NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8346A
SPONSOR: Fahy TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing experien-
tial learning opportunities in the state university of New York and the
city university of New York
PURPOSE:
Direct the state university of New York board of trustees and the city
university of New York board of trustees to develop a plan relating to
experiential learning opportunities for students.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 directs the state university of New York board of trustees to
develop a plan by June 1, 2025 to be made available to students enrolled
in the academic year 2025-2026 that defines approved experiential learn-
ing activities and considers the feasibility of implementing an exper-
iential learning degree requirement.
Section 2 directs the city university of New York board of trustees to
develop a plan by June 1, 2025 to be made available to students enrolled
in the academic year 2025-2026 that defines approved experiential learn-
ing activities and considers the feasibility of implementing an exper-
iential learning degree requirement.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Experiential learning encompasses service-learning activities, paid or
unpaid internships, research projects, and other programs that allow
students to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom. By building
work experience and connections, experiential learning helps students
obtain job opportunities in New York State after college - according to
research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE),
72% of paid interns receive return offers for full-time employment.
Expanding these opportunities would help retain more of the state's
college graduates, bolstering the economy and alleviating workforce
shortages.
Despite the proven benefits of experiential learning, not all students
have access to these opportunities, and students from disadvantaged
backgrounds are the most likely to miss out. NACE research shows that
students who do not participate in experiential learning are less likely
to have job offers after graduation, thus perpetuating economic inequal-
ity. This legislation is necessary to ensure that all students at the
state university of New York and the city university of New York can
participate in experiential learning, enhancing their education and
preparing them for careers after college.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Unknown.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8346--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 13, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FAHY, TAYLOR, DICKENS, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, LEVENBERG,
SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
-- recommitted to the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with
Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing experien-
tial learning opportunities in the state university of New York and
the city university of New York
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph f-3 to read as follows:
3 f-3. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the
4 state university of New York board of trustees shall, by June first,
5 two thousand twenty-five, develop a plan to make available to students
6 enrolled in an academic program of the state university of New York
7 beginning in the two thousand twenty-five--two thousand twenty-six
8 academic year, approved experiential or applied learning activities, as
9 defined in paragraph f-1 of this subdivision. Such plan shall be devel-
10 oped in consultation with university faculty senate, the faculty council
11 of community colleges, the university student assembly, and other stake-
12 holders. Such plan shall define approved experiential or applied learn-
13 ing activities, methods of faculty oversight and assessment, responsi-
14 bilities of business, corporate, non-profit or other entities hosting
15 students, and include a requirement for collecting and reporting data
16 associated with such experiential or applied learning activities. Such
17 plan shall have each college examine the feasibility of including such
18 experiential or applied learning activities as a degree requirement.
19 Such college shall examine its ability to administer and provide such
20 opportunities to students; the local community's capacity to support
21 such experiential or applied learning activities; the impact such
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13741-02-4
A. 8346--A 2
1 requirement would have on the local workforce, if any; potential for
2 such a requirement to enhance learning outcomes for students; and wheth-
3 er adding such a requirement would cause potential delays in graduation
4 for students.
5 § 2. Section 6206 of the education law is amended by adding a new
6 subdivision 23 to read as follows:
7 23. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the
8 city university of New York board of trustees shall, by June first, two
9 thousand twenty-five, develop a plan to make available to students
10 enrolled in an academic program of the city university of New York
11 beginning in the two thousand twenty-five--two thousand twenty-six
12 academic year, approved experiential or applied learning activities, as
13 defined in subdivision eighteen of this section. Such plan shall be
14 developed in consultation with university faculty senate, the university
15 student senate and other stakeholders. Such plan shall define approved
16 experiential or applied learning activities, methods of faculty over-
17 sight and assessment, responsibilities of business, corporate, non-pro-
18 fit or other entities hosting students, and include a requirement for
19 collecting and reporting data associated with such experiential or
20 applied learning activities. Such plan shall have each college examine
21 the feasibility of including such experiential or applied learning
22 activities as a degree requirement. Such college shall examine its abil-
23 ity to administer and provide such opportunities to students; the local
24 community's capacity to support such experiential or applied learning
25 activities; the impact such requirement would have on the local work-
26 force, if any; potential for such a requirement to enhance learning
27 outcomes for students; and whether adding such a requirement would cause
28 potential delays in graduation for students.
29 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
