§ 16-59-6. Commissioner of postsecondary education.
The council on postsecondary education, with approval of the board, shall appoint
a commissioner of postsecondary education, who shall serve at the pleasure of the
council, provided that his or her initial engagement by the council shall be for a
period of not more than three (3) years. For the purpose of appointing, retaining,
or dismissing a commissioner of postsecondary education, the governor shall serve
as an additional voting member of the council. The position of commissioner shall
be in the unclassified service of the state and he or she shall serve as the chief
executive officer of the council on postsecondary education, the chief administrative
officer of the office of postsecondary commissioner, and the executive director of
the division of higher education assistance. The commissioner of postsecondary education
shall have any duties that are defined in this section and in this title and other
additional duties as may be determined by the council, and shall perform any other
duties as may be vested in him or her by law. In addition to these duties and general
supervision of the office of postsecondary commissioner and the appointment of the
several officers and employees of the office, it shall be the duty of the commissioner
of postsecondary education:
(1) To develop and implement a systematic program of information gathering, processing,
and analysis addressed to every aspect of higher education in the state, especially
as that information relates to current and future educational needs.
(2) To prepare a strategic plan for higher education in the state aligned with the goals
of the board of education's strategic plan; to coordinate the goals and objectives
of the higher public education sector with the goals of the council on elementary
and secondary education and activities of the independent higher education sector
where feasible.
(3) To communicate with, and seek the advice of those concerned with, and affected by
the board of education's and council's determinations.
(4) To implement broad policy as it pertains to the goals and objectives established by
the board of education and council on postsecondary education; to promote better coordination
between higher public education in the state, independent higher education in the
state as provided in subsection (10) of this section, and preK-12 education; to assist
in the preparation of the budget for public higher education; and to be responsible,
upon direction of the council, for the allocation of appropriations, the acquisition,
holding, disposition of property.
(5) To be responsible for the coordination of the various higher educational functions
of the state so that maximum efficiency and economy can be achieved.
(6) To assist the board of education in preparation and maintenance of a five-year (5)
strategic funding plan for higher education; to assist the council in the preparation
and presentation annually to the state budget officer in accordance with § 35-3-4 of a total, public higher educational budget.
(7) To recommend to the council on postsecondary education, after consultation with the
presidents, a clear and definitive mission for each college.
(8) To annually recommend to the council on postsecondary education, after consultation
with the presidents, the creation, abolition, retention, or consolidation of departments,
divisions, programs, and courses of study within the public colleges to eliminate
unnecessary duplication in public higher education, to address the future needs of
public higher education in the state, and to advance proposals recommended by the
presidents of the public colleges pursuant to §§ 16-33-2.1 and 16-33.1-2.1.
(9) To supervise the operations of the office of postsecondary commissioner, including
the division of higher education assistance, and any other additional duties and responsibilities
that may be assigned by the council.
(10) To perform the duties vested in the council with relation to independent higher educational
institutions within the state under the terms of chapter 40 of this title and any
other laws that affect independent higher education in the state.
(11) To be responsible for the administration of policies, rules, and regulations of the
council on postsecondary education with relation to the entire field of higher education
within the state, not specifically granted to any other department, board, or agency
and not incompatible with law.
(12) To prepare standard accounting procedures for public higher education and all public
colleges.
(13) To carry out the policies and directives of the board of education and the council
on postsecondary education through the office of postsecondary commissioner and through
utilization of the resources of the public colleges.
(14) To enter into interstate reciprocity agreements regarding the provision of postsecondary
distance education; to administer such agreements; to approve or disapprove applications
to voluntarily participate in such agreements from postsecondary institutions that
have their principal place of business in Rhode Island; and to establish annual fees,
with the approval of the council on postsecondary education, for aforesaid applications
to participate in an interstate postsecondary distance education reciprocity agreement.
(15) To the extent necessary for participation, and to the extent required and stated in
any distance learning reciprocity agreement, to implement procedures to address complaints
received from out-of-state students in connection with, or related to, any Rhode Island
postsecondary institution, public or private, that has been approved to participate
in said reciprocity agreement.
(16) To oversee the processes that the community college of Rhode Island, Rhode Island
college, and the university of Rhode Island adopt and execute, pursuant to §§ 16-32-2(i) and 16-59-4(25), to accept advanced placement subject test scores of students who obtain a three
(3) or better in any advanced placement course for college credit.
(17) To collect data annually related to awarding college credit to students who receive
test scores of three (3) or higher on advanced placement courses, including, but not
limited to:
(i) The number of students who receive college credit at each public institution of higher
learning for obtaining advanced placement test scores of three (3) or higher;
(ii) The number of college credits issued by the community college of Rhode Island, Rhode
Island college, and the university of Rhode Island due to students' advanced placement
subject test scores of three (3) ("qualified�) or better in any advanced placement
course; and
(iii) Any other relevant data as determined by the commissioner.
(18) To exercise all powers and duties of the division of higher education assistance as
set forth under the terms of chapter 57 of this title.