Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on November 15, 2016.  All members were present.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action

New Federal Regulations Concerning Teacher Preparation Programs
Department staff presented information on the final federal regulations on teacher preparation which were released on October 12, 2016, and the new responsibilities given to the Department concerning collecting and reporting data and measuring quality of all state teacher preparation programs.  HE (D) 2

New York State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching Annual Report
Your Committee discussed a report on the activities of the New York State Professional Standards and Practices Board for Teaching.  The co-chairs, Debra Calvino and Kate DaBoll-Lavoie provided a summary of the PSPB’s activities in 2015-2016. HE (D) 3

Amendment of Section 80-1.6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to Automatically Extend the Time Validity of Certain Expired Provisional, Initial or Transitional  Certificates for Three Years if a Candidate Meets Certain Criteria  and is Unable to Complete the Requirements for the Initial, Permanent or Professional Certificate in a Timely Manner
Your Committee discussed amending Section 80-1.6 of the Commissioner’s Regulations to automatically extend the time validity of certain expired provisional, initial or transitional certificates for three years if a candidate meets certain criteria and is unable to complete the requirements for the initial, permanent or professional certificate in a timely manner. It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will come before the Board of Regents for permanent adoption at its February 2017 meeting.  If adopted at the February 2017 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on March 1, 2017. HE (D) 1

State Legislative and Budget Priorities
Your Committee discussed the initiatives to be advanced during the 2017 legislative session and the proposals to be advanced during the 2017-18 budget cycle.  HE (D) 4 & 5

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents took action on the following consent agenda items at their November 15, 2016 meeting.

Saint Joseph’s Seminary and College: Master plan amendment to establish a branch campus and offer a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in Theology. BR (CA) 1
The State University of New York Monroe Community College, Damon City campus – Master Plan Amendment for Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Child Care Practitioner. BR (CA) 2
Permanent Authority to Confer Degrees: The Institute of Art-New York LLC (“doing business as” (dba) Sotheby’s Institute of Art-New York) BR (CA) 3