New Jersey-2024-A2147-Introduced

An Act concerning degree programs offered by four-year institutions of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 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. A four-year institution of higher education shall offer baccalaureate degree programs that may be completed in three years. The programs shall be offered by the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, or pursuant to a timeline established under the provisions of section 3 of this act. An institution shall offer the three-year degree option in designated majors that the institution, in its discretion, determines are well-suited for an accelerated three-year program. A three-year baccalaureate degree program shall:

(1) establish eligibility criteria for students who wish to participate in the program;

(2) require a student to complete the same number of credits and other academic requirements as are required for the four-year program in that major;

(3) require a student to take courses during the summer for two consecutive summers, except that a student shall be permitted to opt out of this requirement if the student can demonstrate that he is able to meet the degree requirements without taking courses in one or both of the summer sessions;

(4) guarantee a student the availability of courses needed to complete the degree in three years; and

(5) ensure that any internship requirements for the degree program are incorporated into the accelerated three-year framework.

b. A four-year institution of higher education shall offer support resources, such as advising and academic supports, to assist students in the successful completion of an accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree program.

c. A four-year institution of higher education that offers three or fewer undergraduate degree programs shall not be required to offer a three-year degree option pursuant to this act. The Secretary of Higher Education shall take appropriate action to encourage these institutions to implement a three-year baccalaureate degree program in accordance with this act.

d. A four-year institution of higher education that does not operate a summer session shall not be required to offer a three-year degree option pursuant to this act. The Secretary of Higher Education shall take appropriate action to encourage these institutions to implement a three-year baccalaureate degree program in accordance with this act.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, a student who participates in a three-year baccalaureate degree program may utilize financial aid from any State-funded financial aid programs for which the student is eligible, including the Tuition Aid Grant Program and the Educational Opportunity Fund, toward the costs of tuition and housing for the summer sessions.

3. a. By January 1, 2023, a four-year institution of higher education shall submit a written report to the Secretary of Higher Education identifying the majors for which the institution has determined to offer an accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree program. The report shall include information regarding the anticipated financial impact of the three-year programs on the institution.

b. (1) If an institution, based on financial concerns, is not prepared to offer a three-year baccalaureate degree program by the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, the institution's report to the secretary under subsection a. of this section may contain a petition for an extension. An extension petition shall include information demonstrating that launching a three-year degree program by the 2024-2025 academic year would have a significant and cost-prohibitive financial impact on the institution, and that the institution has made a good faith effort to identify majors that are well-suited for a three-year degree program. The extension petition shall also include an implementation plan that comports with the petition for an extension.

(2) Based on the information submitted in an extension petition and on a case by case basis, the secretary shall determine within 90 days of receipt of the petition, whether it is reasonable for the institution to offer a three-year baccalaureate degree program by the 2024-2025 academic year. If the secretary determines that the institution needs more time before offering the program, the secretary shall provide an extension in one-year increments, with a maximum extension of three years.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer accelerated baccalaureate degree programs that students can complete in three years. The bill directs each four-year institution to offer a three-year degree option in designated majors that the institution determines are well-suited for an accelerated three-year program.

Under the bill, a three-year baccalaureate degree program must:

(1) establish eligibility criteria for students who wish to participate;

(2) require a student to complete the same number of credits and other academic requirements as are required for the four-year program in that major;

(3) require a student to take courses during the summer for two consecutive summers, except that a student will be permitted to opt out of this requirement if he can demonstrate that he is able to meet the degree requirements without taking courses in one or both of the summer sessions;

(4) guarantee a student the availability of courses needed to complete the degree in three years; and

(5) ensure that any internship requirements for the degree program are incorporated into the accelerated three-year framework. In addition, a four-year institution of higher education will offer support resources, such as advising and academic supports, to assist students in the successful completion of an accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree program.

The bill provides an exemption from the requirement to offer a three-year degree program for: (1) four-year institutions of higher education that offer three or fewer undergraduate degree programs; and (2) four-year institutions of higher education that do not operate a summer session. The Secretary of Higher Education, however, will take appropriate action to encourage these institutions to implement three-year degree programs.

The bill specifies that a student who participates in a three-year baccalaureate degree program may utilize financial aid from any State-funded financial aid programs for which the student is eligible, including the Tuition Aid Grant Program and the Educational Opportunity Fund, toward the costs of tuition and housing for the summer sessions.

Under the bill, a four-year institution of higher education is required to submit a report to the Secretary of Higher Education by January 1, 2023. The report must identify the majors for which the institution has determined to offer an accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree program and include information regarding the anticipated financial impact of the three-year programs on the institution.

The bill requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer three-year degree programs by the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year. However, if an institution, based on financial concerns, is not prepared to offer a three-year program by that date, the institution's report to the secretary may contain a petition for an extension. An extension petition must include information demonstrating that launching a three-year program by the 2024-2025 academic year would have a significant and cost-prohibitive financial impact on the institution, and that the institution has made a good faith effort to identify majors that are well-suited for a three-year degree program. The extension petition will also include an implementation plan that comports with the petition for an extension. Based on the submitted information, the secretary within 90 days will determine, on a case by case basis, whether it is reasonable for the institution to offer a three-year degree program by the 2024-2025 academic year. If the secretary determines that the institution needs more time, the secretary will provide an extension in one-year increments with a maximum extension of three years.