The state legislature wants to give more authority to the Commission for Higher Education to approve college degrees, requiring workforce data to be considered in the process.
The bill has been sent to Gov. Mike Braun for signature.
Senate Bill 448, which received bipartisan support, requires the commission to review and approve degree programs, schools and branches. Universities would have to offer information about the job market for that program. Programs would be reviewed every 10 years.
Author Sen. Greg Goode (R-37) declined to comment but told the Senate in April the bill would align Indiana’s academic programs with workforce needs. Indiana has about 3,400 public college academic programs, he said.
Colleges must provide information on a program’s supply and demand, job placement rate and compensation. The commission would also consider curriculum, estimated enrollment and support for unconventional students.
“All this is doing is saying, ‘Hey, look, when the commission is reviewing an academic program, is there an economic future for that individual who’s graduating from the program?’” Goode said.
He also said Indiana is experiencing a renaissance in certain fields, including life sciences, microelectronics, artificial intelligence and defense development.
“We need to better specify the pathways for these individuals to fill these high-demand jobs, to make some really good money, and contribute to our national and economic security,” Goode said.
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The bill also updates faculty tenure review processes established last year, Goode said. Current law requires faculty to teach “intellectually diverse” ideas and foster free expression. If they don’t, their tenure could be jeopardized. SB 448 adds staffing needs as a factor that must be considered when reviewing tenure.
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Rep. Greg Taylor (D-33) said he supported the bill, but he doesn’t want it to lead to something more dangerous for universities in the future.
“I don’t have any problem for us reviewing and understanding what they’re doing, but, boy, this seems to me this could be a start of something that I don’t think any of us want,” Taylor said. “If we start getting language where we want to decide what the universities do, I won’t support it.”
The bill would require the Commission for Higher Education to publish data on in-state, out-of-state and international student enrollment, Goode said.
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Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her at aubmwrig@iu.edu or follow her on X @aubreymwright .
