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First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 448
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
SECTION 1. IC 4-3-26-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.216-2021,
SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The MPH shall do the following:
(1) Establish and maintain a program to collect, analyze, and
exchange government information in carrying out the powers and
duties of the OMB and the powers and duties of the executive
state agency sharing the data. In carrying out this program, the
MPH may, in accordance with IC 4-1-6, obtain government
information from each executive state agency.
(2) In accordance with IC 4-1-6 and IC 5-14-3, establish and
maintain a program to make government information available to
executive state agencies, political subdivisions, educational
institutions, researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and the
general public, subject to the following:
(A) A request for data subject to IC 4-1-6-8.6 shall be made in
conformance with that section.
(B) A program established and maintained under this chapter
must include policies governing access to government
information held by the MPH under this chapter. Government
information may be made available only in accordance with
applicable confidentiality and disclosure laws.
(3) Establish privacy and quality policies for government
information that comply with all applicable Indiana and federal
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laws, rules, and policies.
(4) In accordance with standards developed by the office of
technology established by IC 4-13.1-2-1, establish and maintain
a program to ensure the security of government information under
this chapter.
(5) Conduct operational and procedural audits of executive state
agencies.
(6) Perform financial planning and design and implement
efficiency projects for executive state agencies.
(7) Advise and assist each executive state agency to identify and
implement continuous process improvement in state government.
(8) Carry out such other responsibilities as may be designated by
the director of the OMB or the chief data officer to carry out the
responsibilities of the OMB or the chief data officer.
(9) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's
graduation from high school that can be linked to the student's
kindergarten through grade 12 student identification number
necessary for the department to carry out IC 20-19-3-22.3. The
MPH may not disclose any personal, identifiable information to
the department.
SECTION 2. IC 4-3-27-3.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 3.2. The cabinet shall do the following:
(1) Coordinate data analysis on education, workforce training,
and labor market alignment.
(2) Translate relevant data insights to talent development
partners, policymakers, and consumers.
(3) Provide a unified, consistent source of information and
analysis for policy development and implementation of
coordinated talent development efforts that are aligned with
Indiana's economic and workforce development priorities.
(4) Work in collaboration with the management performance
hub, the commission for higher education, institutions of
higher education, the department of education, the
department of workforce development, and other relevant
entities, as needed, to do the following:
(A) Ensure access and transparency to state longitudinal
data systems and state agency data sets related to
education, workforce, and economic development in
accordance with applicable confidentiality and disclosure
laws.
(B) Develop an annual research agenda in alignment with
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Indiana's economic and workforce development priorities.
(C) Offer to talent development partners, policymakers,
and consumers resources and expertise related to
education and labor market analysis.
(5) Work jointly with the management performance hub, the
commission for higher education, the department of
workforce development, and the department of education and
in collaboration with institutions of higher education and
other relevant entities, as needed, to develop a unified
comprehensive statewide talent plan that:
(A) incorporates labor market information, including
supply and demand analyses produced by the cabinet, to
identify and address gaps in Indiana's talent pipeline;
(B) reflects the needs and workforce priorities of Indiana
employers through input and feedback from statewide
business associations, industry sector associations, and
other relevant entities as necessary;
(C) includes a guide for talent development efforts across
kindergarten through grade 12, higher education,
workforce development, and economic development at the
state and regional levels;
(D) includes a plan for joint areas of focus across state
agencies and promotes cross sector coordination and
alignment between Indiana's public and private sectors;
and
(E) provides recommendations for using legislative and
executive means, as well as the formation of public private
partnerships, to improve system alignment, accountability,
efficiency, and effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
(6) Submit the plan developed under subdivision (5) to the
following:
(A) The governor.
(B) The general assembly in an electronic format under
IC 5-14-6.
(7) Update the plan jointly and collaboratively with the
entities described in subdivision (5) biennially.
(8) Coordinate with the management performance hub to
ensure that:
(A) all public facing data products, dashboards, or reports
are subject to de-identification, aggregation, and disclosure
suppression standards consistent with the data governance,
privacy, and quality policies established by the
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management performance hub under IC 4-3-26-10(4);
(B) access to confidential data is subject to review,
approval, and contractual safeguards in accordance with
IC 4-1-6-8.6; and
(C) all exchanges of data collected by the cabinet are in
compliance with the form and process prescribed by
IC 4-3-26-14.
