What's happening
This bill limits state aid eligibility for higher education institutions that offer over 50% of courses online, unless waived for good cause.
Why it matters
Potentially impacts funding for colleges with extensive online offerings. Institutions where more than 50% of courses are delivered online could lose eligibility for state aid, which may affect their budgets and the tuition rates they charge.
May influence how colleges design and deliver courses. Schools might limit the expansion of online programs—even if demand is high—to remain eligible for state aid, possibly reducing flexibility for students who prefer or require online learning.
Creates a waiver process for exceptions. The commissioner can allow exceptions for “good cause,” but the criteria and consistency for granting waivers could become points of contention or unclear policy interpretation.
Raises questions about equity and access. Students who rely on online education due to work, family, or geographic constraints could see their options limited if institutions pull back on online offerings to comply with the law.
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Who cares
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Limit Online College Courses
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History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4771
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to telecommunications and correspondence courses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, in order to qualify for state aid apportionments pursuant to this article, an institution shall not be considered to meet the definition of institutions providing higher education as provided in this article if such institution offers or enrolls more than fifty percent of such institution's total number of all courses by telecommunications or correspondence, except that the commissioner, at the request of such institution, may waive the applicability of this subdivision to such institution for good cause, as determined by the commissioner.
§ 2. Section 6221 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision F to read as follows:
F. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, in order to qualify for state aid apportionments pursuant to this article, an institution shall not be considered to meet the definition of institutions providing higher education as provided in this article if such institution offers or enrolls more than fifty percent of such institution's total number of all courses by telecommunications or correspondence, except that the commissioner, at the request of such institution, may waive the applicability of this subdivision to such institution for good cause, as determined by the commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03851-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.