Nebraska colleges would need approval for some graduate degrees

The bill text says Chadron and Wayne State Colleges may award business administration master's degrees independently, with board approval. The provisions cover Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges; only Chadron and Wayne are named for independently awarding business administration master's degrees. Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges may offer doctoral degrees in education and other master's programs only with approval from the State Colleges Board and the state commission. Those programs also require proof of a compelling need and the college's demonstrated capacity.

The text links new bachelor's programs at Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges to regional needs, but does not clearly say whether colleges should prioritize or limit them. This passage concerns new bachelor's degree programs at Chadron, Peru, and Wayne State Colleges. The text names western Nebraska for Chadron, southeast Nebraska for Peru, and northeast Nebraska for Wayne State.

The text lists state colleges' instructional priorities and describes the University of Nebraska's roles in public higher education. These provisions cover Nebraska's state colleges and the University of Nebraska across public higher education. The listed state college priorities are education bachelor's programs first, approved graduate programs second, applied research and public service third, and education specialist degrees fourth. The University has the stated graduate, professional, and agriculture responsibilities, with exceptions for some programs at state colleges.