DRAFT MINUTES

NYS Proprietary School Advisory Council Meeting

BPSS-NYC, 116 West 32^nd Street, New York, NY

January 30, 2003

Members Present:  Anthony A. Stanziani, Mike Hatten, James Devaney, Vincent Ferrara, Yerachmiel Barash, Cindi Frieder (OSC), Tom Rose for Denis Peterson (DOL), Howard Goldsmith (SED), John Austin (HESC)

Absent:  Arthur Resso, Arlene Pedone, John Torpey, Vel Pillai (DOB), Lisa Harris (CPB)

Call to order at 10:35 AM.

1.                  Anthony reads a note from Art Resso who is in Florida.

2.                  Marge Tierney of VESID provides presentation on newly implemented 80% of tuition policy for proprietary schools.  VESID letter sent to schools and posted on BPSS website.

3.                  Meeting Minutes of November 7, 2002

a.      Amended to reflect Vincent Ferrara’s question of why does curriculum that is approved to be taught in a foreign language need to be submitted to BPSS in that language.

b.      Minutes of November 7, 2002 to reflect AC’s desire to have SED and the Deputy Commissioner act with greater speed in adopting a policy approving the use of clock to credit hour conversions.

Approval of minutes with amendments.  Motion:  Mike Hatten, second:  Jim Devaney.  Passed.

4.                  Old Business

-Howard Goldsmith discusses Section 126.4(c)(10) of the Commissioner’s Regulations and the need to submit curriculum in the language in which it is to be taught.  Vincent Ferrara expresses prohibitive cost in getting program translated.   Further discussion to follow.

-Schools urged to submit their e-mail addresses to BPSS for better communication.

5.         BPSS Update:

The following items were discussed by Howard Goldsmith and the Council:

-BPSS involved with litigation that challenges its authority to reject student  enrollment agreements that schools submitted dealing with “binding arbitration” and other terms.

-OEDS forms on-line for schools to complete.

-Ch. 41 news piece coming out on Spanish language programs in proprietary school sector.

-State budget issues and what it means for BPSS and the sector.

-BPSS updated its web page.

-January 2003 article in Cover Edition Review.

6.         Anthony Stanziani sending letter to Deputy Commissioner Duncan-Poitier urging action on the clock/credit hour conversion policy.  AC is frustrated on lack of development on this issue.  Discussion centers on the need to “light” the political fire on this issue.

Motion:  Organize a sub-committee to discuss strategies to get SED approval for the sector to use clock/credit hour conversions.

Anthony Stanziani, second-Mike Hatten.  Passed.  Jim Devaney and Mike Hatten to chair sub-committee.

7.         AC would like to have an article on the sector included in the next Higher Education Bulletin.  Howard Goldsmith to follow-up.  Mike Hatten to send letter to the Deputy Commissioner.

8.         AC Report to the Legislature.  AC reviews draft submitted by Anthony Stanziani.  Report to be sent to all members electronically for input and edits.

Report writing sub-committee to meet on draft at BPSS-NYC on March 3, 2003.

9.         Electronic Capability issues tabled by Vincent Ferrara until next meeting.

10.       Possible agenda items for the next meeting include discussion on TAP and presentation on ELS schools within the sector.

11.       Questions and Comments from the Audience.

12.       Next Meeting:  TBA

Meeting adjourned at 1:25 PM.