Bill Text: CT SB01084 | 2015 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Certificate Programs At The Regional Community-technical Colleges.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-13 - Public Hearing 03/17 [SB01084 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2015-SB01084-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 1084
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 5135
		*05135_______HED*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT CONCERNING CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS AT THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL COLLEGES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) As used in this section and sections 2 and 3 of this act:

(1) "Institution of higher education" has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-34 of the general statutes; and

(2) "Private occupational school" has the same meaning as provided in section 10a-22a of the general statutes and includes, but is not limited to, hospital-based occupational schools, barber schools and hairdressing schools authorized pursuant to section 10a-22b of the general statutes.

Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2015) The Board of Regents for Higher Education, in collaboration with the Office of Higher Education, shall develop a written definition for all sub-baccalaureate certificates awarded by an institution of higher education or private occupational school in the state for the purpose of creating consistency among the various sub-baccalaureate certificate programs. Not later than January 1, 2016, the president of the Board of Regents for Higher Education shall submit, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, a report containing such written definition to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to higher education.

Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2015) (a) Not later than July 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, each institution of higher education and private occupational school in the state shall provide data for the prior academic year to the Office of Higher Education regarding its sub-baccalaureate certificate programs and the types of sub-baccalaureate certificates it offers in a uniform format developed by said office. Such data shall include, but not be limited to, the following for each sub-baccalaureate certificate program:

(1) Name and subject matter area of such program;

(2) Total enrollment in such program;

(3) Any entry-level requirements for enrollment in such program;

(4) Number and type of certificate awarded by such program;

(5) Whether academic credits are offered as part of such program;

(6) Whether there is a clear pathway from successful completion of such program to enrollment in a related associate degree program;

(7) Whether such program leads to an industry-recognized credential;

(8) Whether a student can combine the certificate awarded upon successful completion of such program with any other certificate awarded upon the successful completion of another sub-baccalaureate certificate program in order to achieve a heightened level of qualification for a particular trade or occupation; and

(9) Average length of time to complete such program.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the Office of Higher Education shall compile such data for purposes of comparing the various types of sub-baccalaureate programs offered by the institutions of higher education and private occupational schools and determining (1) which programs are similar, (2) student interest in each program and similar programs, and (3) the necessity of offering each program. Not later than July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, said office shall make such data available on its Internet web site for the purpose of enabling a student or prospective student to make an informed decision about whether to enroll in a sub-baccalaureate program and, if so, which program is the best fit for such student.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2015	New section
Sec. 2	July 1, 2015	New section
Sec. 3	July 1, 2015	New section

Statement of Purpose:

To require a compilation of data about each sub-baccalaureate program in the state and enable students and prospective students to make an informed decision about whether to enroll in a particular program.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]