Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on October 18, 2016.  All members were present.

ACTION ITEMS

Proposed Amendment of Section 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Safety Nets for the Revised Content Specialty Tests  -  HE (A) 2

Your Committee discussed amending Section 80-1.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations to create a new safety net for the Content Specialty Tests (CSTs) required for teacher certification. The amendment allows those taking any of the 14 new CSTs being released in November 2016 to take and pass either the revised CST or the predecessor CST for certification, until June 30, 2019. The amendment also makes conforming changes to the existing safety nets for the currently operational revised CSTs to allow candidates who apply for certification on or after October 18, 2016 or who have a pending certification application with the Department to take and pass either the revised CST or the predecessor CST (even if the candidate took and passed the predecessor CST on or before October 18, 2016). This safety net will expire on June 30, 2017. Last, the amendment extends the current safety net for the Multi-Subject 7-12 Part two: mathematics CST until June 30, 2018. VOTED:  That Part 80 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended effective October 18, 2016, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to ensure that teacher candidates who will be taking the new and revised CSTs have timely and sufficient notice of the safety net options available to them so that they may receive an initial certificate.  It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be adopted by the Board of Regents as a permanent rule at their January 2017 meeting.

Authorization to Allow the Department to Enter into a Consent Agreement with the Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary to Clarify its Authority to Operate in New York State - HE (A) 1

Your Committee discussed the current status of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, which exists in and was incorporated in Tennessee in 1975, and authorized by the Board of regents to operate a branch campus in New York State in 1986. Recently the Department became aware that the status of the Seminary as a Tennessee corporation authorized to operate and confer degrees to students in New York was unclear, and the Department is recommending that the Board of Regents authorize the Department to enter into a consent agreement to clarify the Seminary’s status in New York. VOTED:  that the Board authorize the Department to enter into a consent agreement with Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in order to clarify the status of the Seminary in New York.  

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 October 18, 2016, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

OTHER MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

National Board Certification for Teachers Work Group Report - HE (D) 1

Your Committee heard a presentation by the co-chairs of the National Board Council of New York (NBCNY).  The NBCNY convened a work group in partnership with the Department to examine the current state of National Board certification.  The presentation focused on the findings of the work group.  The work group has published a report of their findings from the series of meetings. The report, which can be found on the web at http://media.wix.com/ugd/4b57fc_d2440ce4dbd244dab37edc9321f8adf9.pdf), provides recommendations to build awareness around the benefits of the National Board process to all stakeholder groups and identifies strategies to address these areas. The report promotes capitalization of P-20 partnerships and collaborations.  

State Legislative and Budget Priorities - HE (D) 2, 3 

Your Committee discussed the draft initiatives to be advanced during the 2017 legislative session and the proposals to be advanced during the 2017-18 budget cycle. 

CONSENT AGENDA

The Board of Regents took action on the following consent agenda items at their October 18, 2016 meeting.

• Proposed Amendment to Section 80-3.5 of the Commissioner’s Regulations to Establish New Pathway Options for the Transitional A Certificate in a Career and Technical Education Subject for Candidates Who do not Meet the Current Requirements but who Possess Industry Experience, Credentials, or are in the Process of Completing Certification - BR (CA) 1
• Fei Tian College:  Master Plan Amendment to offer Master of Music (Mus.M.) in Performance and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Classical Chinese Dance Programs - BR (CA) 2
• Yeshiva University:  Master Plan Amendment to Offer an Associate in Science (A.S.) Program in Management - BR (CA) 3