Pennsylvania Act 1947-66 — "PENNSYLVANIA AREA COLLEGE CENTER ACT"

Act text

AN ACT

Providing for the establishment of temporary college centers in cooperation with certain accredited colleges and universities to meet certain educational needs of veterans and others; creating the Area College Center Commission a temporary departmental administrative commission in the Department of Public Instruction, and defining its powers and duties; providing for the creation of certain local committees and defining their powers and duties, and making certain appropriations.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1. Short Title.

Section 2. Legislative Findings and Policy.

Section 3. Definitions.

Section 4. Creation and Designation of Areas.

Section 5. Formation of Area Executive Committees.

Section 6. Creation of Area College Center Commission.

Section 7. Organization of the Commission.

Section 8. Powers and Duties of Commission.

Section 9. Powers and Duties of Area Executive Committee.

Section 10. Area College Centers.

Section 11. Coordinators.

Section 12. Appropriations.

Section 13. No heading.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Short Title.--This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Pennsylvania Area College Center Act."

Section 2. Legislative Findings and Policy.--It has been determined by the General Assembly and it is hereby declared as a matter of legislative finding:

That there is a temporary lack of facilities for higher education for veterans and others in accredited colleges and universities and that the Commonwealth must therefore take action, in cooperation with the accredited colleges and universities located within this Commonwealth, to meet the educational needs of veterans and others during this period of emergency.

Section 3. Definitions.--When used in this act the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:

(1) "Area."--A contiguous geographical unit and section of this Commonwealth ascertained and determined for the purposes of this act by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(2) "College Center."--An educational institution of higher learning administered and operated under the Department of Public Instruction, in cooperation with accredited colleges and universities of the Commonwealth, to provide higher education for those persons who cannot now be admitted to any accredited college or university because of overcrowded facilities and conditions therein.

(3) "Commission" or "Pennsylvania Area College Center Commission."--The departmental administrative commission created by this act in the Department of Public Instruction.

(4) "Executive Committee" or "Area College Center Executive Committee."--The committee to be appointed in each area in which a college center or centers is or are being conducted by the college and university presidents of such area, cooperating with the Commonwealth in establishing such college centers.

Section 4. Creation and Designation of Areas.--Immediately following the effective date of this act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall for the purposes of this act, divide the Commonwealth into arbitrarily numbered contiguous geographical units, each unit to be designated as "College Center Area No. ....." The Superintendent shall at the same time by written notice inform the president or head of every college or university in this Commonwealth, cooperating with the Commonwealth in establishing college centers of such action.

Section 5. Formation of Area Executive Committees. Within fifteen (15) days after areas have been created and the notice thereof has been given, the presidents or heads of all the cooperating colleges or universities in each such area in which a college center or college centers is or are in operation or their authorized representatives, shall meet and select residents of their respective areas as a committee for such area to be designated as "Area College Center No. ......, Executive Committee." One such committee member shall be designated chairman and one secretary. Such members shall serve for a designated period or until the purposes of this act have been accomplished. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Committee members shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to receive their traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the discharge of their duties.

Section 6. Creation of Area College Center Commission.--There is hereby created and established in the Department of Public Instruction a temporary departmental administrative commission to be designated as the "Area College Center Commission," which shall exist as long as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this act. The commission shall be composed of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the chairmen of the executive committees of each area in which a college center or college centers is or are being conducted or their authorized representatives. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. The members of such commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to receive their traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the discharge of their duties. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within fifteen (15) days following the effective date of this act at such time and place as the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall determine.

Section 7. Organization of the Commission.--The members of the commission shall at their first meeting select from among themselves a chairman and a vice-chairman and may employ a secretary. Three (3) members of such commission shall constitute a quorum for its meetings which shall be held on the call of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or on the call of its chairman.

Section 8. Powers and Duties of Commission.--The commission shall have the following powers and duties:

(1) To decide upon the establishment, continuance and discontinuance of college centers;

(2) To determine the extent and number of active areas;

(3) To establish general standards and policies applicable to all active college centers and areas with reference to their organization and administration;

(4) To approve or disapprove the actions of any area executive committee, particularly with reference to contracts made;

(5) To allocate funds appropriated to active areas upon recommendation of area executive committees with the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(6) To make and from time to time amend and repeal resolutions and rules, not inconsistent with this act, in order better to carry into effect the powers of the commission;

(7) To advise the State Coordinator, hereinafter provided for.

Section 9. Powers and Duties of Area Executive Committee.--The executive committee of each area in which a college center or college centers is or are being conducted shall, consistent with the rules of the commission, have the power and duty as to the college center system within its area:

(1) To formulate student admission standards;

(2) To fix students' fees;

(3) To determine the courses to be offered;

(4) To appoint temporary faculty members and other temporary employes; to fix their salaries, and to terminate their employment for cause or upon the recommendation of the area coordinator;

(5) To recommend a person for the position of area coordinator to the Superintendent of Public Instruction;

(6) To approve facilities to be used;

(7) To make and execute contracts with suppliers for furnishing books, instructional supplies, and equipment, and to provide for the sale of such books and supplies to students;

(8) To insure that the college center or centers in its area meets or meet the standards and conditions necessary to secure accreditment;

(9) To make and amend resolutions, policies and rules to operate the college centers and to carry out any of its designated powers.

Section 10. Area College Centers.--

(a) Only first-year or freshman and second-year or sophomore college courses shall be established in area college centers;

(b) The closing of any area college center may be recommended to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by the commission when it appears that there is no longer a need therefor, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall thereupon close such area college center; Provided, That no area college center shall be closed without at least one semester's notice thereof.

Section 11. Coordinators.--(a) Immediately after the effective date of this act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction with the approval of the Governor, shall appoint a resident of the Commonwealth who shall be designated as the "State Coordinator of Area College Centers," and who shall supervise the organization and administration of all area college centers. His salary shall be fixed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction with the approval of the Governor. He shall hold office until his successor is appointed by the appointing authority.

(b) Immediately upon receiving recommendations from each active area executive committee the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall appoint for each such area a resident thereof who shall be designated as the "Area No. ........, Coordinator," and who shall supervise the organization and administration of the college center or centers in his area. The salary of the area coordinator shall be recommended by the area executive committee and approved by the commission and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Section 12. Appropriations.--(a) All moneys due from tuition, laboratory and library fees, shall be collected by each area and shall be paid to the Department of Public Instruction for transmittal to the State Treasurer through the Department of Revenue. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for the payment of salaries, rent, equipment and other expenses of every description incurred in the operation and organization of college centers by the Commonwealth.

(b) In addition to such moneys the sum of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby specifically appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for use by the commission in the payment of the costs of providing laboratories for the study of physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering drawing of college level. The moneys hereby appropriated shall be allocated by the commission with the recommendations of the area executive committees and the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Section 13. The provisions of this act shall become effective immediately upon final enactment.