (Academic Year 2003-2004)

The 107th Congress adjourned without passing eleven of the thirteen FY2003 spending bills, including the L-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that funds TRIO. It is now up to the 108th Congress, which convened this past Tuesday, to pass the remaining FY2003 appropriations bills, most likely in a single omnibus measure.

You may recall that the House did not act on the Appropriations bill ­ even at the Subcommittee level ­ while the Senate did report out a bill from full Committee that raised the TRIO appropriation by $30 million to $832.5 million.

Since the November elections, with Republicans holding small majorities in the Senate and House, and with Republican control of the Presidency, the party is in a position to press its priorities. You will recall that President Bush is pushing for level funding of TRIO for FY 2003.

Fiscal 2004 Appropriations (Academic Year 2004-2005)

The Administration is presently in the process of developing its FY 2004 Budget Recommendations to the Congress. Information available from the Office of Management and Budget suggests that there will be significant funding cuts proposed.

Reauthorization

The Reauthorization timeline is now in its critical stage. It is expected that, beginning this month, official suggestions will flourish with the education community stepping forward. Congressman Buck McKeon (CA), Chair of the authorizing subcommittee responsible for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, requested from COE and others, by December 31, 2002, their input (letter attached). COE responded. Stephen Domingues, WESTOP Chair of Education and Legislation responded on behalf of WESTOP. Expected hearings will take place from Fall 2003 to Fall 2004 with a targeted signing slated for October 2004.

New Appointment ­ Director of the Federal TRIO Programs

Larry Oxendine is the new Director of Federal TRIO Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. Mr. Oxendine has nearly 30 years of experience in education policy and has been with the department since 1971. Most of his experience has been in the policy development and implementation of the Federal Student Financial Aid Programs.

Field Reading for McNair and Upward Bound

Reviews of all McNair and Upward Bound grant applications will be done through e-Reader, the U.S. Department of Education's electronic field reading system. Field readers are required to have access to the Internet from their home or office. No travel to Washington, DC will occur.

According to the tentative reading schedule, all readings for McNair and Upward Bound will be complete by the end of February.

TRIO Dissemination readings are expected to be completed by early April.
National Study of the McNair Program

The Department of Education's Planning and Evaluation Services branch has awarded a contract to Decision Information Resources (DIR) of Houston, Texas to conduct a National Evaluation Study of the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. DIR's goal is "to determine the extent to which McNair program participants complete doctoral studies and obtain faculty or research positions at institutions of higher education."

COE Personnel Update

Debra Henderson has been promoted to the position of Vice-President, Public Policy.

Both Liz Hollis and Liane Jacobs have recently resigned in order to accept other positions. Ms. Hollis is joining the National Institute for Literacy as Office Administrator; Ms. Jacobs is joining the Institute for Educational Leadership as the Assistant Director for Outreach with the Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform.

Ms. Sharon Klinder has accepted the position as Executive Assistant to the President.

In a letter dated January 2, 2003, COE President Arnold Mitchem advised William A. "Buddy" Blakey that his services have been terminated as general counsel to the Council for Opportunity in Education. No reasons were given for his termination.

National Fair Share

Ms. Karen Pike (MAEOPP region) and Dorothy Yarborough (SAEOPP) will co-chair National Fair efforts. As of November 19th, WESTOP's Fair Share is 38%.

COE Board of Directors Meeting/Committee Assignments

The December 2002 COE Board of Directors meeting was held from December 10-14, 2002 in Miami Beach, FL. The 2002-03 COE Board is lead by board Chair, Mr. Jonathan McKenzie. Mr. McKenzie is Chief Executive Officer of The Family Centered Educational Agency, Phoenix, IL.

Darlene Conwell, current WESTOP President-elect, assumed her official position on the board.

Ms. Conwell will serve on the Professional Standards Task Force Committee and 2003 Conference Committee. She will also co-chair the National TRIO Day Committee. Leonard Woods, Past President, will serve on the Leadership & Board Orientation Development Committee and the TRIO Achievers Commissions Committee. He will also co-chair the TRIO Alumni Committee. Irvin L. Coin, current WESTOP President, will serve on the 2003 Conference Committee, Professional Standards Task Force Committee, Bylaws Committee Elections Committee and the Resource Development Committee.

"Invitational Priority" and Upward Bound

Many WESTOP colleagues voiced strong concerns about the Department's Upward Bound Improvement Strategy that includes the Invitational Priority to select higher risk students. Several scenarios presented indicated such a strategy would seriously damage Upward Bound as we know it, as a college preparatory program as opposed to a high school dropout prevention program. Many wanted to know the Council's position in this matter.

In a letter (attached) to Ms. Sally Stroup, Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education, COE voiced its concern about the Department's "strategy to undermine Congressional intent by redirecting Upward Bound services."

COE State Initiative Committee

Co-chaired by Dr. Roger Grant (University of Washington) and Dr. Celerstine Johnson (Saint Louis University), the COE State Initiative Committee submitted a questionnaire to all regions to assist in developing effective strategies to influence state policy that would ultimately benefit all TRIO programs in each state. It is the committee's belief that state governments must become far more involved in providing resources to support TRIO and TRIO students. To accomplish this goal, leadership in state and regional associations must begin to develop important relationships with city, county and state legislators. All chapter presidents were apprised of the survey.

At the COE Board of Directors Staff Retreat in Miami, both the CAS (Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education) and State Initiative were focused topics. Each region developed strategies to reinforce CAS and the State Initiative (attached).

Respectfully submitted by: Irvin L. Coin, President, WESTOP

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