Innovation Education Campuses

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the policies and procedures for innovation education campuses to receive funding from the Innovation Education Campus Fund established by section 178.1100, RSMo. The rule also establishes the procedures to be used by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in confirming the campuses meet the statutory criteria and in conducting the five- (5-) year review prescribed by the statute. (1) Definitions. (A) College degree, a credential awarded for the completion of an organized program of postsecondary study with the designation of associate or bachelor, regardless of the program of study. (B) Coordinating Board, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education created by Section 52 of the Missouri Constitution. (C) Commissioner of Higher Education, the chief executive officer of the Missouri Department of Higher Education as appointed by the Coordinating Board. (D) Innovation campus, an educational partnership consisting of at least one (1) of each of the following entities: 1. A local Missouri high school or K-12 school district; 2. A Missouri four- (4-) year public or private higher education institution; 3. A Missouri-based business or businesses; and 4. A Missouri two- (2-) year public higher education institution or State Technical College of Missouri. (E) Innovation campus fund, the Innovation Education Campus Fund created by section 178.1100, RSMo, to fund the instruction provided through an innovation campus. (F) MDHE, Missouri Department of Higher Education as established in section 173.005, RSMo. (2) Innovation Campus Fund. (A) The commissioner of higher education shall administer the fund. (B) The coordinating board will include in its annual unified budget request to the governor and the General Assembly an appropriation to the innovation campus fund. (C) To be included in the appropriation request, an innovation campus must submit a request to the MDHE by August 1 on forms provided by the MDHE. The request shall include, at a minimum, the following: 1. Identification of all entities partnering in the innovation campus; 2. Identification of the public institution that serves as the fiscal agent for the innovation campus; 3. A detailed request for funds that includes activities to be supported by the appropriation and the proposed allocation of funds between the partner entities; and 4. If the innovation campus has received funding in a prior year, a report of the performance of the innovation campus for the previous fiscal year regarding how the campus has made progress on the verification requirements in subsections (3)(A) and (3)(B) listed below. (D) Priority will be given to requests that focus on the following: 1. Direct costs for the delivery of instruction through the innovation campus borne by the partnering postsecondary education institutions; 2. Reduction or elimination of costs to students of college credit coursework completed before matriculation, including, but not limited to, dual credit, Advanced Placement, and other early college programs; 3. Reductions in cost and/or time to completion for students enrolled at the innovation campus; and 4. Direct contributions by business and industry partners, either financial or in-kind. (E) An innovation education campus must annually verify to the Coordinating Board that it satisfies all of the criteria listed in section (3) of this rule. 1. Verification shall be provided to the Coordinating Board by May 15 on forms and in the manner prescribed by the MDHE. 2. Upon confirmation by action of the Coordinating Board that the criteria are satisfied, moneys from the fund will be disbursed as allocated in the appropriation. (F) The allocation between partners in an innovation campus of funds appropriated to the innovation campus fund is determined through the appropriations process. (3) Verification Requirements. An innovation campus may receive moneys from the fund upon verification to the Coordinating Board that the following criteria have been met: (A) The innovation campus demonstrates it is actively working to lower the cost for students to complete a college degree, compared to students not enrolled at an innovation campus in the same or similar degree programs; (B) The programs of instruction delivered through the innovation campus decrease the time required for a student to earn a college degree, compared to students not enrolled at an innovation campus in the same or similar degree programs; (C) The innovation campus provides applied and project-based learning experiences for students; (D) The curriculum delivered through the innovation campus is developed in consultation with partner Missouri business and industry representatives; (E) The programs of instruction delivered through the innovation campus include direct access to internship and/or apprentice opportunities as well as part-time or full-time employment at Missouri-based businesses partnered with the innovation campus; and (F) The innovation campus engages and partners with industry stakeholders in ongoing program development and program outcomes review. (4) The Coordinating Board will conduct a review every five (5) years of any innovation campus that receives funds from the innovation campus fund to verify ongoing compliance with the requirements of section (3) of this rule. (A) This review shall occur five (5) years after the innovation campus received its first funds from the innovation campus fund. (B) Continuous funding during the five- (5-) year review period is not required in order for the innovation campus to be subject to this review. (C) The innovation campus must submit a five- (5-) year report at the request of the Coordinating Board in the form and manner prescribed by the Coordinating Board. (D) The Coordinating Board review may include information from any sources it deems appropriate. 1. The Coordinating Board will consult with and take input from each entity that is a partner to an innovation education campus. 2. Business and industry involved in an innovation education campus, either financially or through in-kind support, may provide feedback to the Coordinating Board regarding the curriculum, courses, and investment quality of the innovation education campus. AUTHORITY: section 178.1100, RSMo Supp. 2014.* Original rule filed Sept. 15, 2014, effective March 30, 2015. *Original authority: 178.1100, RSMo 2013.