Board of Directors

President Reports to the Members, WESTOP Board, and National Board

February 28, 2009
Phoenix, AZ

1. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus Package)
1. Included several billions of dollars of funding across sectors to create jobs, build infrastructure and improve our economy. The bill included $30 billion in new funds to students and their families in 2009 and 2010 in the form of increased Pell Grants (2009- $5350 and 2010- $5550) and education credits. College access programs were not included.

1. FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act
1. Will finalize funding for dozens of federal agencies whose 2009 budgets were not approved by the last congress. Legislation will include the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill, which will fund TRiO and GEAR UP. The house passed its version of the bill with a $19.9 million increase for TRiO and a $9.8 million increase for GEAR UP. The bill has not yet been considered in the senate.

1. SSS Competition
1. Looking at possibly having the SSS competition in the summer 2009.

1. Negotiated Rulemaking Process
1. The Department of Education hosted the first of three negotiated rulemaking sessions to determine the new regulations that will govern TRiO, GEAR UP and High School Equivalency and College Assistance Migrant Programs. Representatives from community colleges, large public universities, advocacy groups and students were included in the panel. It was decided that subcommittees would be formed to address specific matters. Subcommittees dealing with TRiO issues include the Outcome Criteria Subcommittee (to deal with Prior Experience calculation) and the Selection Criteria Subcommittee (to deal with submission of grant applications).
2. COE was asked to draft four policy papers offering recommendations on the following areas:
2.       The new Talent Search
3. Appeals process
4. Prior Experience Criteria (how points should be allocated)
5. Application criteria
1. The panel will meet again March 25-27, 2009 and again April 28-30, 2009
2. The Department expects to have the final negotiations crafted by November 2009

1. Leadership Summit/ Policy Seminar
1. Hope to have all Chapters represented at the Leadership Summit. This is a good opportunity to get ideas and network with colleagues from other Regions. I will also be presenting a workshop.

1. Annual Reports
1. Due June 1st
2. Template will be sent out by early May

Respectfully Submitted by,
Tomasa Mauricio

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