Meeting of the Board of Regents | November 2010

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

To:                                           Higher Education Committee

From:                                      Joseph P. Frey

Subject:                                  Developing the Regents 2012-2020 Statewide Plan for Higher Education

Date:                                       November 8, 2010

Authorizations:                      

 

Summary

Issue for Discussion

What issues should SUNY, CUNY, and independent and proprietary colleges emphasize in their 2012-2020 master plans, and should the Department emphasize in the next Statewide Plan?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

Required by State statute.


           
Proposed Handling

This matter will come before the Higher Education Committee at its November 2010 meeting for discussion.

Background Information

The Regents Statewide Plan for Higher Education is one of the key documents focusing New York’s 270 public, independent, and proprietary higher education institutions on priority goals and objectives.  The present Plan, for 2004-2012, ends in two more years.  Laying the groundwork for the 2012-2020 Statewide Plan, including instructions to SUNY, CUNY, and independent and proprietary institutions, takes several months.  To meet the statutory requirement of issuing that guidance in April 2011, the Regents should begin to discuss key issues in light of their priorities.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Committee begin a discussion of priorities and issues that will continue into the spring of 2011.

REGENTS STATEWIDE PLAN FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

A. What does the Education Law require?

Content of the Plan. Section 237 of the Education Law requires that the Statewide Plan include certain elements, authorizes the inclusion of other elements at the Regents discretion, and encourages an overall approach to planning.

• Required.  The Statewide Plan shall incorporate the SUNY and CUNY Master Plans, to the extent the Regents approve them, and “all available information with respect to the plans and facilities of independent institutions of higher education.”  Certain content of the SUNY and CUNY master plans is specified in statute.  In addition, the Regents may specify information, plans, and areas of recommendation to be included (see below). 

 

In effect, Section 237 contemplates the Regents identifying statewide needs, societal conditions, and the interests of New Yorkers and calling on SUNY, CUNY, and independent institutions to address them.  The Statewide Plan harmonizes the SUNY and CUNY master plans with one another and with the plans of independent institutions.  The SUNY and CUNY plans are subject to the Regents approval; the plans of independent institutions are not subject to approval.

The Statewide Plan also shall include a summary of all recommendations in the preceding Plan, and subsequent amendments, stating the action taken and progress towards achievement.

• Authorized. In addition, the Statewide Plan may include plans with respect to “other matters not comprehended within the plan of the state and city universities,” including but not limited to:

 

• Encouraged. Section 237 states that the “purposes of planning” (not the Statewide Plan as a document) should:

 

a. Define and differentiate the missions and objectives of higher education.

b. Identify the needs, problems, societal conditions, and interests of the people of the State of New York to which programs of higher education may most appropriately be addressed.

c. Define and differentiate the missions and objectives of institutions of higher education.

d. Develop programs to meet the needs, solve the problems, affect the conditions and respond to the public's interests by:

(1) Setting goals.

(2) Describing the time required to meet those goals.

(3) Identifying the resources needed to achieve the goals.

(4) Establishing priorities.

e. Be in sufficient detail to enable all participants in the planning process, representatives of the people and the people themselves to evaluate the needs, objectives, program proposals, priorities, costs and results of higher education.

f. Optimize the use of resources.

g. Evaluate program effectiveness.

Planning Bulletin.  Section 237 requires that, before developing or revising the Statewide Plan, the Regents shall request master plans for SUNY, CUNY, and each independent institution.  (Such request usually is called the Bulletin of the Statewide Plan.)  It requires that the request be issued by April 25, 2011, and that it shall:

Specify the nature of the information, plans, and recommendations to be submitted;

Describe statewide needs, problems, societal conditions, and interests of the citizens, and discuss their priorities; and

Provide appropriate information that may be useful in formulating such plans.

Transmittal Deadline.  As modified by Section 137 of Chapter 82 of the Laws of 1995, Section 237 requires the Regents to adopt or revise the Statewide Plan and transmit it to the Governor (for approval) and to the Legislature on or before November 1, 1964, and every eight years thereafter (i.e., November 1, 2012).

B. What are the Regents priorities in higher education?

Regents Priorities.  The Board of Regents mission is “To raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity of all the people in New York.”

In carrying out that mission, the Regents are focusing on reform of New York’s public P-12 schools.  We have established a systemic approach to improve teaching and learning consisting of learning standards and aligned curricula that are measured by performance-based assessments.  The core instruction (standards, curricula, and assessments) is delivered by well-prepared teachers and school leaders who have received relevant professional development based on student growth data. The analysis of these data informs improvements in instruction that will result in the academic progress of students.  At the plan’s center is the belief that all students should graduate from high school ready for postsecondary education and employment.

Within that focus, in higher education our priorities are to continue efforts to:

• Implement the plan for reform of the preparation and certification of teachers and school leaders (the first priority in higher education).

 

• Increase high school students’ opportunities for advanced, college-level study by enhancing opportunities to take college courses while in high school, including such initiatives as early college high schools, International Baccalaureate programs, Advanced Placement courses, and other dual enrollment opportunities.

• Assure access to higher education for all New Yorkers.  This is essential to follow through on investments made in P-12 reform and to support workers who need to develop or enhance their skills. The goal is to ensure that New Yorkers of every racial/ethnic group and gender have equal chances to graduate from college, and that the racial/ethnic and gender composition of the State’s teachers and school leaders, and practitioners of the licensed professions, reflects New York’s diversity.

 

• Assure that students have a good opportunity to complete their programs of study and earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees.  This requires attention to the adequacy of State and federal student aid so that the price students and their families must pay to attend college is within their means.  It also requires improving institutions’ success in accepting transfer credits, retaining and graduating students, and raising the statewide associate degree and baccalaureate completion rates. 

• Encourage innovative approaches to delivering higher education while holding all undergraduate and graduate programs to high standards that support student learning and success.

 

The Statewide Plan bulletin will call on all higher education institutions to address these priorities in their next master plans.

C. Within those priorities, what are the key issues the next Plan should address?

Assuring alignment of high school graduation requirements with expectations of readiness to undertake college-level study.

Assuring that all programs of study meet high standards of academic quality, including education offered on-line and education provided by institutions from outside the State.

The Regents role to regulate higher education institutions that contract with a private business or industry to offer credit bearing courses and degrees for its employees.

Improving student retention and graduation.

Student transfer and articulation of programs.

Keeping higher education affordable for New Yorkers.

D. What is the timetable for developing the next Plan?

• November 15-16, 2010.  Board of Regents holds initial discussion of priorities/goals/objectives for the 2012 Statewide Plan, which will be the basis for the Bulletin of the 2012 Statewide Plan.

• January - March 2011.  Department gathers background information and suggestions.  Statutory Commissioner's Advisory Council discusses preliminary priorities/goals/objectives and advises the Regents.  Board continues to formulate/revise priorities/goals/objectives for the Bulletin of the 2012 Plan.

 

• April 4-5, 2011.  Board approves Bulletin for distribution to the field.

• April 25, 2011.  Department transmits Bulletin to all degree-granting institutions, requesting development of master plans for 2012-2020 (statutory date).

 

• Prior to June 1, 2012.  Association of Proprietary Colleges and the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities schedule receipt of individual institutional master plans, with copies to the Department.

• June 1, 2012.  Department receives SUNY and CUNY master plans (statutory date) and consolidated master plans for the independent and proprietary sectors.