Good morning MACRAO membership-
Below are legislative updates since our last post. This post includes progress on Missouri legislation and some national articles that we thought may be of interest to the membership:
Missouri Legislative Updates
HB 1518 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1518&year=2024&code=R)
Sponsor: Brad Hudson (R)
Synopsis: Prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against a religious student association or denying a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association.
Status: Has passed in the House and have moved to the Senate for consideration
SCR 22 907 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=906046)
Sponsor: Jill Carter (R)
Synopsis: This act adds health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences to the mission of Missouri Southern State University.
Status: Has passed in the Senate and have moved to the House for consideration
SB 749 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=37)
Sponsor: Lincoln Hough (R)
Synopsis: This bill repeals provision restrictions related to the authority to confer research doctorates and first-professional degrees, and degrees in podiatry and chiropractic and osteopathic medicine.
Status: Voted Do Pass by the Senate Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children Committee; would next move to the full Senate for consideration
SB 1075 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=268)
Sponsor: Andrew Koenig (R)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions of the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act. Would require the transition of Core 42 to a 60 credit hour. Would require all 60 credits to receive academic credit towards their specific degree program with the additional credits generally intended to be entry-level major requirements. Would be required to chart a minimum of five programs of study (different versions) by the 2027-2028 academic year.
Status: Voted Do Pass by the Senate Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children Committee; would next move to the full Senate for consideration
Additional Legislative Articles of Interest
Midwest Higher Education Compact News-Update on Distance Education Regulations
The following update related to distance education reciprocity was provided in the March 2024 edition of the Midwest Higher Education Compact News.
Many of you in states and at institutions in our region have reached out to us regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s 2023-24 negotiated rulemaking and its impact on distance education. We have been closely following these developments along with the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and our sister compacts. Because the committee did not reach a consensus, the Department can now propose and ultimately approve their own language, although the proposed regulatory changes will still be subject to public comment. The earliest that the changes will take effect is July 2025. We are working on the development of a Midwestern response. For more information, please see NC-SARA's website (Call to Action page) for the latest status updates on the process.
Inside Higher Ed: Biden Administration wants Accreditors to Set Benchmarks for Student Outcomes
