Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  19-001186

 

MEETING DATE:

12/17/19

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors

board of supervisors district(s):

All Districts

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

County Executive Office   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Carol Howard (714) 834-4055 

 

 

Jamie Crews (714) 834-7055

 

 

Subject:  Revise Policy for Establishing Reduced Tuition Partnerships with Universities

 

      ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

No Legal Objection

Discussion

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: N/A

Current Year Cost: N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

  Funding Source: N/A

County Audit in last 3 years: No

 

 

    Prior Board Action: 2/5/2019 #19, 7/15/2014 #36

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

Approve changes to the current policy to address community colleges, allowing them the same status as universities that have reduced tuition partnerships with the County.

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Approval of the revised Policy for Establishing Reduced Tuition Partnerships with Universities will allow County Executive Office/Human Resource Services to include community colleges on its University Partnership page and provide them the same status as universities as set forth in the policy.

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

For the past 11 years, the County Executive Office/Human Resource Services (HRS) has engaged in reduced tuition partnerships with a variety of universities for all County employees as part of the County’s University Partnership Program.  On February 5, 2019, the Board of Supervisors approved the policy to allow HRS to independently enter into agreements with universities that meet an acceptable minimum standard.

 

The evaluation criteria requires HRS to consider four key conditions for the policy:

 

  • The first condition targets regional accreditation and ensures the university possesses the resources, policies, and practices to achieve its educational goals and has provided evidence to the accrediting body of the quality of its educational programs.
  • The second condition of nonprofit or not-for-profit status ensures the university structure and services are designed first and foremost to service the students’ interests and not in primary pursuit of profits or shareholders’ interests.
  • The third condition permits the agreement to be enforceable due to the exchange of services (e.g. advertising).
  • The final condition ensures the County has control over the use of its name and logo to protect the County’s interests and integrity.

 

The revision to the policy addresses California Community Colleges. Due to low and no cost tuition rates already provided by California Community Colleges to the general public, they will not be required to provide reduced tuition to or enter into a partnership agreement with the County in order to obtain the benefits provided to other universities as set forth herein. California Community Colleges may be listed on the County's University Partnership page at their request. All other terms and conditions applied to university partners shall apply equally to California Community Colleges.

 

Reduced tuition university partnerships are part of the County’s University Partnership Program. This program provides options for County employees to consider for pursuing their continuing education.  Partnerships include degree and certificate-based programs that appeal to employees seeking degree completion, graduate studies, or continued professional development.  Programs are offered in a variety of modalities, meeting learner needs through in-person and online program options.  Discounts are typically between 10 percent and 25 percent off tuition prices.

 

The County currently has partnerships with 15 universities.  HRS does not yet have participation data from the universities for 2019. HRS has 2018 participation data that included five universities, in which 38 employees decided to enroll in a degree program.  The reduced tuition partnerships will save these employees approximately $400,000 on tuition.  Continued enrollment for four universities indicates 102 employees are currently enrolled in a degree program.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A - Revised Policy for Establishing Reduced Tuition Partnerships with University Partnerships
Attachment B - Current Policy for Establishing Reduced Tuition Partnerships with University Partnerships Redlined Version
Attachment C - Original Policy for Considering Universities for Reduced Tuition
Attachment D - Current University Partners as of January 7, 2019