Bill Text: NJ A330 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires closure of a four-year public institution of higher education that fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A330 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A330-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Requires closure of a four-year public institution of higher education that fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the graduation rates of four-year institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 3B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Except as otherwise provided in subsection b. of this section, if a four-year public institution of higher education fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students by the completion of the first full academic year that occurs six years following the effective date of this act, the Secretary of Higher Education shall develop and implement procedures for the closure of the institution.
b. The secretary shall review the graduation rates of four-year public institutions of higher education at the completion of the fifth full academic year that occurs following the effective date of this act. If the secretary determines that an institution is not on track to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students but is making sufficient progress toward achieving that rate, the secretary at his discretion may allow the institution additional time to achieve the rate before being subject to closure pursuant to this act.
c. The closure procedures developed by the secretary pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall include a timeline for the closure of the institution. The procedures shall also include, but need not be limited to, plans for managing the existing funds, liabilities, and assets of the institution, including the distribution or transfer of fixed tangible assets, real property, buildings, facilities, equipment, and fixtures.
2. a. Except as otherwise provided in subsection b. of this section, the secretary shall recommend to the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that the association revoke the regional accreditation of a four-year independent institution of higher education in New Jersey that fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students by the completion of the first full academic year that occurs six years following the effective date of this act.
b. If, at the completion of the fifth full academic year that occurs following the effective date of this act, a four-year independent institution of higher education in New Jersey is not on track to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students but is making sufficient progress toward achieving that rate, the secretary at his discretion may delay the recommendation that the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools revoke the institution's accreditation until the secretary deems the recommendation to be appropriate.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that if a four-year public institution of higher education fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students by the completion of the first full academic year that occurs six years following the bill's effective date, the Secretary of Higher Education will develop procedures for the closure of the institution. However, if after five years the secretary finds that a four-year public institution of higher education is not on track to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% but is making sufficient progress toward achieving that goal, the secretary at his discretion may allow the institution additional time to achieve the rate before being subject to closure. Under the bill, the closure procedures developed by the secretary will include a timeline for the institution's closure, as well as plans for managing the existing funds, liabilities, and assets of the institution.
In addition, the bill provides that the secretary will recommend to the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools that the association revoke the regional accreditation of a four-year independent institution of higher education in New Jersey that fails to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% for full-time undergraduate students. However, if after five years, a four-year independent institution of higher education is not on track to achieve a six-year graduation rate of at least 50% but is making sufficient progress toward achieving that goal, the secretary at his discretion may delay the recommendation that the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools revoke the institution's accreditation until the secretary deems the recommendation to be appropriate.
