Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 12, 2018. All members were present with the exception of Regent Norwood.

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 March 12, 2018, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendment to Part 80 Related to the Creation of a Transitional Certificate for Certain Health Care Professionals to Obtain a Health Education Certificate - Your Committee discussed a proposed amendment to allow certain NYS licensed and registered health professionals to teach health education in the classroom. The “Transitional K” certificate will allow Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Professional Nurses to teach health education in the classroom for a period of three years, during which time they may pursue an Initial and/or Professional certificate. It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will come back to the Board for adoption as a permanent rule at the July 2018 meeting.

Matters Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendment to §52.21 and §80-5.22 of the Regulations Related to Preprofessional Certificates and Transitional G Certificates - This item was discussed by your committee in November 2017 and is coming back to the Board for adoption as a permanent rule. The amendment will allow candidates employed under a pre-professional certificate to complete the student teaching program requirement in Section 52.21 of the Regulations while continuing to be employed by that district. Your Committee also discussed a proposed amendment to 80-5.22 relating to the Transitional G certificate. The amendment will allow individuals with graduate degrees and postsecondary teaching experience in any certificate area to pursue a Transitional G certificate. Staff discussed public comment received during the 60-day public comment period. VOTED: The amendment will become a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.  

Proposed Amendment to Part 30 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and §52.21 and Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to a New Certification Area and Tenure Area for Computer Science - This item was discussed by your committee in November 2017 and is coming back to the Board for adoption as a permanent rule. The amendment will establish a computer science certificate title that spans all grade levels in response to the growing need and desire to prepare students to succeed in a world with constantly evolving computer technologies. The amendments include adding computer science as a “special subject” tenure area and a provision that will “grandfather” in those currently teaching computer science. Staff discussed public comment received during the 60-day public comment period. VOTED: The amendment will become a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.  

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents acted on the following consent agenda items at the March 2018 meeting.

• Conferral of Degrees for Dowling College and New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis – The Board approved a motion to confer degrees upon a list of individuals who completed the requirements for registered degree programs at Dowling College and New York Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. 
• Proposed Amendment to §80-3.56 and §80-3.58 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Related to Establishing Fees and Procedures for the Consideration of Applications for New Degree-authority (Final Adoption) – The board approved the amendments originally presented in November 2017 and will be effective as a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.
• Proposed Amendment to Part 27 of the Commissioners Regulations Relating to the Higher Education Opportunity Programs (Final Adoption) – The Board approved the amendments originally presented in November 2017 and will be effective as a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.
• Proposed Amendment to §80-5.13 of the Commissioner’s Regulations to Allow for Greater Flexibility in the Design of Alternative Teacher Preparation Program Models (Final Adoption) – The Board approved the amendments originally presented in November 2017 and will be effective as a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.
• Proposed Amendment to §80-3.4 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to the Mentoring Requirement for Preprofessional Certification (Final Adoption) – The Board approved the amendments originally presented in November 2017 and will be effective as a permanent rule on March 28, 2018.