[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6547601,"mediaKeyId","3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5","parentId",3465227,"title","Proposed Pell change that would raise half‑time threshold could strip aid from many part‑time community‑college students, chancellors warn","audioSeconds",1037,"startMs",826000,"endMs",1863000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5&start=826&end=1863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5/thumbnail_826000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6547601/New-Hampshire/Proposed-Pell-change-that-would-raise-halftime-threshold-could-strip-aid-from-many-parttime-communitycollege-students-chancellors-warn","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547601-2601425773331c9680ba75b453aef079/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124382&Signature=QNTUYyU4SZrUj~JiMQe7fPu3YfUSyYuQMEuhOg04Yd8W4zrA~TUTgYEmDM~fqK2ixAWfNuEjNx34BBaYFYfKtvLGmuCFBQ4u-CeWJP7TghEhNg0rcduLdxaYXQlNKOH9XMF6kHS8~qqUVAZu8umTrqcvs3zBv5-HvoZ0m~eilsjH-hl-5i1MYSFz425blVztumhOzy3o6xIRP~qC2J1o-xSgrwLMHq2oJiOjh8bc0b0-A3At0AEHX5y4GCbaY3zJwtT3KJHhXOa5Xjo26~Ue2PJyX64JWBmLi093Eh3hBdAHVhhd3KmDFjUtdzO4MVzK83meN3OGY0Z9SFduuudCKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Hampshire Legislature","date","2025-05-19T13:06:44Z","article","Chancellors told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that a proposed change in federal Pell‑grant eligibility — setting half‑time status at 7.5 credits — could cause significant loss of federal aid for New Hampshire community college students, many of whom enroll part time for work or family reasons.

Mark Rubinstein, chancellor of the Community College System, said the reconciliation proposal in the U.S. House would make half‑time status 7.5 credits and that “more than half of our students are registered for fewer credits than that.” He warned committee members that, based on system data, roughly 2,000 students who currently receive Pell could lose eligibility unless they increase their course load.

Why it matters: community college enrollments are disproportionately part time, Rubinstein said, so a national eligibility threshold tied to credit load could reduce the ability of low‑income students to attend and complete credential programs. The chancellors said such a change could also threaten progress made through state programs and transfer pathways.

Rubinstein told the panel the system cannot yet predict how students would respond; some might enroll for additional credits, others could rely more on federal loans or private pay, and some might stop out. “We just don't know that that's a choice that they would be able to make,” he said.

Committee members also noted a related state policy issue: Chancellor Provencher and Representative Maureen Mooney flagged that the state’s governor’s scholarship statute currently benefits full‑time students only, meaning part‑time community college students are already excluded from that state aid stream. A staff member on the college savings and tuition advisory commission indicated that commission members have discussed possible statutory amendments to allow part‑time eligibility for some state scholarship programs.

Rubinstein and Provencher said that workforce and short‑term credential programs — and a proposed expansion of Pell for workforce Pell in the reconciliation proposals — could partially offset harms if enacted. But both cautioned the committee that the net effect on access and completion would depend on final language in federal legislation.

Ending: Committee members asked for additional details and noted the college‑savings commission and the university/community‑college leaders would follow up with the committee on statutory options and possible state responses if a federal change becomes law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Higher Education Study Committee (05/23/2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Chancellors told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that a proposed change in federal Pell‑grant eligibility — setting half‑time status at 7.5 credits — could cause significant loss of federal aid for New Hampshire community college students, many of whom enroll part time for work or family reasons.","taxTitle","Education, House of Representatives, Committees\t, Legislative, New Hampshire","taxId",17745,"location","New Hampshire","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547606,"N.H. public colleges outline restructuring as undergraduate enrollment falls",933,464000,1397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5&start=464&end=1397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5/thumbnail_464000.jpg","/articles/6547606/New-Hampshire/NH-public-colleges-outline-restructuring-as-undergraduate-enrollment-falls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547606-fb6de573395a522ae201dc42eb9c6700/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124382&Signature=n70AFlpK9byRay~lTvnQWyroW~lCITWZ~j6AisXjIpHg3z8JiDJtOP~ZWZ2BF0RJnARCCObE7YXRvyOJg1~aP~exymNyi2sBuMkSJkENAmf8piK29PAGxk~Ji-pX6Ik0uB18w6Srs5fTdCY6KUjRS4vzyQGWlMCByp-N2orxMSwptfsfPOqt9LwN3qKnt2dN7ysmClD87cC3XVQljiW-Wvo~nrX0KR7YR6-OGmQpylv~TberrMsYai2Qta8L~vtCPH7QCG0nGQfar5ZgtuGhtgOPpXhS81qRmrYty0TpdesU45urfi25TcOQT2PhqikA-h1GjcUCR~FkdQoKZZMUdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chancellors and college presidents told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that falling undergraduate enrollment and intensifying competition in New England are forcing the University System and the Community College System to restructure operations, shrink physical footprints and look to joint programs to preserve access and financial sustainability.

