1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; requiring a study of graduate education.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. STUDY OF GRADUATE EDUCATION IN FOR-PROFIT SECTOR.
 1.5 	The Minnesota Office of Higher Education must study graduate education in the 
1.6 	for-profit institutions that offer graduate education to Minnesota students. The study 
1.7 	must examine the rights and responsibilities of graduate students attending for-profit 
1.8 	institutions. At a minimum, the study must include an analysis of contractual arrangements 
1.9 	with graduate students, fulfillment of these contracts by all parties, protection of graduate 
1.10 	students' intellectual property rights, communication of well-defined expectations 
1.11 	for completion of graduation requirements, provision of adequate notice of changing 
1.12 	expectations for completion of graduate degrees, and ease of access by the graduate 
1.13 	student to information on the policies and procedures of the institution. The study must 
1.14 	evaluate the extent to which these institutions provide clear guidelines for graduate studies 
1.15 	on due process, academic freedom of inquiry, and recourse for graduate students if a 
1.16 	potential conflict of interest situation, including access to alternative dispute resolution 
1.17 	systems, and provide examples of effective guidelines and policies. The office must report 
1.18 	on the findings of this study by January 15, 2013, to the committees of the legislature with 
1.19 	responsibility for higher education finance. The report must include recommendations for 
1.20 	any changes to improve graduate education in the for-profit sector.