Bill Text: NJ A2995 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer bachelor's degree programs that may be completed in three years.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A2995 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A2995-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ADAM J. TALIAFERRO
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer bachelor's degree programs that may be completed in three years.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning higher education degree programs 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. Subject to the requirements of section 2 of this act, a four-year institution of higher education shall offer baccalaureate degree programs that may be completed in three years. 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;
(4) provide a student with free tuition and free housing during the summer, subject to the prior application of other grants and scholarships against those costs, provided that the student has met the program's academic requirements in the preceding semesters;
(5) guarantee a student the availability of courses needed to complete the degree in three years;
(6) provide a student with overall cost savings in attaining the degree as compared to completing the degree program in four years; and
(7) 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 accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree programs by the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, or pursuant to a timeline established under the provisions of section 2 of this act.
c. 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.
d. A four-year institution of higher education that offers three or fewer undergraduate degree programs may, but is not required to, offer a three-year degree option pursuant to this act.
2. a. By January 1, 2021, 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 requirements and costs of each program, and the anticipated financial impact of the three-year programs on the institution.
b. Based on the information submitted by an institution under this section, the secretary shall determine, on a case by case basis, whether it is reasonable for the institution to offer the proposed three-year baccalaureate degree program by the 2023-2024 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.
c. After receiving a decision from the secretary under this section, a four-year institution of higher education shall create a task force to develop a detailed plan for implementing the accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree programs within the specified timeline.
3. a. 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 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.
b. The State shall reimburse a four-year institution of higher education for the costs of tuition and housing that are not otherwise covered by grants and scholarships for the summer sessions for students who participate in a three-year baccalaureate degree program.
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 to be 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;
(4) provide a student with free tuition and free housing during the summer, subject to the prior application of other grants and scholarships against those costs, provided that the student has met the program's academic requirements in the preceding semesters;
(5) guarantee a student the availability of courses needed to complete the degree in three years;
(6) provide a student with overall cost savings in attaining the degree as compared to completing the degree program in four years; and
(7) 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.
Under the bill, a four-year institution of higher education is required to submit a written report to the Secretary of Higher Education by January 1, 2021, which identifies the majors for which the institution has determined to offer an accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree program. The report will include information on the requirements and costs of each program and the anticipated financial impact of the three-year programs on the institution. The bill requires the institutions to offer three-year baccalaureate degree programs by the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year; however, if the secretary determines on a case by case basis that an institution needs more time before offering a three-year program, the secretary will provide an extension in one-year increments, with a maximum extension of three years.
The bill provides that a student who participates in a three-year baccalaureate degree program may utilize financial aid from 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. In addition, the State will reimburse a four-year institution of higher education for the costs of tuition and housing that are not otherwise covered by grants and scholarships for the summer sessions for students who participate in a three-year baccalaureate degree program.
Lastly, the bill provides an exemption from its requirements for four-year institutions of higher education that offer three or fewer undergraduate degree programs. Such institutions may, but are not required to, offer accelerated three-year degree programs.
