STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3071
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
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Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, GALLIVAN, LITTLE, SAVINO -- read twice
and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to streamlining higher
education program approvals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 210-d
2 to read as follows:
3 § 210-d. Registration of curricula. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or
4 regulation to the contrary, any new curriculum or program of study
5 offered by any not-for-profit college or university chartered by the
6 regents or incorporated by special act of the legislature that does not
7 require a master plan amendment pursuant to section two hundred thirty-
8 seven of this part, or charter amendment pursuant to section two hundred
9 sixteen of this part, or lead to professional licensure and that is
10 approved by the state university board of trustees, the city university
11 board of trustees, or the trustees or governing body of any other not-
12 for-profit college or university chartered by the regents which (1) has
13 maintained a physical presence in New York state for the immediately
14 preceding ten years and has been operated continuously by the same
15 governing corporate entity during the same immediately preceding ten
16 year period and (2) is accredited and has continued in accreditation by
17 the Middle States Commission on Higher Education ("MSCHE") or the
18 department for the immediately preceding ten years, shall be deemed
19 registered with the department within thirty days of notification of
20 approval. If the college or university is placed on probation or has its
21 accreditation terminated by MSCHE, such college or university shall
22 notify the regents in writing no later than thirty days after being
23 formally informed of its probation or loss of accreditation by MSCHE. If
24 a college or university has its accreditation placed on probation or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01768-01-9
S. 3071 2
1 terminated by the MSCHE or the education department the college or
2 university shall be subject to the commissioner's program approval it
3 had been removed from probation or regained accreditation by MSCHE or
4 the education department, and shall remain subject to such commission-
5 er's program approval until it has continued in accreditation and with-
6 out probation for a period of not less than six years. If a college or
7 university subject to this section intends to offer or institute an
8 additional degree or program which constitutes a "substantive change,"
9 as defined and determined by MSCHE, then the college or university shall
10 provide the commissioner with copies of any reports or other documents
11 filed with MSCHE as part of MSCHE's substantive change review process
12 and shall inform the commissioner when the substantive change is
13 approved. Any such college or university that does not satisfy all of
14 the provisions of this section shall comply with the procedures and
15 criteria established by the regents and commissioner for academic
16 program approval. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit the
17 department's existing authority to act on complaints concerning the
18 institution, including the authority to de-register the program.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.