Bill > A07549

This bill establishes the "Degree Integrity and Accountability Act," which requires colleges and universities to revoke degrees under specific circumstances involving serious criminal or ethical violations. The legislation mandates degree revocation for individuals who have been convicted of violent felonies, terrorism-related offenses, or hate crimes; engaged in material support for terrorist organizations; participated in violent disruptions of educational institutions; or been found guilty of severe misconduct by a university disciplinary board. Institutions must report degree revocations to the state department within 30 days, and failure to do so can result in substantial fines and potential loss of state funding. The bill also creates a public online registry that will list revoked degrees, which will be accessible to employers, academic institutions, and government agencies. The registry will include the individual's name, the institution that revoked the degree, the date of revocation, and the general reason for the revocation. Students can appeal their inclusion on the registry only if they can demonstrate legal exoneration or wrongful inclusion. The primary intent is to prevent individuals who have committed serious offenses from misrepresenting their academic credentials and to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7549