SECTIONS 89280-89284 - California Statutes

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.