Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Regents Committee on Higher Education Members

Regent Rivera, Chair, Vice Chancellor Chin, Regent Norwood, Regent Wills, Regent Ferrer, Regent Catania, Regent Hale, and Regent Pratts.

The Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on May 5, 2025. All members were present except Regent Christine D. Cea who was excused. Chancellor Young, Vice Chancellor Chin, Regent Roger Tilles, Regent Susan W. Mittler, Regent Patrick A. Mannion, Regent Brian Krist, Regent Keith B. Wiley, and Regent Felicia Thomas-Williams also attended the meeting but did not vote on any action.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendment to Sections 3.47 and 3.50 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to the Authorization of Degrees: Adding the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) Degree as a Registered Degree in New York State [HE (D) 1] - Department staff presented a proposed regulatory amendment to add the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) Degree as a Registered Degree in New York State. According to the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM), the M.P.P. degree award is “the professional degree for analyzing, evaluating, and solving all aspects of policy.” It is recognized in neighboring states (Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New Jersey) and in several other states across the nation. Programmatic accreditation is available to M.P.P. programs via the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA).

M.P.P. programs typically include coursework in quantitative and qualitative methods, including econometrics, public and/or administrative law, ethics, policy implementation, program evaluation, and policy analysis. M.P.P. programs may differ from Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.) programs by including intensive internships or professional experiences and capstone projects that are linked to the professional requirements of specific public service organizations or social problems, rather than research theses. Furthermore, M.P.P. programs may differ from Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) programs by focusing on analytic methods rather than administrative systems and management.

Graduates of M.P.P. programs work in a variety of organizations and agencies in positions such as policy analyst, community relations manager, economic development director, executive director, and public relations consultant. The skills acquired by M.P.P. graduates, including data analysis, policy analysis, and modeling, are valuable in and transferable to a variety of settings, including domestic government agencies, private firms, and nonprofit organizations. According to labor market analytics tool Lightcast, for the five-year period ending in 2029, overall demand in target occupations for graduates of masters-level programs in public policy is projected to increase by approximately 5% statewide and 4% nationally.

Deputy Commissioner William Murphy reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.