Senate Bill S4673B

                                BILL NUMBER:S4673

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, nonprofit degree-granting 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.

§ 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, 2016.

                                BILL NUMBER:S4673A

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.

§ 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, 2016.