2015 -- H 5578

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LC001329

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - DISTANCE LEARNING

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Solomon, Morin, Coughlin, and Ackerman

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2015

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 16-40-1, 16-40-2 and 16-40-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-

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40 entitled "Private Schools [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education

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Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-40-1. Approval of secondary and higher schools by board -- Certification to

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secretary of state. -- (a) No academy, college, university, or other institution of secondary or

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higher education shall be incorporated or established in this state or be permitted to transact

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business, unless exempt pursuant to § 16-40-10, within this state unless and until: (1) suitable

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provision, approved by the board of regents council on for elementary and secondary education or

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the board of governors for higher council on postsecondary education, shall be made that the

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academy, college, university, or institution is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter

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and with the regulations and standards for approval adopted by the appropriate one of those

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boards to implement this chapter; and (2) for institutions offering an associates degree or higher,

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the institution has initiated discussions with applied to the New England Association of Schools

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and Colleges (NEASC) regarding potential accreditation.

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      (b) The secretary of state, upon the receipt by him or her under the provisions of the

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general laws of articles of association purporting to establish an educational institution, shall

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transmit the articles of association to the appropriate board and shall not issue the certificate of

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incorporation provided by the general laws unless and until the commissioner of elementary and

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secondary education or the commissioner of higher education shall file with the secretary of state

 

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a certificate over his or her signature that the appropriate board has approved the application for

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incorporation as complying with the requirements of this section.

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     16-40-2. Authority to grant degrees not presumed. -- Authority to grant academic,

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collegiate, professional, or other degrees recognizing learning, scholarship, or achievement shall

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not be included in or presumed to be part of the functions of a corporation or of an institution of

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education, unless its charter or the articles of association shall specifically indicate that the

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institution is nonprofit and specifically indicate the power to grant degrees and the nature of the

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degrees to be granted; and no corporation or association shall grant academic, collegiate,

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professional, or similar degrees without specific authorization; and for institutions offering an

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associates degree or higher, has received full New England Association of Schools and Colleges

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(NEASC) accreditation within five (5) years of its incorporation or establishment within this state

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or five (5) years of being permitted to transact business within this state unless exempt pursuant

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to § 16-40-10.

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     16-40-10. Schools exempt. – (a) Nothing contained in §§ 16-40-1 through 16-40-9,

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except the provisions of § 16-40-3, shall apply to any school or schools conducted under the

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public school system of this state nor to any academy, college, university, or institution of

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education which shall have been established and conducted within this state for a period of ten

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(10) years prior to April 13, 1932, nor to any academy, college, university, or institution of

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education established by a special act of the general assembly of this state prior to January 1,

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1987, nor to Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.

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     (b) Nothing contained in §§ 16-40-1 through 16-40-18 shall apply to any postsecondary

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school or schools solely offering distance learning pursuant to an interstate reciprocity agreement

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for distance learning, if:

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     (1) The institution is situated in a state that is also participating in such agreement;

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     (2) The institution has been approved to participate in such agreement by its home state

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and other entities with oversight of such agreement;

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     (3) The institution has elected to participate in and operate in compliance with the terms

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of said agreement; and

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     (4) The institution is, and remains a member in good standing under the reciprocity

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agreement.

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     SECTION 2. Sections 16-59-4, 16-59-6 and 16-59-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-

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59 entitled "Board of Governors for Higher Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode

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Island Board of Education Act]" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-59-4. Powers and duties of the council on postsecondary education. -- (a) The

 

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council on postsecondary education shall have, in addition to those enumerated in § 16-59-1, the

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following powers and duties:

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      (1) To approve a systematic program of information gathering, processing, and analysis

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addressed to every level, aspect, and form of higher education in this state especially as that

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information relates to current and future educational needs so that current needs may be met with

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reasonable promptness and plans formulated to meet future needs as they arise in the most

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efficient and economical manner possible.

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      (2) To develop and approve a strategic plan implementing broad goals and objectives for

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higher education in the state as established by the board of education, including a comprehensive

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capital development program.

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      (3) To formulate broad policy to implement the goals and objectives established and

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adopted by the board of education, to adopt standards and require enforcement and to exercise

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general supervision over all higher public education in the state and over independent higher

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education in the state as provided in subdivision (8) and (9) of this section. The board of

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education and the council shall not engage in the operation or administration of any subordinate

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committee, university, junior college, or community college, except its own office of

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postsecondary education and except as specifically authorized by an act of the general assembly;

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provided, the presidents of each institution of higher learning shall be the chief administrative and

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executive officers of that institution; and provided that nothing contained in this section shall

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prohibit their direct access to or interfere with the relationship between the presidents and the

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board of education and the council.

