Study committee hears progress report on early-college growth, transfer pathways and operational collaborations

The Public Higher Education Study Committee received a status update on Feb. 28 from the chancellors of the state'level university and community college systems outlining progress on recommendations from a task force created by Governor Sununu.

The update focused on expanding early-college dual enrollment to reduce costs for students, efforts to create a direct-admit pipeline from community colleges and high schools into four-year programs, development of transfer-equivalency tools and pilots, the launch of several three-year applied bachelor'degree programs, and administrative collaborations including relocating the university system office to the New Hampshire Technical Institute campus.

The committee was told the state provided $2.5 million in the last biennium to underwrite early-college courses, which are offered at $150 per course in many high schools compared with roughly $645'$860 for the same credits on campus. "The benefit to students and families on a purely financial basis is significant," said Catherine Provencher, Chancellor of the University System, summarizing the funding and the programs' growth. Chancellors said students enrolled in roughly 54,000 early-college credits last year, and that state support produced what they described as a roughly five-to-one return on the investment.

Mark Rubinstein, Chancellor of the Community College System, described efforts to build those course offerings into defined pathways so that early-college credits map into semesters, certificates or entire associate degrees. "Over time, with growth in this program, we think that we can help more students and families complete degrees that are meaningful to them aligned with New Hampshire's workforce need," Rubinstein said.

The chancellors reported enrollment growth: early-college participation rose about 16% last year, with an additional 8% increase the following fall, and about 30% of high-school-based participation happening at career and technical education centers. The systems said they have analyzed longer-term outcomes for participating students: a study of about 35,000 early-college participants from 2016'2022 showed roughly 83% later enrolled in postsecondary education, with approximately 6,000 enrolling in the community college system, about 6,600 in the university system and about 14,000 enrolling out of state. Chancellors said those figures include some overlap where students later transfer.

Committee members pushed for stronger outreach to juniors and seniors in high school. Representative Ladd asked why systems could not mail direct-admit notifications or work through counselors to notify families earlier. Steve Appleby, a director at the Department of Education, said the department and the systems are meeting with vendors and reviewing contracts to determine whether data-sharing restrictions (in contracts with the College Board and similar vendors) or statutory limits prevent broader outreach. "We're meeting . . . to see what we need to do to go back to the vendor to modify the contracts," Appleby said; "I'll get that answer back to you. Absolutely."

Chancellors said the state and systems are piloting tools and administrative steps to simplify transfers. They reported more than 100 formal transfer pathways already in place between community colleges and the university system and are piloting a transfer equivalency system ("TES") at one community college, with systemwide delivery staff being hired. They noted UNH hosts program-specific transfer maps online, and that the next phase is to make those tools more interactive so a prospective transfer student can model "what-if" scenarios for course choices.

The university system described five applied (three-year) bachelor'degree programs recently approved by the regional crediting board and slated to begin this fall at Plymouth State University. "These are part of meeting students where they are," Rubinstein said, noting the programs aim to streamline course requirements and reduce electives for targeted, workforce-focused degrees.

On administrative collaboration, the chancellors said relocating the university system central office to the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) campus will be complete by July and is expected to save roughly $250,000 a year in rent while generating revenue for NHTI. The systems also reported sharing procurements, IT seats and other back-office tools to reduce duplication and find efficiency. The chancellors said they are working with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems on an objective analysis of options for single statewide community college accreditation but cautioned regional accreditation changes nationally make the question complex.

Committee members asked the chancellors to return with additional detail on several items: (1) a clearer plan for direct-admit outreach to juniors and seniors, including whether statutory change is necessary; (2) an inventory and utilization review of physical assets across campuses and a longer-term capital plan; and (3) more granular engagement strategies with industry partners and regional economic development organizations to expand internships, apprenticeships and employer-driven curriculum.

Catherine Provencher and Mark Rubinstein said they will continue the work and provide further reports to the committee on the timelines requested. The committee set a tentative next meeting for May 19 to review a forthcoming quarterly update from the chancellors.

Adjournment: the committee voted to adjourn at the end of the session.