Powers, duties and functions; rules

(1) As used in this section, "student access programs" means scholarship, loan, grant and access programs described in ORS chapter 348.

(2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall be guided by the legislative findings in ORS 341.009, 350.001 and 350.005 and the goals and mission of post-secondary education set forth in ORS 350.009 and 350.014.

(3) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall:

(a) Develop state goals for the state post-secondary education system, including community colleges and public universities listed in ORS 352.002, and for student access programs.

(b) Determine strategic investments in the state's community colleges, public universities and student access programs necessary to achieve state post-secondary education goals.

(c) Coordinate the post-secondary elements of data collection and structure, with the advice and recommendation of the state's independent institutions, community colleges and public universities, as appropriate, in order to construct a state longitudinal data system.

(d) Adopt a strategic plan for achieving state post-secondary education goals, taking into consideration the contributions of this state's independent institutions, philanthropic organizations and other organizations dedicated to helping Oregonians reach state goals. State post-secondary education goals as described in this section should include, but need not be limited to:

(A) Increasing the educational attainment of the population;

(B) Increasing this state's global economic competitiveness and the quality of life of its residents;

(C) Ensuring affordable access for qualified Oregon students at each college or public university;

(D) Removing barriers to on-time completion; and

(E) Tracking progress toward meeting the state's post-secondary education goals established in the strategic plan described in this paragraph.

(e)

(A) Each biennium, after receiving funding requests from the state's community colleges and public universities as authorized by law, recommend to the Governor a consolidated higher education agency request budget aligned with the strategic plan described in paragraph (d) of this subsection, including appropriations for:

(i) Student access programs;

(ii) Public universities listed in ORS 352.002, including but not limited to education and general operations, statewide public services and state-funded debt service;

(iii) Community colleges, including but not limited to education and general operations and state-funded debt service;