1. a. As used in this section, “career-oriented program of study” means a program that provides occupation-specific knowledge and technical skill proficiency that culminates in the attainment of a license for a specific occupation or is represented by the institution as preparing students for employment in a specific occupation. “Career-oriented program of study” shall not include a program dedicated primarily to the education or training of ministers, priests, rabbis or other professional persons in the field of religion.

b. Within 12 months of the effective date of P.L.2022, c.76 (C. 18A:3B-45.1 et al.), the Secretary of Higher Education shall establish a performance quality standard for career-oriented programs of study offered by institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions. In establishing the standard, the secretary shall consider the ratio of the tuition and fees charged to students in the career-oriented program net of any institutional grant aid to the average earnings of New Jersey workers employed in the specific occupation for which the career-oriented program prepares students.

c. The secretary shall ensure that career-oriented programs of study offered by institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions meet a minimum acceptable level of performance, as determined by the secretary. In the event that the secretary determines that a program does not meet the minimum acceptable level of performance, the secretary shall suspend or terminate that program and take additional action to suspend or revoke the institution’s license to award academic degrees.

d. An institution of higher education or degree-granting proprietary institution shall submit to the secretary the clear identification of the institution’s career-oriented programs of study in a form and in a manner as determined by the secretary.

e. The secretary shall adopt, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this section.

L.2022, c.76, s.1.