Arizona 2025 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1504 Compare Versions

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1		-	~~Senate Engrossed~~ community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025 ~~SENATE BILL~~ 1504 An Act amending section 15-1444.01, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to community college districts. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
	1	+	REFERENCE TITLE: community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025 SB 1504 Introduced by Senator Farnsworth An Act amending section 15-1444.01, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to community college districts. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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9		-	~~Senate Engrossed~~ community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports
	9	+	REFERENCE TITLE: community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports
10	10		State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session 2025
11		-	SENATE BILL 1504
	11	+	SB 1504
	12	+	Introduced by Senator Farnsworth
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13		-	Senate Engrossed
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17		-	community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports
	14	+	REFERENCE TITLE: community colleges; baccalaureate degrees; reports
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27	24		State of Arizona
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31	28		Fifty-seventh Legislature
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33	30		First Regular Session
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43		-	SENATE BILL 1504
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	44	+	Introduced by
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53	64		An Act
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57	68		amending section 15-1444.01, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to community college districts.
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63	74		(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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67	78		Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Heading change The article heading of title 15, chapter 12, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES" to "ANNUAL REPORT". Sec. 2. Section 15-1444.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: START_STATUTE15-1444.01. Baccalaureate degree programs; notice; reporting requirements; definitions A. Each community college that offers a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17 must meet both of the following: 1. All applicable regional accreditation requirements. 2. All applicable state licensure requirements. B. When determining whether to offer a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17, the district board shall make its determination based on all of the following criteria: 1. Whether the community college can demonstrate both: (a) Workforce need for the baccalaureate degree program in the region served by the community college. (b) Student demand for the baccalaureate degree program. 2. A financial analysis that shows the short-term and long-term impacts to initiate and sustain the baccalaureate degree program, including all of the following: (a) The source of monies. (b) Facilities requirements. (c) Faculty. (d) Personnel. (e) Administrative costs. 3. Whether the baccalaureate degree program would unnecessarily duplicate the degree programs offered by other institutions of higher education in this state. 4. The ability of the community college to support the baccalaureate degree program with student enrollment and the adequacy of the community college's facilities, faculty, administration, libraries and other resources. C. A community college that is within a community college district located in the same county as the main campus of any public university and that is developing a baccalaureate degree program shall notify the public university whose main campus is located in the same county as the community college district at least sixty days before submitting the report prescribed in subsection D of this section to the district board. Within thirty days after the date the community college submits the notice, the public university may provide a written response to the district board for its review. This subsection does not allow a public university to prevent a community college from offering a baccalaureate degree program. D. Before the district board authorizes a community college to offer a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17, the community college must submit a report to the district board that includes all of the following information: 1. The name of the proposed academic degree program. 2. The academic department that will offer the proposed degree program. 3. Whether the instructional modality would be immersion or online, or both. 4. The total credit hours necessary to complete the degree program. 5. The proposed inception term. 6. A brief description of the proposed degree program. 7. A learning outcomes and assessment plan, including: (a) Concepts. (b) Competencies. (c) Assessment methods and measures. 8. The projected enrollment by year for the first three years the degree program is offered. 9. Evidence of market demand for the proposed degree program. 10. Similar degree programs offered at other institutions of higher education in this state. 11. The new resources required, including a long-term plan for faculty recruitment that indicates the ability to pay the increased salaries of doctoral faculty and identifies recruitment strategies for new faculty. 12. Any written responses provided by a public university pursuant to subsection C of this section. E. Each community college that offers a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17 shall submit a report to the joint legislative audit committee on or before October 1 of the fifth year after initially offering that baccalaureate degree program. The report shall review the first five years of the baccalaureate degree program at the community college and shall include all of the following: 1. The number of: (a) All baccalaureate degree programs implemented at the community college. (b) Applicants to each baccalaureate degree program. (c) Persons who are admitted into each baccalaureate degree program. (d) Persons who are enrolled in each baccalaureate degree program. (e) Persons who received degrees from each baccalaureate degree program. 2. The costs of each baccalaureate degree program, including cost per degree and the funding sources that were used to finance each degree program. 3. Current trends in workforce demands that require four-year degrees in each specific baccalaureate degree program offered. 4. Current completion and continuation rates, if available, for each cohort of students participating in each baccalaureate degree program. 5. Information on the impact of each baccalaureate degree program on underserved and underprepared students. 6. The extent to which each baccalaureate degree program fulfills identified workforce needs for new baccalaureate degree programs. 7. Information on the places of employment of students and the subsequent job placement of graduates of each baccalaureate degree program. 8. For each baccalaureate degree program, the costs to students, the amount of financial aid offered and the student debt levels of graduates. 9. Time-to-degree rates and completion rates for each baccalaureate degree program. F. Each community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program shall include all of the following in its annual report required by section 15-1427: 1. The total number of students pursuing a baccalaureate degree at the community college district pursuant to this section, disaggregated by baccalaureate degree program. 2. The projected enrollment for each baccalaureate degree program. 2. 3. The total number of baccalaureate degrees completed at the community college district, disaggregated by baccalaureate degree program. 3. 4. Workforce data showing demand for the baccalaureate degree programs offered at the community college district. 4. 5. The average cost of tuition per credit hour for the baccalaureate degrees offered at the community college district. G. For the purposes of this section: 1. "Main campus" means the central location of the public university's library system and computer center. 2. "Public university" means a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. END_STATUTE
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69	80		Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
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71	82		Section 1. Heading change
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73	84		The article heading of title 15, chapter 12, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES" to "ANNUAL REPORT".
