HIGHER ED COOPERATION

Amends the Higher Education Cooperation Act. Provides that the purpose of the Act is to promote interinstitutional cooperation and collaboration, which may involve public-private partnerships leveraging the use of public and private resources to improve outcomes for the higher educational system in this State. Provides that an institution of higher education may participate in the establishment and operation of programs of interinstitutional cooperation with other institutions of higher education or public-private partnerships, or both (instead of allowing a public institution of higher education to participate in the establishment and operation of programs of interinstitutional cooperation with other public institutions of higher education or with nonpublic institutions of higher education or with both public and nonpublic institutions of higher education). Provides that the program of financial assistance is available to public-private partnerships. Provides that the Board of Higher Education may require matching public or private resources from all participants. Makes related changes. Effective July 1, 2016.