89280-89284
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 89280-89284
89280. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The State of California faces an ever-increasing nursing shortage that jeopardizes the health and well-being of the state's citizens. (b) Colleges and universities need to expand nursing education programs to prepare more nurses to meet the state's growing demand for nurses. An estimated state shortage of 47,600 registered nurses is expected by 2010, and by 2020 the shortage is projected to reach 116,600 according to the Governor's California Nurse Education Initiative Annual Report, September 2006. (c) Well-trained nursing faculty and practitioners are critical to the ability to expand nursing programs. (d) Because of the urgent need to prepare and graduate increased numbers of nurses, it is the intent of the Legislature to establish a pilot program that grants the California State University authority to offer the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, as an exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education. 89281. (a) Notwithstanding Section 66010.4, in order to meet specific nursing education needs in California, the California State University may establish a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program at three campuses chosen by the Board of Trustees to award the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, as described in this section. (b) The authority to award the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is limited to the discipline of nursing practice. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree offered by the California State University through the degree pilot program shall be distinguished from the doctor of philosophy degree offered at, or in conjunction with, the University of California. (c) The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program offered by the California State University shall focus on the preparation of clinical faculty to teach in postsecondary nursing education programs and may also train nurses for advanced nursing practice or nurse leadership, or both. The degree pilot program shall not replace or supplant master's degree nursing programs offered, as of January 1, 2010, by the California State University. The degree pilot program shall be designed to enable professionals to earn the degree while working full time. (d) A Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program established by the California State University is not exempt from any review and approval processes, including those performed by the California Postsecondary Education Commission. (e) In implementing subdivision (a), the California State University shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Enrollment and maintenance shall be limited to no more than 90 full-time equivalent students (FTES) in the degree pilot program at all three campuses combined. (2) Funding on a per FTES basis for each new student in the degree pilot program shall be within the California State University's enrollment growth levels as agreed to in the annual Budget Act. Enrollments in the degree pilot program shall not alter the California State University's ratio of graduate instruction to total enrollment, and shall not diminish enrollment growth in university undergraduate programs. Funding provided from the state for each FTES shall be at the agreed-upon marginal costs calculation that the California State University receives for graduate enrollment. (3) The California State University shall provide any initial funding needed for the degree pilot program authorized by this article from within existing budgets for academic programs support, without diminishing the quality of program support offered to California State University undergraduate programs. Funding for the degree pilot program shall not reduce undergraduate enrollments at the California State University. It is the intent of the Legislature that the California State University seek private donations or other nonstate funds to fund startup costs for the degree pilot program. 89282. (a) If the California State University establishes a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot program pursuant to Section 89281, the California State University, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the Department of Finance shall jointly conduct a statewide evaluation of the degree pilot program implemented under this article. The results of the evaluation shall be reported, in writing, to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1, 2017. The evaluation shall consider all of the following: (1) The number of Doctor of Nursing Practice degree pilot programs implemented, including information regarding the number of applicants, admissions, enrollments, degree recipients, time-to-degree, attrition, and public school and community college program partners. (2) The extent to which the degree pilot program is fulfilling identified state needs for training in nursing practice, including statewide supply and demand data that considers capacity at the University of California and in California's independent colleges and universities. (3) Information on the place of employment of students and the subsequent job placement of graduates. (4) Any available evidence on the effects that the graduates of the degree pilot program are having on addressing the state's nursing shortage. (5) Pilot program costs and the fund sources that were used to finance the program, including a calculation of cost per degree awarded. (6) The costs of the degree pilot program to students, the amount of financial aid offered, and student debt levels of graduates of the program. (7) The extent to which the degree pilot program is in compliance with the requirements of this article. (8) Recommendations for the degree pilot program, including whether the program should be continued or modified. (b) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code. 89283. (a) The California State University shall permit students who enroll in the degree pilot program prior to July 1, 2018, to complete their coursework on or after July 1, 2018. (b) The California State University shall not enroll any new students in the degree pilot program on or after July 1, 2018. 89284. This article shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.