New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A3969

Introduced
3/4/24  

Caption

Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.

Impact

If enacted, A3969 would significantly impact the operational landscape for proprietary schools in New Jersey. Schools that are unable to meet the stipulated graduation rate thresholds risk losing their ability to award academic degrees, which could affect their student enrollment and financial stability. This could lead to a reevaluation within the proprietary education sector, prompting schools to enhance their support systems and educational practices in order to improve student outcomes. Overall, this bill aims to encourage better educational performance at these institutions.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3969 is a legislative proposal that aims to ensure educational quality by imposing strict graduation rate requirements on proprietary schools in New Jersey. Specifically, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Higher Education must revoke the license of any proprietary school that fails to achieve a graduation rate of at least 75 percent for both four-year and two-year degree programs within a specified timeframe. The measure is intended to improve accountability and promote higher standards in for-profit educational institutions, addressing concerns about the quality of education provided by such schools.

Contention

While the bill has the potential to improve student success rates, there are notable points of contention among stakeholders. Critics argue that the rigid graduation rate requirements may disproportionately affect certain demographics of students who may require more support to complete their degrees, particularly non-traditional learners or those balancing work and studies. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the feasibility and implications of enforcing such a law, including potential unintended consequences that might arise from drastically reducing the number of operational proprietary schools.

Companion Bills

NJ S2618

Same As Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.

NJ S2060

Carry Over Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.

Previously Filed As

NJ S3359

Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.

NJ S3300

Provides that former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability are eligible to receive tuition assistance to attend public institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to confer academic degrees.

NJ A1293

Provides that former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability are eligible to receive tuition assistance to attend public institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to confer academic degrees.

NJ A2119

Requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish standards for assessing and awarding academic credit for prior learning.

NJ S1480

Requires undergraduate students to file degree plan and requires institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions to develop pathway systems to graduation.

NJ S3776

Requires certain institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions to submit certain documentation on online program managers to Secretary of Higher Education.

NJ S2859

Requires online program manager providing marketing services for institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees to self-identify as third party to prospective students.

NJ S3361

Applies provisions of "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" to proprietary schools and limits eligibility for State student assistance programs to students enrolled in certain proprietary schools.

NJ A4888

Establishes provisions for use of applicant and student criminal history at institution of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institution.

NJ A2098

Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions.

Similar Bills

NJ S3359

Directs Secretary of Higher Education to revoke proprietary school's license to award academic degrees if school fails to achieve certain minimum graduation rates.

NJ S3776

Requires certain institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions to submit certain documentation on online program managers to Secretary of Higher Education.

NJ S3361

Applies provisions of "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" to proprietary schools and limits eligibility for State student assistance programs to students enrolled in certain proprietary schools.

NJ S1456

Establishes commission to advise Secretary of Higher Education on student issues of concern.

NJ S1999

Establishes New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission.

NJ S1801

Establishes process to monitor proprietary institution that converts to nonprofit corporation for transactions that constitute private inurement.

NJ A3669

Requires institutions of higher education to distribute information on availability of allowance for dependent care expenses in determination of cost of attendance.

US HB2271

Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act