Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on February 11, 2020. All members were present with the exception of Vice Chancellor Brown, and Regents Ouderkirk, Finn and Mittler.

Action Items

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Madam Chancellor and Colleagues:  Your Higher Education Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee’s deliberations at its meeting on February 11, 2020, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendments to Section 3.14 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to the Composition of the Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching - Your Committee discussed proposed amendments to Section 3.14 that will allow the PSPB to increase the number of members practicing in New York State from 21 to 23 and increase its overall Board membership from 28 to 30.  In addition to increasing the total number of Board members to 30, the Department is proposing to require that at least four members be practicing, certified school building or district administrators in schools or districts, and to require at least 15, instead of 14, of the 23 members to have had full-time experience as certified teachers in elementary, middle, or secondary schools. Following the 60-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act, it is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented to the Board of Regents for adoption at its June 2020 meeting. If adopted at the June 2020 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on June 24, 2020.

Matters Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendment to Subparts 30-2 and 30-3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to Annual Professional Performance Reviews (APPR) of Classroom Teachers and Building Principals to Implement Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2019 - Your Committee discussed whether the Board of Regents should approve the amendments to repeal existing Subpart 30-2, that the existing Subpart 30-3 be renumbered to Subpart 30-2, that the title of the new Subpart 30-2 and Section 30-2.1 are amended, and addition of a new Subpart 30-3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents be added as an emergency measure, effective February 11, 2020, upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to timely implement the provisions of Section 52-m of Part YYY of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2019 relating to a revised annual teacher and principal evaluation system. VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the amendments to Sections 30-2 and 30-3 of the Commissioner’s Regulations, as submitted, effective February 11, 2020.    All in favor; no opposed.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents acted on the following consent agenda item at the February 2020 meeting.

• Master Plan Amendment – Monroe College. The Board of Regents approved a master plan amendment to authorize Monroe College to offer its first bachelors-level program in the Humanities discipline area, a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies. The amendment will be effective until February 11, 2021, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case the master plan amendment shall be without term.
• Conferral of Degrees – Glasgow Caledonian New York University. The Board of Regents approved the conferral of the respective degrees upon listed individuals who have completed the requirements for registered degree programs at Glasgow Caledonian New York University.