(a) Each institution of higher education and private occupational school in the state shall submit data for the prior academic year to the Office of Higher Education, in a uniform format prescribed by said office, regarding its for-credit sub-baccalaureate programs and the types of for-credit certificates it offers not later than January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, and regarding its noncredit sub-baccalaureate certificate programs and the types of noncredit certificates it offers not later than January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter. Such data shall include, but need not be limited to, the following for each sub-baccalaureate certificate program:

(1) Name and subject matter area of such program;

(2) Total enrollment in such program;

(3) Any entry-level requirements for enrollment in such program;

(4) Number and type of certificates awarded by such program;

(5) Tuition and fees charged for completion of such program in the time period prescribed by such program;

(6) Estimated range of costs relating to the purchase of books and supplies, unless such costs are included as part of the tuition and fees of such institution or school for such program;

(7) Median loan debt incurred by students who complete such program, to the extent such information has been reported to the financial aid office of the institution of higher education or private occupational school offering such program, separately by Title IV loans and other education debt, including private and institutional loans;

(8) Basic demographic information, to the extent available, of the students enrolled in such program, including, but not limited to, gender, age, race and ethnicity;

(9) Percentage of students in each student cohort who completed such program in the time period prescribed by such program;

(10) Whether there is a clear pathway from successful completion of such program to enrollment in a related associate degree program;

(11) Whether such program leads to a credential recognized by the industry for which such program prepares a student;

(12) Whether a student may combine the certificate awarded upon successful completion of such program with any other certificate awarded upon the successful completion of another sub-baccalaureate certificate program in order to achieve a heightened level of qualification for a particular trade or occupation;

(13) Average length of time to complete such program;

(14) Employment rates, to the extent available, for students who have completed such program at six months after completion of such program;

(15) Student cohort pass rate, to the extent available, for national certification programs; and

(16) Student cohort licensure rate, to the extent available, for positions requiring the certificate and state licensure.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall collect for each sub-baccalaureate certificate program offered by an institution of higher education or private occupational school in the state (1) the average starting salary for entry-level positions requiring the certificate, and (2) the average salary for jobs requiring the certificate, based on available Labor Department statistics, for each for-credit program, not later than January 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, and for each noncredit program, not later than January 1, 2019, and annually thereafter.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the Office of Higher Education shall compile the data submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and collected pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for purposes of comparing the sub-baccalaureate certificate programs offered by the institutions of higher education and private occupational schools and determining (1) which programs are similar to other programs, (2) student interest in each program and similar programs, and (3) the necessity of offering each program. Not later than July 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, said office shall make such data available on its Internet web site for the purpose of enabling a student or prospective student to make an informed decision about whether to enroll in a sub-baccalaureate certificate program and, if so, which program is the best fit for such student.

(P.A. 16-44, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 16-44 effective July 1, 2016.