NY State Senate Bill 2017-S4577B

Senate Bill S4577B

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Authorizes colleges to offer additional programs or degrees if they have met certain criteria

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 06, 2018	print number 4577b
Feb 06, 2018	amend and recommit to higher education
Jan 03, 2018	referred to higher education
Mar 06, 2017	print number 4577a
Mar 06, 2017	amend and recommit to higher education
Feb 17, 2017	referred to higher education

Bill Amendments

Original

B (Active)

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2017-S4577 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6064
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6866, A9066
2015-2016: S4673, A4353
2019-2020: S834
2021-2022: S1696
2023-2024: S38
2025-2026: S65

2017-S4577 - Summary

Authorizes colleges to offer additional programs or degrees if they have met certain criteria.

2017-S4577 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4577

 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 excellent
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.

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 :

2015-16: S.4673b/A.4353 Referred to Higher Education
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, 2018.

2017-S4577 - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4577
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. GALLIVAN, KENNEDY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER, YOUNG -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee on Higher Education
 
 AN  ACT  authorizing  colleges  and  universities  to  offer  additional
   programs and degrees

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  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 accred-
 ited without sanction by  Middle  States  Association  of  Colleges  and
 Schools  or  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. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.
 
 
 
 

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10020-01-7

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2017-S4577A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6064
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6866, A9066
2015-2016: S4673, A4353
2019-2020: S834
2021-2022: S1696
2023-2024: S38
2025-2026: S65

2017-S4577A - Summary

Authorizes colleges to offer additional programs or degrees if they have met certain criteria.

2017-S4577A - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4577A

 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 oper- ated continuously in the
State for the immediately preceding 10 years and (2) is accredited
without sanction by Middle States Commission on Higher Education or
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 Commission on Higher Education, 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 excellent
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.

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 Commission on Higher Education, 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 :

2015-16: S.4673b/A.4353 Referred to Higher Education
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, 2018.

2017-S4577A - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4577--A
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. GALLIVAN, JACOBS, KENNEDY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER, YOUNG
   -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee  on  Higher  Education  --  committee  discharged,  bill
   amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
   tee

 AN  ACT  authorizing  colleges  and  universities  to  offer  additional
   programs and degrees
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 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  accred-
 ited without sanction by Middle States Commission on Higher Education or
 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. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10020-02-7

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A6064
Current Committee:: Senate Higher Education
Law Section:: Education
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S6866, A9066
2015-2016: S4673, A4353
2019-2020: S834
2021-2022: S1696
2023-2024: S38
2025-2026: S65

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes colleges to offer additional programs or degrees if they have met certain criteria.

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4577B

SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
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 oper- ated continuously in the
State for the immediately preceding 10 years and (2) is accredited with-
out sanction by Middle States Commission on Higher Education or 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 feder-
ally recognized regional accrediting bodies, of which there are six
(e.g. Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Associ-
ation 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 excellent 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.

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 educa-
tion 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 academ-
ic 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 Commission on Higher Education, 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 educa-
tion 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:

2015-16: S.4673b/A.4353 Referred to Higher Education
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 the first of January next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4577--B
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. GALLIVAN, JACOBS, KENNEDY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER, YOUNG
   -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
   the Committee  on  Higher  Education  --  committee  discharged,  bill
   amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
   tee -- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in  accordance
   with  Senate  Rule  6,  sec.  8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  authorizing  colleges  and  universities  to  offer  additional
   programs and degrees
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 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  accred-
 ited without sanction by Middle States Commission on Higher Education or
 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.  This act shall take effect the first of January next succeeding
 the date on which it shall have become a law.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10020-04-8

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Senate Bill S4577B

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Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Higher Education Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2017-S4577 - Details

2017-S4577 - Summary

2017-S4577 - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4577 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2017-S4577A - Details

2017-S4577A - Summary

2017-S4577A - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4577A - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S4577B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments