Article I. Purpose
There is need for a board composed of educators and public representatives
to assist the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education in making
institutional accreditation and reaccreditation determinations for
degree-granting institutions in New York State that seek accreditation by
the Board of Regents and the Commissioner, acting in their capacity as a
nationally recognized accrediting agency. The Regents Advisory Council on
Institutional Accreditation (hereinafter the “Council”) is therefore
established. The Advisory Council will review all applications for
accreditation and reaccreditation that are submitted to it by the Deputy
Commissioner for Higher Education and make recommendations to the Regents
and the Commissioner based on its review. The Council will also serve as
an advisory group on institutional accreditation procedures, standards,
and policies.
Article II. Membership
Section 1.
- The Council shall be composed of a minimum of nine voting
members and one non-voting member. Members of the Council shall not
participate in any decisions in which there is a conflict or the
appearance of a conflict between their duty in the public interest and
their private interests.
- Membership shall include:
- At least seven educators practicing in New York State. Of this number,
at least two shall have experience as senior administrators in
degree-granting institutions; at least two shall have had experience as
full-time faculty members in degree-granting institutions; at least one
shall be a full-time faculty member at the time of appointment.
- At least two public representatives. Members of this group shall
include persons have a community and public-interest organization
experience and who have demonstrated interest in higher education and who
are not affiliated with a degree-granting institution in New York State as
an employee or unpaid officer.
- The Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education, ex officio, who shall
be a non-voting member.
Section 2.
The Commissioner shall appoint members to serve on the Council.
Section 3.
The responsibility of the appointed members shall be to serve
the purpose of the Council set forth in Article I.
Section 4.
- Terms of the initial voting members of the Council shall be
arranged so that the terms of three members will expire on June 30, 2001,
the terms of three members will expire on June 30, 2002, and the terms of
the three remaining members will expire on June 30, 2003. Thereafter,
members shall be appointed to serve a regular term of three years each.
- Members shall serve no more than two terms in succession, except that
a member may serve a succeeding third term if at least one of the
preceding two terms was less than 18 months in duration. Members may again
serve two terms in succession after a gap in service of at least three
years.
Section 5.
It shall be the duty of the Council to prescribe and implement
attendance policies for the membership. Timely accomplishment of the
Council's work shall underlie such policies.
Article III, Governance
Section 1.
The Commissioner shall appoint a chair and vice chair from the
membership who shall serve terms of three years, except for the initial
chair and vice chair who will serve from May 19, 2000, through June 30,
2001. Thereafter, the terms shall commence on July 1 and end on June 30 of
the third year following.
Section 2.
The chair or, in his/her absence or incapacity, the vice-chair
shall:
- Preside at meetings of the Council;
- Be responsible for the preparation of each meeting agenda in
consultation with the Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education;
- Serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member on such standing or ad hoc
committees or subcommittees as the Council or Commissioner may establish;
- Recognize individuals and representatives of constituent groups from
whom the Council seeks to solicit information;
- Establish, with the concurrence of the Commissioner, provisions for
considering written statements from individuals who have requested
permission to present them with respect to specific upcoming applications
for accreditation and reaccreditation; and
- Provide for the preparation of an annual report of Council activities to
the Board of Regents.
Section 3.
Periodically, the Council shall report its accreditation and
reaccreditation recommendations to the Board of Regents through the
Commissioner of Education. It also shall make an annual report to the
Board of Regents which will both summarize the actions of the Council and
include any recommendations the Council may, following self-study, choose
to make on its procedures or on the institutional accreditation processes
and standards.
Section 4.
The Chair shall appoint ad hoc committees to review individual
applications for institutional accreditation or reaccreditation. These
committees normally shall consist of two voting members, neither of whom
shall have a conflict of interest, as provided in Section 1a of Article II
of these bylaws. The task of these committee members is to be primary
readers of the application. Each committee shall make a recommendation to
the full Council for its discussion and recommendation. The chair also
shall appoint annually an ad hoc committee to review procedures and
policies related to the Council's responsibilities and operation and make
recommendations to the Council. The work of this committee may form a
basis for the Council's annual report to the Board of Regents.
Article IV. Meetings
Section 1.
The Council shall meet twice a year for one or two consecutive
days, to be determined by the Department. The chair may also call
additional meetings for good cause.
Section 2.
The Council shall make decisions regarding recommendations to
the Board of Regents by a majority vote of its voting membership. The
chair or vice chair has full voting power on all decisions by the Council.
A record of dissenting votes and comments will be placed in the Council
minutes. In exceptional circumstances the chair may permit members to vote
in absentia under conditions he or she shall prescribe. The chair shall
decide on requests for permission to vote in absentia consistently and
shall not grant or deny permission arbitrarily.
Section 3.
Meetings shall contain the following elements: call to order;
determination of a quorum, approval of minutes of the preceding meeting,
items of information, action items, discussion items, items for inclusion
in future meeting agendas, and adjournment.
Section 4.
A majority of the full voting membership of the Council
constitutes a quorum.
Article V. Duties of Staff
Section 1.
Staff shall:
- Keep minutes of all full Council meetings;
- Transmit copies of minutes to all Council members at least seven days in
advance of the next Council meeting;
- Transmit copies of Council-approved minutes to the Deputy Commissioner
for Higher Education;
- Send agenda materials to Council members sufficiently in advance of each
meeting;
- Have copies of Council agenda materials available at the time of Council
meetings; and
- Provide materials needed for review of proposed accreditations and
reaccreditations as determined by the chair. These materials may include
the institutional self-study, reports of external reviews, and staff
recommendations.
Article VI. Expectations of Members
Section 1.
Council members are expected to attend all scheduled meetings.
With prior notification and for valid reasons, the chair may excuse
members. Two unexcused absences from scheduled meetings within a 12-month
period are grounds for removal of the member from the Council.
Section 2.
Council members are expected to prepare thoroughly for each
meeting by reading and reacting to supporting documents, as provided.
Section 3.
Council members are expected to work in a collaborative fashion
with each other, the Board of Regents, and Education Department staff.
Council members are expected to express views and opinions or concerns
openly and constructively.
Section 4.
Council members are expected to apply consistently and
evenhandedly the institutional accreditation standards set forth in the
Education Law and other New York State statutes, the Rules of the Board of
Regents, the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, and policies
applicable in New York State to degree-granting institutions and relevant
to the U.S. Secretary of Education's criteria for national recognition as
an accrediting agency.
Article VII. Amendments
Section 1.
Any member of the Council may submit a proposed amendment to
these bylaws. A written, full, and complete text of the proposed amendment
shall be provided to the membership at least one month prior to the
meeting at which the amendment is to be considered. Approval of the
amendment shall be by two-thirds vote of the full voting membership.
Amendments shall become effective upon approval by the Commissioner.
Article VIII. Approval of Bylaws
Section 1.
These bylaws shall take effect upon adoption by a two-thirds
vote of the voting membership and approval by the Commissioner.
Adopted by the Council: May 19, 2000
Amended: October 13, 2000 and October 26, 2001
Approved by the Commissioner:
Richard P. Mills
