Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on May 8, 2018. All members were present with the exception of ­­­­­Regents Collins, Cea, Finn and Vice Chancellor Brown.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Action Items

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 May 8, 2018, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Proposed Amendment to Section 80-5.4 Related to Substitute Teachers (Emergency Action) - Your Committee discussed a proposed amendment to allow districts to continue to be provided with the flexibility needed to address their hiring needs and employ substitute teachers who demonstrate competency in the classroom for more than 40 days beyond the current sunset date of June 30, 2018 and through the new sunset date of June 30, 2020. If adopted, the proposed amendment will be adopted as an emergency action, effective July 1, 2018. After much discussion, it was decided to table the item until the June 2018 meeting.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

Clinical Practice Work Group Activities and Recommendations for Field Experience and Student Teaching Requirements in Teacher Preparation Programs 

Your Committee was provided with an overview of the Work Group activities and recommendations, including their outreach to the field to obtain feedback on draft recommendations for field experience and student teaching requirements in teacher preparation programs. At its January 2017 meeting, the Board of Regents reviewed the edTPA Task Force recommendations. One of the Task Force recommendations was to establish a committee to examine the length and content of the student teaching experience in teacher preparation programs. In response, the Department convened the Clinical Practice Work Group in June 2017 to examine the current regulations related to field experiences and student teaching. The Work Group was composed of members from the P-12 and higher education communities from across the state and met eight times through March 2018 to develop recommendations for updating the regulations. The current field experience and student teaching requirements have been in effect since January 2000. The Department will continue discussion and provide the Board with recommendations for proposed regulation changes in September 2018.

Proposed Amendment to Part 80 Related to the Speech and Language Disabilities Certificate

Your Committee was provided with a proposed amendment to add a new Section 80-3.16 to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to allow individuals completing a speech-language pathology program accredited by the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) to obtain an Initial certificate in Speech and Language Disabilities (All Grades). In New York State, candidates can obtain an Initial certificate in speech and language disabilities (all grades) by completing an approved teacher education program in speech and language disabilities or meeting certification requirements through individual evaluation, which includes completion of a college-supervised practicum of 150 hours. However, most other states do not require completion of a teacher education program for individuals to provide speech services in a school or have speech language pathology programs that may include very little pedagogical coursework for classroom instruction. As such, most institutions of higher education outside of New York do not have separate teacher education programs in speech and language disabilities. Rather, most other states require completion of a program accredited by the American Speech, Language, and Hearing Association (ASHA) for individuals to provide speech services in 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 September 2018 meeting. If adopted at the September 2018 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on October 3, 2018.

Proposed Amendments to Section 4-1.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Related to Institutional Accreditation

Your Committee was provided with proposed amendments to Section 4-1.3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents relating to Voluntary Institutional Accreditation for Title IV Purposes. On February 8, 2018, the Department appeared before the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) concerning the petition of the Board of Regents and Commissioner of Education for renewal of recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education as an institutional accrediting agency. NACIQI is charged with making a recommendation to the Secretary of Education concerning applications for recognition as institutional accrediting agencies. At the February 8, 2018 NACIQI meeting, the Committee accepted the following motion concerning the Board of Regents and Commissioner of Education’s recognition: NACIQI recommends to continue the agency's current recognition and require the agency to come into compliance within 12 months, and submit a compliance report 30 days after the 12 month period that demonstrates the agency's compliance. Your Committee also discussed an amendment to the regulations to establish a fee structure for institutional accreditation. 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 September 2018 Regents meeting and would become effective as a permanent rule on October 3, 2018.

Consent Agenda

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

• Master Plan Amendment: Touro College – to authorize the College’s first Ph.D. program – a Doctor of Philosophy in Jewish Studies – The Board approved a master plan amendment to authorize Touro College to offer its first doctoral program in the Humanities discipline. The amendment will be effective until May 8, 2019, unless the Department registers the Ph.D.  program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.
• Proposed Amendment to Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Graduate Admission Examination Requirements to Implement Chapter 454 of the Laws of 2017 – The Board approved the amendment of Section 52.21 of the Commissioner’s Regulations and will become effective as a permanent rule on May 23, 2018.
• Proposed Amendment to Section 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Related to Safety Nets for Teacher Certification Examinations – The Board approved the amendment of Section 80-1.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations effective May 23, 2018.
• Master Plan Amendment: St. Bonaventure University – to offer a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree program in Feature Film Production – The Board approved a master plan amendment to authorize St. Bonaventure University to offer its first masters-level program in the Fine Arts discipline area, a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Feature Film Production. The amendment will be effective until May 9, 2019, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan amendment shall be without term.
• Proposed Amendment to Subpart 4-2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Continuous Accreditation Requirement for Educator Preparation Providers – The Board voted that Subpart 4-2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents be repealed and that §52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective May 23, 2018.
• Regents Authorization to Award Degrees: The City University of New York City College and New York Graduate School – to award the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Master of Music (M.M.) Degrees – The Board of Regents authorizes the CUNY Board of Trustees to award the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) and Master of Music (M.M.) degrees on students who successfully complete registered programs at CUNY City College and the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree on students who successfully complete registered programs at CUNY Graduate School, effective May 8, 2018.