Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR
Control 19-001186 |
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MEETING DATE: |
12/17/19 |
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legal entity taking action: |
Board of Supervisors |
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board of supervisors
district(s): |
All Districts |
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SUBMITTING
Agency/Department: |
County Executive Office (Approved) |
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Department contact
person(s): |
Carol Howard (714) 834-4055 |
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Jamie Crews (714) 834-7055 |
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Subject: Revise Policy for
Establishing Reduced Tuition Partnerships with Universities
ceo CONCUR |
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Clerk of the Board |
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Concur |
No Legal Objection |
Discussion |
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3 Votes Board Majority |
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Budgeted: N/A |
Current Year Cost:
N/A |
Annual Cost:
N/A |
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Staffing Impact: |
No |
# of Positions:
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Sole Source:
N/A |
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Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A
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Prior Board Action: 2/5/2019
#19, 7/15/2014 #36 |
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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 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