November, 2002

PRESIDENTS REPORT

WESTOP Board of Directors Meeting
November 15-16, 2002
The Palm Springs Marquis Resort
Palm Springs, CA

Focus on Appropriations/Reauthorization

With both the Appropriations and the Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act before us, the COE Board of Directors, at its September 2002 meeting, were apprised of the Council's plans and options. They were also briefed of the current timetables.

In his report to the COE Board, COE President Arnold Mitchem reported in Fiscal Year 2002 that the Council would be facing the most difficult appropriations battle it has confronted in many years. Despite the fact that 2002 is an election year, increases in the size of the federal deficit and critical security concerns have limited the resources available for domestic spending. These difficulties will put particular pressures on the Upward Bound and McNair competitions. If substantial increases above current services (current funding plus inflation) are not secured, very few additional programs can be funded and funds will not be available to expand continuing programs or to carry out special initiatives in them.

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported out their version of the Fiscal 2003 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill last July 18. This bill contains a $30 million (3.7%) increase for TRIO-only slightly higher than current services.

In the House. it remains unclear except that the House Budget Resolution basically accepted President Bush's budget-a budget that level funds TRIO and eliminates over 40 other education programs. In the House there is a Republican Party split (moderates/conservatives) in funding for education.

Regarding REAUTHORIZATION, the timeline suggests that official suggestions will come in January with the education community stepping forward. 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 with student loan policy. Before accepting the position, Mr. Oxendine was a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education. In this position he provided advice on Education Department programs to senior Department officials. The October issue of Equality will outline his goals for TRIO.

Resignation at COE

Dr. Scott Swail, COE Vice-President for Research and Planning and Director of the Pell Institute resigned last August.

National Fair Share

Seven of ten regions met National Fair Share (101%) for 2001-02. Regions not meeting fair share included SAEOPP, CATP and WESTOP.

COE Board of Directors Meeting/Committee Assignments

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

Darlene Conwell, will participate in the New Board Orientation and will assume her official position on the board. She replaces Past-Past President Matt Benney.

Ms. Conwell will serve on the committee for National TRIO Day and the 2003 Conference Committee. Leonard Woods, Past President, will serve on the 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 and Elections Committee.

Romelia Madrigal, WESTOP colleague and former WESTOP Board Secretary, will co-chair the Technology and Education Task Force Committee.

Salary Increase for COE President

The COE Board, during its September directors meeting in Washington, DC, voted to increase Dr. Arnold Mitchem's salary by 3.8% and also included a $10,000 bonus. Seven board members voted against the increase. All three WESTOP presidents voted against.

Annual Performance Reports

Regular Upward Bound and Veterans Upward Bound projects must submit annual reports for program year 2001-02 by November 30, 2002. Upward Bound Math/Science projects must submit by December 31, 2002.

All projects must submit, via fax, a signed copy of Section I of the report form that certifies that the information submitted electronically is accurate, complete and readily verifiable. Section I will require signatures from both project director and certifying official from the grantee institution.

The Talent Search/Educational Opportunity Center performance reports must be submitted electronically by November 30, 2002.

The Student Support Services reports are due December 31, 2002. As of November 15, the instructions for submitting the performance report on-line and links to the secured Web site will be available at the following address www.ed.gov/HEP/trio/sudsupp.html.

Congressional Legislative Update

Although the FY03 Labor-HHS-Education bill as been reported out by the Senate Appropriations Committee, S. Report 107 ­ 216, it has not gone to the Senate floor. The House has taken no action on the bill.

Both the House and Senate are in a lame-duck session with the current Congress. During this session Congress will tackle unfinished budget business and perhaps other legislation. At minimum, the consideration must be made to extend the current continuing resolution that expires November 22. Two emerging options for Congress to take are: (1) An Omnibus Appropriations bill including all unfinished bills; or (2) a long-term Continuing Resolution (CR) until the early months of the 108th Congress.

The Omnibus bill provides an opportunity for a funding increase for education in FY03. The long-term CR is more likely to mean a freeze at FY02 funding levels.

Upward Bound/McNair Competitions

The closing date for Upward Bound Math and Science is November 22, 2002. The closing date for regular Upward Bound and Veterans Upward Bound is December 13, 2002.

"Invitational Priority" and Upward Bound

The Office of Postsecondary Education (U.S. Department of Education) is now inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2003. The Department is particularly interested in applications that will serve higher risk students. The Department is committed to making changes in programs that will improve their effectiveness. The ongoing evaluation of the Upward Bound program indicates that increasing the participation of higher risk students would increase its overall effectiveness.

Examples of higher risk students include, but not limited to (a) students with grade point averages in the C or D range as high school freshmen (b) students with relatively few credits in the core academic subjects of English, math, science, social studies and foreign language and (c) students who have the potential but do not plan to pursue a postsecondary education.

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 recently 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. The committee is requesting a deadline return of the questionnaire by November 22.

House Committee on Technical Institutes

Michael Moser, WESTOP colleague, represented WESTOP on the House Appropriations Committee on Technical Instututes.

Regional Report

The regional report for the October issue of Equality was submitted as required.

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

[TOP]