05/06/1999 02:35 PM Senate HES

             SB 167-INFO ABOUT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WENDY REDMOND, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), explained the                                                              
idea for SB 167 came from the State of Georgia which provides free                                                              
tuition to every student who maintains a "B" average.  SB 167                                                                   
provides free tuition at the University of Alaska (UA) for four                                                                 
years to the top ten percent of students in every Alaskan high                                                                  
school.  Governor Knowles introduced similar legislation last year.                                                             
The University thought it was such a good idea it proceeded with                                                                
the program using money from its natural resources fund.  President                                                             
Hamilton reviewed nationwide statistics and discovered that Alaska                                                              
ranks last in the nation in its retention of high school graduates                                                              
who attend college.  According to the national average, between 70                                                              
and 80 percent of the states' high school graduates go to colleges                                                              
in state.  Alaska averages 40 percent.  Alaskan students are not                                                                
attending better schools outside of the state; they are going to                                                                
400 colleges, many of which cannot hold a candle to programs                                                                    
offered at UA campuses.  The State is currently spending millions                                                               
of dollars to educate students here but it is not a good investment                                                             
to spend so much money to make our students smart for export.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. REDMOND said that although the scholars' program was initiated                                                              
internally, UA needs statutory authority to make the program fully                                                              
functional.  Not all high schools are forthcoming with the                                                                      
information necessary to allow UA to offer their top ten percent of                                                             
students free tuition; one problem being a federal law that                                                                     
requires privacy.  That federal law can be overridden if the state                                                              
has a law mandating that high schools provide the information.  For                                                             
awards to be granted in a timely manner, it is important that this                                                              
legislation be passed this year. UA has been obtaining the names of                                                             
the top ten percent of students in their junior year so that it has                                                             
one year to recruit those students.  Most students make their                                                                   
college decisions early in their senior year.  SB 167 provides that                                                             
the requested information be provided at the end of a student's                                                                 
junior year.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MS. REDMOND pointed out that Ann Ringstad is administering the                                                                  
program, and that the program has been designed to fit with the                                                                 
Alaskan experience.  Students can leave the State during their                                                                  
freshman year of college and still get free tuition to UA in their                                                              
sophomore year.  Students can also take one year off between high                                                               
school and their freshman year.  Students who are home schooled,                                                                
not using the state's correspondence program, are not eligible at                                                               
this time.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Number 126                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WILKEN commended the bill and asked Ms. Redmond if the                                                                  
University will be able to obtain the names of juniors this year if                                                             
the bill is delayed in the next few weeks due to fiscal problems.                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MS. REDMOND replied UA is moving forward with the program.  She                                                                 
added that names are often obtained from parents who call the                                                                   
University for information.  She noted the Fairbanks school                                                                     
district was the most problematic, however permission slips were                                                                
eventually obtained from parents for the release of students'                                                                   
names.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WILKEN recommended that committee members read the                                                                      
scholar's sheet in committee packets.  He noted 733 students are                                                                
taking advantage of the program, and that quality begets quality.                                                               
He stated this bill also signifies President Hamilton's desire to                                                               
interface State and University programs.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Number 164                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON indicated he liked the Governor's proposal because it                                                             
provided new money to the University.  He asked Ms. Redmond to                                                                  
discuss what UA will lose by diverting resources to the scholars'                                                               
program.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MS. REDMOND replied that of course the University would like to                                                                 
have more money for the scholars' program.  The natural resources                                                               
fund is currently supporting natural resource research projects                                                                 
which will have to be put on hold.  She stated the University feels                                                             
comfortable considering young people as a natural resource.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON asked how the scholars program works in a school                                                                  
district, such as Galena which has two high schools, and whether                                                                
students might be encouraged to attend different schools where they                                                             
have a better shot at being in the top ten percent.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. REDMOND said the answer to the Galena situation is that 10                                                                  
percent of students from both the charter school and the public                                                                 
school are offered scholarships.  The second issue of "shopping for                                                             
schools" has not been discussed but she does not think that will                                                                
occur in huge numbers because people will actually have to move.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MILLER commended the University and Senator Wilken for                                                                 
their work on the scholars' program.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being no further discussion, SENATOR WILKEN reported SB 167                                                               
out of committee with individual recommendations and its HES fiscal                                                             
note.  There being no objection, the motion carried.