Whereas, authority of this Legislature is required for any institution of higher education to confer academic, educational, literary or professional degrees, upon recommendation of the State Board of Education; and

Whereas, Portland College has applied to the State Board of Education for a recommendation of degree-granting authority; and

Whereas, it is necessary to grant this authority in order that Portland College may begin offering degree programs by the spring of 2000; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Degree. Portland College, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State, is authorized to confer upon all who successfully complete courses of study, as the directors of the corporation may from time to time prescribe, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Education degrees, as are usually conferred by like institutions of higher learning.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes Portland College to grant degrees.