Trying to liveblog – Dayton's higher-ed roundtable at 10

Heading over to Metropolitan State to try to liveblog the governor's roundtable discussion on higher education.

Because of the short notice, I'll have to wing it. I hope technical conditions will allow me to cover it live, so please check in around then to see whether it works.

Otherwise, I'll post notes later.

Here's the agenda I got:

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What: Governor Dayton Roundtable Discussion: State Higher Education Appropriations

When: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

10:00 a.m. (expected duration 1 – 1 ½ hours)

Where: Ecolab Community Room

Metropolitan State University

Campus map: https://db.metrostate.edu/webapps/drep/SP1.pdf

(Ecolab Community Room is located in the red building on the map)

Participants include: Governor Dayton

Representatives from: Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

University of Minnesota

Private College Council

Minnesota Career Colleges

Format: Roundtable format with initial comments and discussion between Governor Dayton and participants. Additional comments from others.

Participants are expected to provide variety of comments around topics, including:

• How the proposed cuts impact real people – real lives

• Job loss (faculty, staff, administration)

• Affordability; tuition impact/consequences

• Magnitude of cuts on programs/services (loss of programs, courses, course sections; student service loss; impact on time to complete a diploma/degree, lost opportunities, etc.)

• Economic impact (workforce, economic growth potential, etc.)

• Impact on research mission of the University of Minnesota

• Importance of revenue (decline of state share)

• Need for increased revenue

• (Okay to provide handouts – anticipate audience of around 50)

Participants are asked to keep statements brief and focused and representative of the constituent group representing (so as not to be too duplicative)