At the hearing, University System Chancellor Catherine Provencher said the system plans “to take tens of millions of dollars out of the cost structure over the next five years” to remain sustainable as demographics reduce the pool of traditional residential students. She said the system office move to a community college campus will begin in the next few weeks and is expected to “save our students probably a quarter of a 1 million dollars a year and provide a revenue source for the community college system.”

Why it matters: the committee was told reductions are driven by a long‑term drop in the number of high‑school graduates across New England and by greater competition for those students. Lawmakers and college leaders said the changes could affect the state workforce pipeline unless institutions find ways to serve adult learners and career‑focused students.

Most important details first: Chancellor Mark Rubinstein of the Community College System reported recent commencements across the colleges — seven ceremonies that conferred almost 2,200 degrees and certificates, including about 342 nursing credentials, nearly 100 welding certificates and roughly 70 automotive technician awards. Rubinstein said about 3,500 community college graduates have transferred to the public university system over the past eight years and roughly 6,600 “early college” students moved directly from high school experiences into the university system, underscoring existing transfer ties between the systems.

Leaders described concrete operational steps underway: moving administrative offices out of leased space onto campus, consolidating or exiting leases statewide, rethinking facilities footprints on several campuses and pursuing procurement and risk‑management changes. Rubinstein told the committee the community colleges will introduce an academic governance council intended to reduce barriers between colleges and make transfer smoother for students.

Several legislators asked for enrollment specifics. Provencher said undergraduate enrollment is “dropping at UNH, dropping at Plymouth, and it’s holding at Keene,” and repeated the system’s concern that a coming demographic “cliff” will deepen pressure on smaller regional campuses. Keene State President Melinda Treadwell emphasized institutional efforts to differentiate programs and to build partnerships with employers — for example, regional precision‑manufacturing training at Keene — and to experiment with “micro‑credentials” and stacked certificates aimed at working adults.

Committee members also heard that reducing administrative and physical overhead is intended to preserve program quality and workforce supply. Representative Rick Ladd, who chairs the House Education Committee, and others asked for follow‑up on capital costs, deferred maintenance, and long‑term facilities planning. Chancellor Provencher suggested the committee receive a fuller facilities and budget update in September.

Ending: Committee members agreed to schedule the next substantive report after the budget season so the study committee can review updated capital plans and the systems’ next quarterly report. The chancellors said they will provide more detailed financial and facilities planning materials at that time.","Chancellors and college presidents told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that falling undergraduate enrollment and intensifying competition in New England are forcing the University System and the Community College System to restructure operations, shrink physical footprints and look to joint programs to preserve access and financial sustainability.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547592,"Accreditor process, financial screening and a new 3‑year degree pathway draw scrutiny after White House executive order",501,2581000,3082000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5&start=2581&end=3082","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5/thumbnail_2581000.jpg","/articles/6547592/New-Hampshire/Accreditor-process-financial-screening-and-a-new-3year-degree-pathway-draw-scrutiny-after-White-House-executive-order","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547592-a85458ddf50077affb8091510e7afa93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124382&Signature=OOFeVDnBtutFtxk7wbs4XMy1VByuE4rMW~0I~SX8EM95aQMuwYALY1DpIH-g62Uyw3KZK2~BPNrb23TjWkJJHeCGwb7dpwDItPWxO-0qNwBiRZdZd3Hrn8IeerehhjZgIgUYggCalqpzKsAq2YIQYMVcVG0ghFvG3RJrXpKY6b~0Rx4pg0d5nGP4t2nzXXfGBhLpM8CyMEAykONUVd3Q491LuI1hxl-3f2HHgMGHL02AF3RJ8HnIczfo5AHxtbTd3s-53nYMO78qcqUsg3weywKGnFD-wZ-ONDlkIku9wrjAtElsI2cbuduu4liyd5r3chMXetZob0uLpK1Q9xYgdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","College presidents and the state’s chancellors told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that a recent White House executive order on accreditation has raised concerns but that regional accreditor processes — peer review, financial screening and a new innovation pathway for reduced‑credit degrees — remain the primary tools for protecting students.

Melinda Treadwell, president of Keene State College, told the committee she has served as a commissioner of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and described how accreditation operates as a peer‑review process that requires institutions to demonstrate financial stability, governance, academic standards and student outcomes. She said NECHE has a financial screening process (referred to in testimony as ARFI, an annual report on finance and enrollment) developed after the rapid closure of a private Massachusetts college, and that the tool had expanded from a small pilot to more than 40 private institutions undergoing monitoring.

Why it matters: testimony framed accreditation as consumer protection. Treadwell said accreditation “exists to protect consumers — the students and their families” and that the accreditor’s work includes on‑site visiting teams, review of audited financials, federal reporting data and peer evaluation of curriculum and student learning outcomes.

