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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Print number 4673b
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Print number 4673a
- Amend and recommit to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing colleges and universities to offer additional programs and degrees
Purpose
This bill would remove the New York State Education Department from the process of approving and accrediting higher education academic programs.
Summary of provisions
1- Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, a college, as defined by section 2 of the Education Law, may offer or institute an additional program or degree if that college (1) has maintained a physical presence and operated continuously in the State for the immediately preceding 10 years and (2) is accredited without sanction by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools of the New York State Board of Regents. Any such college that does not satisfy all of the provisions of this section shall comply with the procedures and criteria established by the Board of Regents.
Read the full memo (618 words)
§ 2- Effective date.
Justification
The New York State Board of Regents (and by virtue of their authority, the State Education Department SED), is the only state government agency that is authorized by the US Department of Education to accredit colleges and universities. Forty-nine other states rely on their federally recognized regional accrediting bodies, of which there are six (e.g. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, etc.), to evaluate higher education programs within their borders. While the SED has maintained standards for college programs that are consistent with (though not more stringent than) the federally recognized regional accrediting bodies, they have been unable to make their decisions on accreditation in a timely and efficient manner. This has hindered the ability of our world class colleges and universities in New York to adapt to the changing needs of students and employers by offering new and innovative academic programs. Students with degrees in emerging fields are in high demand in the growing high tech industries making up an ever larger part of New York's economy.
Recently the Presidents' Council of the W.N.Y. Consortium of Higher Education hosted a meeting in Western New York to discuss their concerns regarding the New York State Education Department's process for approving and accrediting academic programs. All 21 public and private higher education institutions in Western New York agreed that the current process for approving and accrediting academic programs in New York State is cumbersome and extremely challenging. Many times the wait time for approval is upwards of three years. This delay causes these fine academic institutions to miss opportunities to strengthen and respond to changing academic-based local, regional and state needs. This delay in accreditation is not just confined to those academic entities in Western New York, but has been experienced by institutions across the state.
With required outside accrediting agencies, specifically the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, readily available to perform this function for New York State institutions, the accreditation process by NYSED is duplicative and overly burdensome on our state's higher education institutions, resulting in missed education opportunities and an inability to effectively utilize our higher education institutions' full potential for attracting economic development, promoting job creation and retention, and encouraging individuals to remain in or relocate to New York State.
Legislative history
2013-14: S.6866/A.9066 Referred to Higher Education
Fiscal implications
Possible savings to the State. In addition, there is the potential for tremendous economic benefit to the state since this legislation will allow academic institutions to create educational programs more rapidly, enabling the state to dexterously leverage higher education to fulfill the needs of both students and New York State employers.
Effective date
This act shall take effect January 1, 2017.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.