Report of

                                     REGENTS HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

                                                                              to

                                                           The Board of Regents

September 16, 2008

              Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on September 15, 2008.   All members were present except for Regent Phillips who was excused.

Action Items

Consent Agenda

              Your Committee recommends that pursuant to Section 6306 of the Education Law, the Board of Regents approve the award by the boards of trustees of community colleges of any and all honorary associate degree titles included in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 3.50 of the Rules of the Board of Regents.  [HE (CA) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the amendment to the master plan of The New School authorizing the School to offer the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Environmental Studies.  This amendment will be effective until September 30, 2009, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.  [HE (CA) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the following appointments to the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching: Aseba J. Harris (teacher education student) for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2010; and Walter Robertson (teacher) for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2012.  [HE (CA) 3]

Your Committee recommends that Sections 52.21 and 80-3.7 be amended and Subpart 57-3 and Section 80-1.12 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to requirements for course work or training in the needs of students with autism, be added, as submitted, effective October 9, 2008.  [HE (A) 2]

Action Items

Your Committee recommends that §80-5.5 be repealed and a new §80-5.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to the employment of retired persons in public school districts, boards of cooperative educational services and county vocational education and extension boards, be added as submitted, effective September 30, 2008, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such an action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to ensure that the emergency rule adopted at the June Regents meeting and revised and readopted at the July Regents meeting, remains continuously in effect until the effective date of its adoption as a permanent rule.    [HE (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents authorize Pacific College under its new owner, Quad Partners, to award Associate in Occupational Studies (A.O.S.), Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S), and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees on duly qualified students successfully completing registered programs for a period beginning upon execution of the final phase of the purchase agreement.  [HE (A) 3]

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

              Mr. Chancellor and Colleagues:  Your Higher Education Committee recommends, and I move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on September 15, 2008, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

                                      MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendment to Regulations Relating to State Aid for High Needs Nursing Programs – The Committee discussed a proposed amendment that authorizes the Commissioner to award state aid for online or internet nursing degree programs at certain independent institutions of higher education within the State, in order to conform with Section 6401-a of the Education Law, as amended by Chapter 57 of the Laws of 2008.   The proposed amendment also establishes annual reporting requirements relating to the expenditure of state aid.  The amendment will be submitted for adoption at the October Regents meeting.  [HE (D) 1]

P-16 Implementation:  Improvements in Teacher Certification Processing and the Effects on the Supply of Qualified Teachers – The Committee discussed improvements made in the Office of Teaching on processing teacher certification applications and the impact new budget cuts may have on the improvements made to date.  The Committee discussed the need for the TEACH system to connect to the Department’s other data systems as we move forward.   [HE (D) 2]

Progress Report on Career and Technical Education Teacher Supply and Demand – The Committee was updated on the Department’s ongoing activities as they reexamine the requirements for certification of CTE teachers to ensure an adequate supply to meet the growing needs for career and technical education programs in our State.  The Committee discussed the possibility of increasing the number of institutions that prepare CTE teachers, including community colleges.  The issue of having a more flexible system was discussed in detail which led to questions about the many different “trades” that fall under the title of CTE and how districts are to decide which programs to offer.  District Superintendent Jessica Cohen was available to provide an example of how her districts choose to offer programs based on current needs.  Staff provided a framework for additional feedback and direction from the Regents on these critical issues which will guide further development of Department strategies and initiatives.   

Update on the Regents Higher Education Agenda – Senior Deputy Commissioner Johanna Duncan-Poitier provided an update on the Regents Higher Education Agenda which identifies major themes that the Regents and the Department have implemented over the last few years along with current activities relating to these higher education initiatives identified by the Regents: strengthening teaching, improving college readiness/closing the performance gap, statewide planning for higher education, strengthening school leadership, and public protection.  

Use of the Term “University” – Regent Milton Cofield confirmed that while the Board of Regents reinforced the existing definition of the term “University” and how it should be properly used, the Committee indicated that it would solicit additional input on the basis for any special consideration of colleges who meet comparable standards.  Staff have been asked to get input from a select number of provosts from SUNY, CUNY and the independent sector.

              That concludes our report.

                                                                                                  _______________________________

                                                                                            Harry Phillips, 3rd, Co-Chairperson

                                                                                            ________________________________

                                                                                            Milton L. Cofield, Co-Chairperson