Treadwell said NECHE is developing an innovation pathway that allows institutions to propose reduced‑credit baccalaureate programs (three‑year degrees or 90‑credit pathways) while requiring clear market differentiation and employer outcomes. She described a deliberate review process: early proposals spurred lengthy deliberations over consumer protection and labeling, and once the commission agreed on an innovation pathway it approved multiple proposals in subsequent meetings. She said Keene State participated as a pilot on NECHE’s financial screening and was not flagged for financial risk.

Committee members raised concerns about the executive order’s claims and potential chilling effects on campus instruction and DEI‑related programs. Representatives said some students and parents have reported feeling they must avoid topics that differ from their professors’ viewpoints; Treadwell and chancellors said institutions are working to address perceptions and to protect free expression while also providing inclusion supports. Treadwell noted NECHE’s work to streamline standards and reduce administrative burden on campuses.

Ending: The committee received a copy of the executive order and NECHE’s response letter for the record. Lawmakers asked system leaders to assemble more detail about institutional outcomes and to return with evidence on how accreditation and any federal changes might affect New Hampshire institutions and students.","College presidents and chancellors told lawmakers that the White House executive order on accreditation has created uncertainty for accreditors and institutions; Keene State's president and others described NECHE's peer‑review process, an expanded financial screening tool (ARFI) and an innovation pathway that approved reduced‑credit bachelor's",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6547597,"University system warns $250 million in federal research funding at risk after stop‑work orders, indirect‑cost cap proposals",129,2173000,2302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5&start=2173&end=2302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3465227-e075fa3e374fe2d2d5e4092563b85df5/thumbnail_2173000.jpg","/articles/6547597/New-Hampshire/University-system-warns-250-million-in-federal-research-funding-at-risk-after-stopwork-orders-indirectcost-cap-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6547597-492393c8765a32bebb167d8cb97dc949/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124382&Signature=aXPuS3z0Az~MYxi98I7rsQsCLluA86F3J5TId6QdnikOyou2cJuPUmZGG2fbe3LUFY6ZKdSTmfJNgXNlx4Dka6gleOtQI0TMIWhFGvfSND0Wh-IHGwJp1MzC18fRAGcWcbFnwUHFoB2knGbDMpbIK-jqTr6x9zOaGMcdALx~2n9TxMeneYFtfrApy3DnVY4Pua~p0l09bkYKLD8-F9HXDVE9pVDavsGYi~1a~qo6G5seNcm6Y9lfy-wUhiZb6Zs~BWl0-6~KOvwbRd85slRMDtV9wqMizELU3M3zjvDmPHwd9n29iOKhm0vtEMIyh2QDXFVocDFat4WW4oGJqB0rfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","University System leaders told the Public Higher Education Study Committee that federal actions and proposed policy changes threaten research funding that supports campus jobs, industry partnerships and regional economic development.

Chancellor Catherine Provencher told the committee the university system receives about $250 million a year in federal grants. She said the system had received roughly $9.5 million in stop‑work orders from federal agencies and that a proposal to cap indirect cost (facilities and administrative) recovery at 15 percent—down from negotiated rates that average about 30–32 percent at the system—could reduce research support by another roughly $5 million a year.

Why it matters: federal research grants underwrite faculty lines, graduate support and industry‑partnered projects. The committee was told that local economic development projects, such as Durham’s West Edge development, rely in part on the region’s research designations and the university’s ability to attract federal and industry funding.

Provencher said the stop‑work orders were not related to diversity, equity and inclusion policy but stemmed from federal cuts and administrative actions at agencies that fund research. She flagged indirect cost rates—negotiated with federal sponsors—as a particular risk, noting that lowering those rates would force institutions to choose between covering research costs from other funds or reducing the scope of sponsored projects.

Keene State President Melinda Treadwell and Representative Wayne Burton described local economic impacts of research programs, including partnerships in precision optics and advanced manufacturing. Representative Rick Ladd asked for details; Provencher provided the $250 million figure and described the $9.5 million in current stop‑work orders and the potential $5 million impact from an indirect‑cost cap.

Ending: Committee members asked chancellors to provide more complete, auditable figures on research awards, stop‑work orders and the fiscal exposure from any federal policy changes. The chancellors agreed to return with detailed numbers at a future meeting.","Chancellors told the study committee that about $250 million in federal grants flow to the University System annually; recent stop‑work orders totaling about $9.5 million and proposed caps on indirect cost recovery could cut several million more and threaten research jobs and university partnerships with industry","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Proposed Pell change that would raise half‑time threshold could strip aid from many part‑time community‑college students, chancellors warn

N.H. public colleges outline restructuring as undergraduate enrollment falls

Accreditor process, financial screening and a new 3‑year degree pathway draw scrutiny after White House executive order

University system warns $250 million in federal research funding at risk after stop‑work orders, indirect‑cost cap proposals