Sponsored by:
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Ruiz and Beck
SYNOPSIS
Requires four-year institutions of higher education to offer accelerated three-year baccalaureate degree programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As 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, by the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year, 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, 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; and
(6) provide a student with overall cost savings in attaining the degree as compared to completing the degree program in four years.
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.
2. The State shall reimburse a four-year institution of higher education for the costs of tuition and housing for the summer terms for students who participate in a three-year baccalaureate degree program.
3. 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, 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; and
(6) provide a student with overall cost savings in attaining the degree as compared to completing the degree program in four years.
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 that the State will reimburse a four-year institution of higher education for the costs of tuition and housing for the summer terms for students who participate in a three-year baccalaureate degree program.
Four-year institutions of higher education will be required to begin offering three-year degree programs by the beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year.