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      (4) To communicate with and seek the advice of the commissioner of postsecondary

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education, the presidents of the public higher education institutions and all those concerned with

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and affected by its determinations as a regular procedure in arriving at its conclusions and in

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setting its policy.

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      (5) To prepare and maintain a five (5) year funding plan for higher education that

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implements the strategic financing recommendations of the board of education; to prepare with

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the assistance of the commissioner of postsecondary education and to present annually to the state

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budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 a state higher education budget, which shall include,

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but not be limited to, the budget of the office of postsecondary education and the budget of the

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state colleges. In the preparation of the budget, the council shall implement priorities established

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by the board of education of expenditures for public higher education purposes of state revenues

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and other public resources made available for the support of higher public education. Prior to

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submitting the budget to the state budget officer as required by the budget office instructions and

 

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this subsection, the council shall present the budget to the board of education for its review and

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approval. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall authorize the council to alter the allocation

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of grants or aid otherwise provided by law.

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      (6) To maintain an office of postsecondary commissioner; to provide for its staffing and

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organization; and to manage and oversee a commissioner of postsecondary education pursuant to

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duties and responsibilities defined in § 16-59-6 and § 16-59-7. The commissioner of

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postsecondary education and the office of postsecondary commissioner shall have the duties and

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responsibilities as defined in §§ 16-59-6 and 16-59-7.

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      (7) To appoint and dismiss presidents of the public institutions of higher learning with

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the assistance of the commissioner of postsecondary education, and to establish procedures for

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this, and with the assistance of the commissioner to approve or disapprove vice presidents of the

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public institutions of higher learning appointed by the respective presidents of the public

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institutions of higher learning.

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      (8) To establish other educational agencies or subcommittees necessary or desirable for

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the conduct of any or all aspects of higher education and to determine all powers, functions, and

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composition of any agencies or subcommittees and to dissolve them when their purpose shall

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have been fulfilled.

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      (9) To exercise the authority vested in the board of regents for education with relation to

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independent higher educational institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this

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title, and other laws affecting independent higher education in the state.

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      (10) To enforce the provisions of all laws relating to higher education, public and

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independent.

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      (11) To be responsible for all the functions, powers, and duties which were vested in the

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board of regents for education relating to higher education, including but not limited to the

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following specific functions:

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      (i) To approve the role and scope of programs at public institutions of higher learning

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with the assistance of the commissioner of postsecondary education which shall include but not

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be limited to populations to be served, the type and level of programs and academic fields

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offered.

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      (ii) To adopt and require standard accounting procedures for the office of postsecondary

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commissioner and all public colleges and universities.

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      (iii) To approve a clear and definitive mission for each public institution of higher

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learning with the assistance of the commissioner of postsecondary education that is consistent

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with the role and scope of programs at the public institutions.

 

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      (iv) To promote maximum efficiency, economy, and cooperation in the delivery of

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public higher educational services in the state and cooperation with independent institutions of

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higher education.

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      (12) To incorporate into its own affirmative action reporting process periodic reports

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monitoring specific faculty and staff searches by the chairperson of the search committee to

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include the rationale for granting those interviews and the final hiring results. The institutions

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must empower their affirmative action officer to monitor searches in this manner, to intervene

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during the search, and, when necessary, to cause a search to cease if affirmative action goals are

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not being adequately served.

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      (13) To incorporate a specific category for accountability on affirmative action goals and

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implementation as part of the board's annual evaluations and three (3) year reviews for the

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presidents of each of the public institutions of higher education.

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      (14) To make a formal request of the governor that whenever an opportunity arises to

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make new appointments to the board, that the governor make every effort to increase the number

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of African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, and Hispanics on the board.

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      (15) To develop coherent plans for the elimination of unnecessary duplication in public

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higher education and addressing the future needs of public education within the state in the most

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efficient and economical manner possible.

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      (16) To delegate to the presidents of each public higher education institution the

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authority and responsibility for operational and management decisions related to their institutions,

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consistent with the goals of the statewide strategic plan for postsecondary education provided

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however that the presidents may be required to provide information or updates to the council

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regarding any delegated operational or management decisions.

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     (17) To approve application and renewal fees for all postsecondary institutions situated in

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Rhode Island, public or private, which choose to participate in an interstate postsecondary

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distance education reciprocity agreement.

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     (18) To the extent necessary for participation and to the extent required and stated in an

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interstate distance learning reciprocity agreement, the council shall promulgate procedures to

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address complaints received from out-of-state students in connection with or related to any public

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Rhode Island postsecondary institution that has been approved to participate in an interstate

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distance learning reciprocity agreement. Student complaints regarding Rhode Island private

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institutions shall be addressed through the complaint process established with the office of the

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attorney general.

