Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on January 10, 2017.  All members were present except for Regents Cea and Norwood who were absent and excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Institutional Accreditation - Bramson ORT College
On April 21, 2016, the Regents Advisory Council (RAC) voted to recommend to the Board denial of accreditation. An appeal to the Commissioner pursuant to Regents Rule §4-1.5(c)(8) was filed by Bramson on May 19, 2016.  Pursuant to Regents Rule §4-1.5(c)(8), on June 15, 2016, the Deputy Commissioner submitted a response to the appeal.  The Commissioner found that Bramson was not in compliance with the standards for institutional accreditation, nor had the College shown good cause for the corrective action period to be extended.  As such, she affirmed the recommendation of the RAC to deny renewal of Bramson’s institutional accreditation. The Commissioner’s decision was rendered on November 21, 2016 and transmitted to the College.  VOTED: That the Board of Regents deny the renewal of accreditation of Bramson ORT College. Board of Regents members with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest on this application were asked to recuse themselves from participating in the deliberation and decision. HE (A) 1

Change in Scope of Institutional Accreditation -  Fei Tian College
In October 2016, the Board of Regents approved a master plan amendment for the College authorizing it to award degrees at the master’s level. The addition of programs at a new degree level also necessitates the approval of a change in the scope of institutional accreditation.  Fei Tian College is accredited by the Commissioner of Education and Board of Regents so a change in the scope of accreditation must be approved by the Board of Regents. VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve a change in scope of the institutional accreditation of Fei Tian College, in recognition of the institution’s authority to award degrees at the master’s level. Board of Regents members with a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest on this application were asked to recuse themselves from participating in the deliberation and decision.  HE (A) 2

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 January 10, 2017, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Other Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

edTPA Task Force Report
The Higher Education Committee was provided an update on the work and recommendations of the Task Force as well as an overview of proposed changes to teacher certification requirements. After discussion of the recommendations related to the teacher certification requirements, the Department will further pursue the recommendations and present the Board with regulatory changes at a future Board meeting. HE (D) 2

Proposed Amendments of Section 80-5.18 and 80-1.8 of the Commissioner’s Regulations related to supplementary certificates and re-issuance of expired initial certificates
Staff presented a proposed amendment to the supplementary certificate requirements to allow candidates to obtain a supplementary certificate that is valid for a period of five years, and a proposed amendment to the requirements for a re-issuance of an expired initial certificate to allow eligible candidates the opportunity to complete the required professional development within a year before or after application for the re-issuance. Both amendments will allow increased flexibility to candidates pursuing certification, as well as to school districts in hiring candidates with a supplementary certificate. It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will come before the Board of Regents for permanent adoption at its April 2017 meeting. HE (D) 1

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents acted on the following consent agenda items at their January 10, 2017 meeting.

• Safety Net Regulations for all Content Specialty Exams: This change will allow candidates to take and pass either the revised CST or the predecessor of the revised CST (currently called the “safety net” examination) for certification purposes in a particular subject area. Candidates will no longer be required to take the revised CST before becoming eligible for the safety net—they may choose to take either exam for certification. In addition, the current safety nets for all other certification examinations (edTPA, EAS, and ALST) will also be extended through June 30, 2018. Went out for public comment and no negative comments were received. BR (CA) 1
   
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teachers: The Department recommends changes to Part 80-3.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations that would provide three additional pathways for candidates seeking a CTE Transitional A certificate.  The Transitional A certificate is a temporary three-year certificate during which time the individual must complete the requirements for an initial certification.   This proposal is partly in response to New York City’s need to hire qualified CTE teachers in the technical fields of study. Previously adopted at the June 2016 meeting as an emergency action, and subsequently revised and adopted at as a second, third, and fourth emergency action at the September, October, and December 2016 meetings.  The consent item is before the Board this month for permanent adoption. BR (CA) 2