Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on June 4, 2019. All members were present. Also in attendance were Chancellor Rosa and Regents Hakanson, Tilles, Finn, Mittler and Mead.

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 June 4, 2019, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

Discussion related to the demand for Substitute Teachers - Your Committee heard Department staff present information about statewide data on teacher absences for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years, data provided by the District Superintendents of the BOCES related to the demand of substitute teachers and fill rates based on that demand, and examples of partnerships between BOCES and teacher preparation programs to support substitute teachers.

Matters Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendments to Sections 80-5.8 and 80-5.20 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Related to Eligibility Requirements for the Endorsement Pathway for Certification as an Educator in the Classroom Teaching Service or in the Educational Leadership Service - Your Committee discussed whether the Board of Regents should approve the amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations related to the eligibility requirements for the endorsement pathway for certification as an Educator in the Classroom Teaching Service or in the Educational Leadership Service. The proposed revisions provide candidates with more flexibility to be eligible for the endorsement pathway by taking more extenuating circumstances into account while maintaining high standards for candidates. In addition, these candidates may be applying for teacher certification in shortage areas, which could increase the number of teachers who could address teaching needs in New York State.

VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the amendments to Sections 80-5.8 and 80-5.20 of the Commissioner’s Regulations relating to the eligibility requirements for the endorsement pathway for certification as an educator in the classroom teaching service or in the educational leadership service.  If adopted by the Board of Regents as an emergency action, the proposed amendments will become effective on June 4, 2019.

Proposed Amendment to Sections 80-3.15 and 80-4.3 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to the Extension of the Application Deadline for the Statement of Continued Eligibility (SOCE) for Certain Teachers of Students with Disabilities and to the Extension of the Deadline for Completing Teaching Experience While Under a HOUSSE rubric for the SOCE and Limited Extension for Certain Teachers of Students with Disabilities - Your Committee discussed whether the Board of Regents should approve the amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations related to the extension of the application deadline for the SOCE for certain teachers of students with disabilities and to the extension of the deadline for completing teaching experience while under a HOUSSE rubric for the SOCE and a limited extension for certain teachers of students with disabilities.  The proposed extensions would give these teachers the time needed to collect and submit evidence of at least three years of satisfactory full-time teaching experience under a HOUSSE rubric for each subject area in which the SOCE is sought. Your committee also proposed extending the time period upon which the experience must be completed from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the amendments to Sections 80-3.15 and 80-4.3 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to the Extension of the Application Deadline for the Statement of Continued Eligibility (SOCE) for Certain Teachers of Students with Disabilities and to the Extension of the Deadline for Completing Teaching Experience While Under a HOUSSE rubric for the SOCE and Limited Extension for Certain Teachers of Students with Disabilities.  If adopted by the Board of Regents as an emergency action, the proposed amendments will become effective on June 4, 2019.  

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents acted on the following consent agenda items at the June 2019 meeting.

Master Plan Amendment – Mercy College, Manhattan Campus, M.S. degree in Computer Science - The Board of Regents approved a master plan amendment to authorize Mercy College to offer its first masters-level program in the Physical Sciences discipline area at the Manhattan Campus, a Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science. The amendment will be effective until June 4, 2020, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case the master plan amendment shall be without term.

Master Plan Amendment – Paul Smith’s College, North County, M.S. degree in Natural Resources Conservation - The Board of Regents approved a master plan amendment to authorize Paul Smith’s College to offer a Master of Science (M.S.) degree program in Natural Resources Conservation.  The amendment will be effective until June 4, 2020, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.

Permission to Operate – University of Texas at Austin - The Board of Regents granted the University of Texas at Austin permission to offer coursework applicable to its undergraduate degrees, known as UT Semester in New York Program (UTNY) effective June 4, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2024.

Appointments to the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching - The Board of Regents approved the appointment of Colleen Lester (administrator member), Scott Brown (administrator member), Frank Chiachiere (public member), David Rothfuss (public member) each for a four-year term beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2023; and Claire Carpenter (student member) for a two-year term beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2021. Virginia Goatley was approved as the Higher Education co-chair of the Board with her term ending on June 30, 2020.