Bill Text: MN SF565 | 2011-2012 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Graduate education in for-profit sector office of higher education study requirement
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-03 - Referred to Higher Education [SF565 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2011-SF565-Introduced.html
1.2relating to higher education; requiring a study of graduate education.
1.3BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.4 Section 1. STUDY OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN FOR-PROFIT SECTOR.
1.5The Minnesota Office of Higher Education must study graduate education in the
1.6for-profit institutions that offer graduate education to Minnesota students. The study
1.7must examine the rights and responsibilities of graduate students attending for-profit
1.8institutions. At a minimum, the study must include an analysis of contractual arrangements
1.9with graduate students, fulfillment of these contracts by all parties, protection of graduate
1.10students' intellectual property rights, communication of well-defined expectations
1.11for completion of graduation requirements, provision of adequate notice of changing
1.12expectations for completion of graduate degrees, and ease of access by the graduate
1.13student to information on the policies and procedures of the institution. The study must
1.14evaluate the extent to which these institutions provide clear guidelines for graduate studies
1.15on due process, academic freedom of inquiry, and recourse for graduate students if a
1.16potential conflict of interest situation, including access to alternative dispute resolution
1.17systems, and provide examples of effective guidelines and policies. The office must report
1.18on the findings of this study by January 15, 2013, to the committees of the legislature with
1.19responsibility for higher education finance. The report must include recommendations for
1.20any changes to improve graduate education in the for-profit sector.
1.3BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.4 Section 1. STUDY OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN FOR-PROFIT SECTOR.
1.5The Minnesota Office of Higher Education must study graduate education in the
1.6for-profit institutions that offer graduate education to Minnesota students. The study
1.7must examine the rights and responsibilities of graduate students attending for-profit
1.8institutions. At a minimum, the study must include an analysis of contractual arrangements
1.9with graduate students, fulfillment of these contracts by all parties, protection of graduate
1.10students' intellectual property rights, communication of well-defined expectations
1.11for completion of graduation requirements, provision of adequate notice of changing
1.12expectations for completion of graduate degrees, and ease of access by the graduate
1.13student to information on the policies and procedures of the institution. The study must
1.14evaluate the extent to which these institutions provide clear guidelines for graduate studies
1.15on due process, academic freedom of inquiry, and recourse for graduate students if a
1.16potential conflict of interest situation, including access to alternative dispute resolution
1.17systems, and provide examples of effective guidelines and policies. The office must report
1.18on the findings of this study by January 15, 2013, to the committees of the legislature with
1.19responsibility for higher education finance. The report must include recommendations for
1.20any changes to improve graduate education in the for-profit sector.