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     16-59-6. Commissioner of postsecondary education. -- The council on postsecondary

 

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education, with approval of the board, shall appoint a commissioner of postsecondary education,

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who shall serve at the pleasure of the council, provided that his or her initial engagement by the

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council shall be for a period of not more than three (3) years. For the purpose of appointing,

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retaining, or dismissing a commissioner of postsecondary education, the governor shall serve as

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an additional voting member of the council. The position of commissioner shall be in the

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unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve as the chief executive officer of the

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council on postsecondary education and as the chief administrative officer of the office of

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postsecondary commissioner. The commissioner of postsecondary education shall have any

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duties that are defined in this section and in this title and other additional duties as may be

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determined by the council, and shall perform any other duties as may be vested in him or her by

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law. In addition to these duties and general supervision of the office of postsecondary

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commissioner and the appointment of the several officers and employees of the office, it shall be

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the duty of the commissioner of postsecondary education:

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      (1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering,

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processing, and analysis addressed to every aspect of higher education in the state, especially as

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that information relates to current and future educational needs.

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      (2) To prepare a strategic plan for higher education in the state aligned with the goals of

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the board of education's strategic plan; to coordinate the goals and objectives of the higher public

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education sector with the goals of the council on elementary and secondary education, and

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activities of the independent higher education sector where feasible.

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      (3) To communicate with and seek the advice of those concerned with and affected by

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the board of education's and council's determinations.

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      (4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by

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the board of education and council on postsecondary education; to promote better coordination

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between higher public education in the state, independent higher education in the state as

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provided in subdivision (10) of this section and pre k-12 education; to assist in the preparation of

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the budget for public higher education and to be responsible upon direction of the council for the

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allocation of appropriations, the acquisition, holding, disposition of property.

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      (5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various higher educational functions of

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the state so that maximum efficiency and economy can be achieved.

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      (6) To assist the board of education in preparation and maintenance of a five (5) year

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strategic funding plan for higher education; to assist the council in the preparation and

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presentation annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 of a total public

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higher educational budget.

 

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      (7) To recommend to the council on postsecondary education after consultation with the

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presidents, a clear and definitive mission for each public institution of higher learning.

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      (8) To annually recommend to the council on postsecondary education after consultation

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with the presidents, the creation, abolition, retention, or consolidation of departments, divisions,

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programs, and courses of study within the public colleges and universities to eliminate

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unnecessary duplication in public higher education, to address the future needs of public higher

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education in the state, and to advance proposals recommended by the presidents of the public

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colleges and universities pursuant to §§ 16-32-2.1, 16-33-2.1 and 16-33.1-2.1 of the general laws.

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      (9) To supervise the operations of the office of postsecondary commissioner and any

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other additional duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the council.

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      (10) To perform the duties vested in the council with relation to independent higher

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educational institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this title and any other

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laws that affect independent higher education in the state.

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      (11) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the

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council on postsecondary education with relation to the entire field of higher education within the

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state, not specifically granted to any other department, board, or agency and not incompatible

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with law.

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      (12) To prepare standard accounting procedures for public higher education and all

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public colleges and universities.

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      (13) To carry out the policies and directives of the board of education and the council on

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postsecondary education through the office of postsecondary commissioner and through

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utilization of the resources of the public institutions of higher learning.

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     (14) To enter into interstate reciprocity agreements regarding the provision of

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postsecondary distance education, to administer such agreements, and to approve or disapprove

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applications to voluntarily participate in such agreements from postsecondary institutions that

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have their principal place of business in Rhode Island, and to establish annual fees with the

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approval of the council on postsecondary education for aforesaid applications to participate in an

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interstate postsecondary distance education reciprocity agreement.

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     (16) To the extent necessary for participation and to the extent required and stated in any

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distance learning reciprocity agreement, to implement procedures to address complaints received

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from out-of-state students in connection with or related to any public Rhode Island postsecondary

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institution that has been approved to participate in said reciprocity agreement.

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     16-59-11. Investigative powers of board. -- The board of governors council on

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postsecondary education shall have power to investigate all transactions and matters relating to

 

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higher public education in the state, including those required pursuant to an interstate distance

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learning reciprocity agreement, and to summon witnesses, administer oaths, and to require

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testimony and the production of records in like manner and to the same extent as a court of law.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - DISTANCE LEARNING

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     This act would establish regulations and standards for distance learning educational

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programs.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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