Several bills related to Indiana higher education were passed by the 2016 General Assembly, including many aligned to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s goals for increased college completion, academic quality and return on investment.
The following higher education policies await the Governor’s signature:
House Enrolled Act 1002 – Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship
- Creates 200 new scholarships encouraging talented high school students to become teachers. Requires applicants to graduate in top 20 percent of their high school class or score in the top 20 percent on the SAT or ACT. Requires the Commission for Higher Education to prepare a report reviewing similar programs in other states and develop potential administrative procedures to effectively administer the program.
House Enrolled Act 1034 – Teacher Scholarship and Stipends
- Unifies the academic eligibility requirements for existing teacher aid programs, while clarifying how the Commission for Higher Education is to award funds.
House Enrolled Act 1248 – Higher Education Matters
- Changes credit completion requirements to 30 credits annually for full-time, need-based financial aid recipients, beginning the 2017-18 academic year. Changes the minimum high school diploma requirement for the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship to the Core 40 Diploma. Expands the EARN Indiana work-study program to accommodate recipients of the Adult Student Grant.
House Enrolled Act 1370 – Dual Credit Teachers
- Directs the Commission for Higher Education to study programs that guarantee high school students are given the opportunity to earn college credit in high school and to develop incentives for high school teachers to meet the requirements for teaching dual credit courses set by the accrediting body, Higher Learning Commission.
Senate Enrolled Act 301 – Workforce Education
- Directs the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and Indiana Department of Revenue to provide data to the Commission for Higher Education and Ivy Tech to measure labor market outcomes associated with Ivy Tech programs.
Once signed by Gov. Mike Pence, all of these laws will be effective July 1, 2016.
