THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Regents Permission to Operate in New York State:   Mansfield University
DATE:	February 27, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate in New York State for Mansfield University?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

Required by State statute

 

Proposed Handling

 

This question will come before the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee at its March 2007 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken.  It will then come before the full Board at its March 2007 meeting for final action.

 

Procedural History

 

Regents permission to operate in New York State is required by Section 224 of the Education Law which prohibits out-of-state colleges and universities from transacting business in New York without Regents permission.

 

Background Information

 

Mansfield University is seeking to extend Regents permission to operate in New York State in order to place students from its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program in health care agencies for supervised clinical experiences.  Section 6908 of the Education Law exempts from licensure students who provide nursing services while enrolled in educational programs that the Department has registered.  Mansfield University was granted initial approval to use clinical agencies in New York State on February 21, 1992.  Since then this approval has been extended for two five-year periods.  The program meets the standards for registration as set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Regents approve the proposed permission to operate effective March 20, 2007, authorizing Mansfield University to use clinical agencies in New York for clinical education of students in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

This approval will be effective until June 30, 2012.

 

 

 

 

Information in Support of Recommendation

 

            Mansfield University seeks to extend Regents permission to operate in New York State to place students from its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program in health agencies in New York for supervised clinical experiences.  Section 6908 of the Education Law exempts from licensure students who provide nursing services while enrolled in educational programs that the Department has registered.  Mansfield University was granted initial approval to use clinical agencies in New York State on February 21, 1992.

 

            Established in 1857, Mansfield University is part of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education.  It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The University offers the first two years of its nursing program on its main campus and the last two years at its Mansfield University Center in Sayre, Pennsylvania, about two miles from the Pennsylvania-New York border.

 

            The curriculum requires completion of 120 credits of coursework (62 credits in nursing and 58 credits in general education courses).  The introduction to nursing begins in the sophomore year.  The major emphasis on clinical nursing courses is in the upper division.  To be admitted, an applicant must have a high school diploma with four credits in English, three in social studies, two in mathematics (one credit must be in algebra) and two credits in laboratory sciences.

 

            Mansfield University plans on using three agencies in New York: Tioga County Health Department in Oswego, NY; Chemung County Health Department in Elmira, NY; and Tioga Skilled Nursing Facility in Waverly, NY.  Four to five students will be place in the Tioga County Health Department, four to five students will be placed in the Chemung County Health Department and approximately 45 students will be placed in the Tioga Skilled Nursing Facility.

 

            There are five faculty providing instruction for the three clinical sites.  Three of the faculty hold master’s degrees in nursing and earned doctorates and the remaining faculty have master’s degrees in nursing.  Preceptors will not be used.

 

            Because of statutes like New York’s restricting practice by students to those enrolled in state approved programs, institutions must undergo a variety of state review processes to assure lawful practice by students.  In New York, this entails receiving the Regents permission to operate and Department registration of the program so that one student a year may practice in the State.

 

            Staff have determined that there would be no reduction in access to clinical experiences at cooperating facilities if authorization is granted.  Because of the limited nature of the University’s authorization to operate in New York State, it should have no effect on New York institutions.

 

            The Office of the Professions has determined that Mansfield University meets the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.