While the entire country is talking about what a President Trump means for the future of the nation, voters in 10 states Tuesday decided on measures that might change the face of higher ed in their states.
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Alabama voters said yes to amendment 1, which would add two additional members to Auburn University’s board of trustees, a move Inside Higher Ed reported last week was intended to diversify the board’s composition.
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Alaska voters rejected a measure to allow the state to issue bonds for student debt.
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In Arkansas, a vote for medical marijuana legalization will allow for new tax revenue stream, which is to be directed to vocational schools and workforce training.
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California community colleges will receive a $2 billion infrastructure investment after voters approved the creation of a School Facilities Fund to help with construction and renovation costs. A "yes" vote on Proposition 55 will increase personal income taxes to direct additional funds to community colleges in the state. Voters also agreed to a tobacco tax increase, revenue from which will be directed to medical education at the University of California. Finally, the passing of Proposition 64 to legalize marijuana in the state is projected to bring an infusion of funds into research, which will indirectly benefit higher ed.
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Colorado voters also voted on a tobacco tax increase, which is to direct $17 million into a fund to alleviate student loan debt and promote medical training.
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Louisiana’s rejection of Amendment 2 prevented individual campuses from getting autonomy over their budgets, meaning tuition and fee increases will require two-thirds vote from the legislature.
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Oklahoma voted down a sales tax increase that would have directed more than $118 million per year to the public institutions in the state and another nearly $20 million to career and technical education.
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Oregon voters approved Measure 95, turning over a prohibition on equity investments for public institutions in the state. They also voted yes on Measure 96, which would allow for an estimated $9.3 million of the state’s annual lottery revenue to support veterans’ education. They also approved Measure 99, another measure over lottery funds, which would direct some of the lottery revenue into outdoor education programs housed at Oregon State University.
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Rhode Island said yes to a measure to issue $45.5 million in general obligation bonds to the University of Rhode Island — $25.5 million for infrastructure improvements, and the remaining $20 million for collaborations with an innovation campus.
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South Dakota voted to move technical institutions out from under the Board of Regents’ control. The legislature will now determine the governance of Lake Area Technical Institute, Mitchell Technical Institute, Southeast Technical Institute, and Western Dakota Technical Institute.