§10902. Public policy on higher education

The following shall be the fundamental policies adhered to in the state's public higher educational planning:   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

1.  Recognition.  To recognize higher education as an organized program of instruction, research and service:

A. Primarily concerned with the field of organized knowledge, related theory and associated practice;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

B. Offered by a collegiate institution, not necessarily of 4 years, authorized to award academic degrees; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

C. Administered and systematically pursued on a full-time or part-time basis by persons who have completed secondary school or who demonstrate equivalent competence;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

2.  Principles.  To support the principles that each higher educational institution in the State, public and private:

A. Shall have control over its educational program and related activities, within its board of control;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

B. That its faculty shall enjoy the freedom traditionally accorded to the faculty of higher educational institutions in teaching, research and expression of opinions; and   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

C. That the faculty shall be consulted in the formulation of academic policies pertaining to it;   [PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

3.  Cohesive system.  To develop, maintain and support a structure of public higher education in the State which will assure the most cohesive system possible for planning, action and service in providing higher educational opportunities, to which the highest priority for fiscal support shall be assigned;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

4.  Programs.  To provide in its public higher educational institutions, or through cooperative arrangements with private institutions or institutions outside the State, the programs of study, research or experimentation that its citizens may require;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

5.  Encourage growth.  To encourage the growth and development of existing or new private higher educational institutions within the State where studies justify their continuation or establishment;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

6.  All citizens eligible.  To recognize that all citizens shall be considered eligible for the benefits of appropriate higher education, whether they are high school graduates or the equivalent, or those seeking retraining or training for new careers;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

7.  Public funds.  To assign continually a high priority in the allocation of public funds to the development of services, programs and institutions designed to provide opportunities for those who do not now share equitably in the advantages of higher education, because of limiting economic, social, educational and cultural factors;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

8.  Financial support.  To support financially the programs of public higher educational institutions through appropriations, grants and loans, based on comprehensive plans and budgets, both short-term and long-term;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

9.  Public accountability.  To expect appropriate public accountability for this support;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

10.  Federal funds.  To encourage all institutions, public and private, to make maximum use of federal funds available for the support of higher educational programs and activities, the State to provide matching funds, where necessary, initially and on a continuing basis;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

11.  Cooperative undertakings.  To expect and request cooperative undertakings among the higher educational institutions, public and private, and between them and the business, industrial and labor interests, to further the development of quality and quantity in educational programs and services and the advancement of the state's economy;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

12.  Evaluation and research.  To encourage a continuing program of evaluation and research with respect to higher educational opportunities in the State through financial support and the expectation of annual reporting;

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

13.  Master plan.  To give a high priority to the provisions of the master plan for higher education through legislative action and appropriate publicity;

[PL 1983, c. 97, §1 (AMD).]

14.  Commuter education.  To make the most effective use possible of the financial resources allocated to public higher education by maximum emphasis on commuter facilities.

[PL 1981, c. 693, §§5, 8 (NEW).]

15.  Transfer of credits.  To provide for a uniform system of transferring credits for equivalent courses between the various units of the University of Maine System;

[PL 1985, c. 779, §47 (AMD).]

16.  Uniform course numbering.  To provide for a uniform system of the numbering of courses for equivalent courses between the various units of the University of Maine System;

[PL 1985, c. 779, §48 (AMD).]

17.  Uniform course descriptions.  To provide for a uniform system of course descriptions for equivalent courses between the various units of the University of Maine System;

[PL 1991, c. 407, §2 (AMD).]

18.  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients.  To develop programs with the goal of enabling recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to achieve educational and skill levels that will assist them to compete for employment; and

[PL 1991, c. 407, §3 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 530, Pt. A, §34 (AMD).]

19.  Public school restructuring.  To encourage the public and private postsecondary education institutions in the State to cooperate with the commissioner, the state board and school administrative units to provide appropriate and timely professional development programs and other support services to educators in public schools engaged in school restructuring efforts.

[PL 1991, c. 407, §4 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1981, c. 693, §§5,8 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 97, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 806, §§79,80 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 779, §§47,48 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 402, §A121 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 407, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 530, §A34 (AMD).