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75	86		Sec. 2. Section 15-1444.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
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77	88		START_STATUTE15-1444.01. Baccalaureate degree programs; notice; reporting requirements; definitions
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79	90		A. Each community college that offers a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17 must meet both of the following:
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81	92		1. All applicable regional accreditation requirements.
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83	94		2. All applicable state licensure requirements.
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85	96		B. When determining whether to offer a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17, the district board shall make its determination based on all of the following criteria:
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87	98		1. Whether the community college can demonstrate both:
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89	100		(a) Workforce need for the baccalaureate degree program in the region served by the community college.
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91	102		(b) Student demand for the baccalaureate degree program.
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93	104		2. A financial analysis that shows the short-term and long-term impacts to initiate and sustain the baccalaureate degree program, including all of the following:
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95	106		(a) The source of monies.
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97	108		(b) Facilities requirements.
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99	110		(c) Faculty.
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101	112		(d) Personnel.
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103	114		(e) Administrative costs.
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105	116		3. Whether the baccalaureate degree program would unnecessarily duplicate the degree programs offered by other institutions of higher education in this state.
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107	118		4. The ability of the community college to support the baccalaureate degree program with student enrollment and the adequacy of the community college's facilities, faculty, administration, libraries and other resources.
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109	120		C. A community college that is within a community college district located in the same county as the main campus of any public university and that is developing a baccalaureate degree program shall notify the public university whose main campus is located in the same county as the community college district at least sixty days before submitting the report prescribed in subsection D of this section to the district board. Within thirty days after the date the community college submits the notice, the public university may provide a written response to the district board for its review. This subsection does not allow a public university to prevent a community college from offering a baccalaureate degree program.
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111	122		D. Before the district board authorizes a community college to offer a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17, the community college must submit a report to the district board that includes all of the following information:
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113	124		1. The name of the proposed academic degree program.
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115	126		2. The academic department that will offer the proposed degree program.
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117	128		3. Whether the instructional modality would be immersion or online, or both.
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119	130		4. The total credit hours necessary to complete the degree program.
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121	132		5. The proposed inception term.
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123	134		6. A brief description of the proposed degree program.
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125	136		7. A learning outcomes and assessment plan, including:
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127	138		(a) Concepts.
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129	140		(b) Competencies.
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131	142		(c) Assessment methods and measures.
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133	144		8. The projected enrollment by year for the first three years the degree program is offered.
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135	146		9. Evidence of market demand for the proposed degree program.
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137	148		10. Similar degree programs offered at other institutions of higher education in this state.
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139	150		11. The new resources required, including a long-term plan for faculty recruitment that indicates the ability to pay the increased salaries of doctoral faculty and identifies recruitment strategies for new faculty.
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141	152		12. Any written responses provided by a public university pursuant to subsection C of this section.
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143	154		E. Each community college that offers a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to section 15-1444, subsection B, paragraph 16 or 17 shall submit a report to the joint legislative audit committee on or before October 1 of the fifth year after initially offering that baccalaureate degree program. The report shall review the first five years of the baccalaureate degree program at the community college and shall include all of the following:
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145	156		1. The number of:
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147	158		(a) All baccalaureate degree programs implemented at the community college.
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149	160		(b) Applicants to each baccalaureate degree program.
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151	162		(c) Persons who are admitted into each baccalaureate degree program.
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153	164		(d) Persons who are enrolled in each baccalaureate degree program.
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155	166		(e) Persons who received degrees from each baccalaureate degree program.
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157	168		2. The costs of each baccalaureate degree program, including cost per degree and the funding sources that were used to finance each degree program.
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159	170		3. Current trends in workforce demands that require four-year degrees in each specific baccalaureate degree program offered.
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161	172		4. Current completion and continuation rates, if available, for each cohort of students participating in each baccalaureate degree program.
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163	174		5. Information on the impact of each baccalaureate degree program on underserved and underprepared students.
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165	176		6. The extent to which each baccalaureate degree program fulfills identified workforce needs for new baccalaureate degree programs.
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167	178		7. Information on the places of employment of students and the subsequent job placement of graduates of each baccalaureate degree program.
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169	180		8. For each baccalaureate degree program, the costs to students, the amount of financial aid offered and the student debt levels of graduates.
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171	182		9. Time-to-degree rates and completion rates for each baccalaureate degree program.
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173	184		F. Each community college district that offers a baccalaureate degree program shall include all of the following in its annual report required by section 15-1427:
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175	186		1. The total number of students pursuing a baccalaureate degree at the community college district pursuant to this section, disaggregated by baccalaureate degree program.
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177	188		2. The projected enrollment for each baccalaureate degree program.
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179	190		2. 3. The total number of baccalaureate degrees completed at the community college district, disaggregated by baccalaureate degree program.
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181	192		3. 4. Workforce data showing demand for the baccalaureate degree programs offered at the community college district.
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183	194		4. 5. The average cost of tuition per credit hour for the baccalaureate degrees offered at the community college district.
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185	196		G. For the purposes of this section:
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187	198		1. "Main campus" means the central location of the public university's library system and computer center.
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189	200		2. "Public university" means a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. END_STATUTE