PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1340

PRINTER'S NO.  1788

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE BILL

 

No.

1133

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY D. WHITE, ALLOWAY, GREENLEAF, MENSCH AND DINNIMAN, JUNE 14, 2011

  

  

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER 15, 2011   

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

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act relating to the public school system, including certain

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provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

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schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

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laws relating thereto," in State System of Higher Education,

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further providing for purposes and general powers.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 2003-A(a) of the act of March 10, 1949

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(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,

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amended July 11, 1990 (P.L.424, No.103), is amended and the

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section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

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Section 2003-A.  Purposes and General Powers.--(a)  The State

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System of Higher Education shall be part of the Commonwealth's

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system of higher education. Its purpose shall be to provide high

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quality education at the lowest possible cost to the students.

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The primary mission of the system is the provision of

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instruction for undergraduate and graduate students to and

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beyond the master's degree in the liberal arts and sciences and

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in applied fields, including the teaching profession. [Graduate

 


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instruction at the doctoral level, except for doctoral programs

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provided for in the act of December 16, 1965 (P.L.1113, No.430),

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known as the "Indiana University of Pennsylvania Act," only may

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be offered jointly with Indiana University or an institution

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chartered to offer work at the doctoral level.] Programs of

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research and service may be provided which are approved by the

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Board of Governors, and which are consistent with the primary

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mission of the system. Each institution shall provide

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appropriate educational facilities, student living facilities

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and such other facilities as deemed necessary by the board.

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(a.1)  Schools Institutions may give graduate instruction at 

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the doctoral level in accordance with the following:

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(1)  Notwithstanding the authority granted to Indiana

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University of Pennsylvania as provided in the "Indiana

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University of Pennsylvania Act," all institutions of the system 

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each institution shall have the authority to provide graduate

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instruction at the doctoral level in areas of study leading to

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professional doctoral degrees, which are also known as applied

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doctoral degrees. Only Indiana University of Pennsylvania shall

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have the authority to offer a doctor of philosophy degree.

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(2)  All professional doctoral degree programs must be

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approved by the board prior to being offered by an institution.

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Institutions Each institution offering professional doctoral

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degrees shall comply with all criteria established by the board

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and satisfy all requirements deemed necessary by the board. The

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criteria shall include:

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(i)  Institutional mission, plan and readiness.

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(ii)  Need for the program.

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(iii)  Academic integrity.

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(iv)  Cooperation with other institutions, agencies or

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organizations.

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(v)  Assessment and accreditation.

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(vi)  Resource sufficiency.

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(vii)  Educational opportunity.

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* * *

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Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

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