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SCS/SB 807 & 577 - This act provides that community colleges may grant baccalaureate degrees if authorized by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The West Plains Campus of Missouri State University and the State Technical College of Missouri may also offer baccalaureate degrees if authorized by the Coordinating Board. The University of Missouri is the only state college or university authorized to offer doctor of philosophy degrees or first-professional degrees. The Coordinating Board may approve, not approve, or provisionally approve proposed new degree programs offered by state institutions of higher education. The Coordinating Board may authorize a degree program outside of an institution's Coordinating Board-approved mission only when certain requirements are met as described in the act. The board of regents and board of governors of each public institution of higher education in the state have the power and authority to confer degrees in chiropractic, osteopathic medicine, and podiatry only in collaboration with the University of Missouri if the collaborative agreement is approved by the governing board of each institution. In such instance the University of Missouri shall be the degree-granting institution. If the University of Missouri declines to collaborate, institutions may seek approval of the program with the Coordinating Board through the Board's review process. The board of regents of each state college and each state teachers college have authority to confer additional degrees when authorized by the Coordinating Board, in circumstances as described in the act. An institution may be authorized to offer nonresearch doctoral degrees in allied health professions independently if collaboration with another institution would not increase the quality of the program. The boards of state colleges and state teachers colleges have the power and authority to confer degrees in engineering only in collaboration with the University of Missouri if the collaborative agreement is approved by the governing board of each institution. In such instance the University of Missouri shall be the degree-granting institution. If the University of Missouri declines to collaborate, institutions may seek approval of the program with the Coordinating Board through the Board's review process. Prior to January 1, 2020, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall set forth reasonable standards and regulations for student counseling facilities, as defined in the act, at public institutions of higher education that relate to mental health problems within the academic community. After such standards are established, the Coordinating Board shall develop a process for measuring an institution's ability to meet student mental health needs. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, each public institution of higher education shall publish a report that measures compliance with the standards for student counseling facilities, with details as set forth in the act. No state college or university may seek the land grant designation held by Lincoln University and the University of Missouri or the research designation currently held by the University of Missouri. This act repeals provisions relating to Missouri Southern State University's ability to offer specific programs and degrees in collaboration with the University of Missouri and provisions granting authority to Missouri Southern State University and Missouri Western State University to offer master's level degree programs in accountancy. This act is similar to HB 1465 (2018), SCS/SB 328 (2017), and HB 758 (2017). Provisions of the act are substantially similar to SB 785 (2018). JAMIE ANDREWS
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