Edelblut urges House to support SB 138

CONCORD – Following the vote of the New Hampshire House to table SB 138, Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut issued the following statement:

"I would urge members of the House to support SB 138, which would authorize Signum University to issue degrees in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Higher Education Commission unanimously approved Signum's application, and Signum has taken every step asked of it. We should be encouraging innovative and low-cost postsecondary education options, such as Signum’s Masters and Certificate programs in Language and Literature. My hope is that putting SB 1'8 on the table will give the full House a chance to learn what Signum has to offer, and that the bill can be sent to Governor Sununu in the near future."

Background

The Higher Education Commission is comprised of the presidents of colleges and universities across New Hampshire, including the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College, Granite State College, New England College, Rivier University, Colby-Sawyer, and the Community College System of New Hampshire. The Higher Education Commission constituted a team of experts to complete a comprehensive review of Signum including the VP of Finance from St Anselm, President Emeritus of Southern NH University, and Provost from Granite State College. Signum University paid for this review.

August 2, 2018: The New Hampshire Higher Education Commission approves a request from Signum University to operate in New Hampshire and offer a low-cost Master of Arts degree program in Language and Literature with concentrations on Tolkien Studies, Imaginative Literature, Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Literature, and Germanic Philology. This approval included several monitoring and reporting requirements, which Signum has since met. However, the New Hampshire General Court must grant institutions of higher education with authority to issue degrees.

January 1, 2019: Sen. David Starr (R-Franconia), Sen. Ruth Ward (R-Stoddard), and Rep. Robert Forsythe (R-Merrimack) introduce SB 138, AN ACT relative to the degree granting authority of Signum University.

1. Signum University; Authority to Grant Degrees. Signum University is hereby authorized to confer degrees upon its graduates subject to the authority of the higher education commission under RSA 21-N:8-a. The degrees shall be specified by the higher education commission as provided in RSA 292:8-h, III.
2. Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

March 12, 2019: The Senate Committee on Education and Workforce Development unanimously recommends passage of SB 138.

March 21, 2019: The New Hampshire Senate approves SB 138 by voice vote.

January 8, 2020: The New Hampshire House votes to place SB 138 on the table.