SECTION 3. IC 20-19-3-36.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 36.5. (a) Not later than November
1, 2025, the secretary of education shall do the following:
(1) Prepare a plan to develop a market driven stackable
credentials and qualifications framework that is aligned with
the International Standard Classification of Education
(ISCED). The plan must:
(A) identify at least three (3) priority employment sectors;
(B) outline, based on collaboration with each priority
employment sector, the:
(i) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to
enter each employment sector; and
(ii) knowledge and skills necessary for an employee to
advance in the employee's career within each priority
employment sector; and
(C) include recommendations regarding employer
identified programs and systems that must be developed at
the secondary and postsecondary education levels to equip
individuals with the knowledge and skills described in
clause (B).
(2) Submit the plan prepared under subdivision (1) to the
general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
(b) This section expires July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. IC 20-19-3-37.2 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 37.2. (a) As used in this section,
"management performance hub" refers to the management
performance hub established by IC 4-3-26-8.
(b) The management performance hub, in collaboration with the
department and commission for higher education, shall do the
following:
(1) Collect income data of or by a student upon the student's
graduation from high school that can be linked to the
student's kindergarten through grade 12 student
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identification number necessary for the department to carry
out its responsibilities under section 22.3 of this chapter. The
management performance hub may not disclose any personal,
identifiable information to the department under this
subdivision.
(2) Compile into a data product on the department's and
commission for higher education's websites the data from all
available and relevant sources, including:
(A) the number and type of credentials needed to fill
employment openings in Indiana;
(B) the number and type of credentials earned by
individuals in Indiana; and
(C) employment outcomes for both high school graduates
and earners of postsecondary credentials in Indiana.
(c) The data product under subsection (b)(2) must include:
(1) interactive visuals; and
(2) an aggregate, downloadable public use data set.
SECTION 5. IC 21-18-9-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.101-2012,
SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the commission
may shall approve or disapprove the:
(1) establishment of any new branches, regional or other
campuses, or extension centers;
(2) establishment of any new college or school; or
(3) offering of any proposed or existing:
(A) associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree; or
(B) program leading to a certificate or other indication of
accomplishment.
(b) Before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or
program under subsection (a)(3), a state educational institution
shall provide, and the commission shall consider, the following with
regard to the degree or program:
(1) The proposed curriculum.
(2) The labor market supply and demand.
(3) The current or projected:
(A) enrollment;
(B) completion and completion rate;
(C) program cost;
(D) total student debt and average monthly student debt;
(E) job placement rate;
(F) job placement rate related to a student's education or
training;
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(G) graduate retention rate; and
(H) estimated:
(i) starting compensation;
(ii) compensation three (3) years after graduation;
(iii) compensation five (5) years after graduation; and
(iv) compensation ten (10) years after graduation.
(4) The opportunity for embedded, stackable degrees and
credentials.
(5) An experiential or work based learning requirement.
(6) Options for veterans to receive credit for military service.
(7) Options for credit for prior workforce experience with
Indiana based employers.
(8) Options for accelerated degree delivery.
(9) Defined pathways for high school, returning, and adult
students.
(10) The opportunity to:
(A) advise students on career exploration and planning;
(B) provide students with timely information about the
labor market and career pathways; and
(C) connect students with employment opportunities.
(c) In addition to considering the information under subsection
(b), before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or
program, the commission shall consider the information reported
under IC 21-14-15-1 with regard to the degree or program.
(d) A state educational institution shall provide the information
described in subsection (b) in the manner and form prescribed by
the commission.
(e) The commission, or a committee established by the
commission, shall take official action on the approval or
disapproval of a degree or program under subsection (a)(3) within
ninety (90) days of the state educational institution providing the
commission with the full and complete information described in
subsections (b) and (c).
SECTION 6. IC 21-18-9-5.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 5.5. (a) For a degree or program approved under
section 5 of this chapter before July 1, 2025, the commission shall
review the degree or program for approval or disapproval not
later than July 1, 2035.
(b) After the review under subsection (a) for degrees and
programs described in subsection (a) and for any degree or
program approved under section 5 of this chapter after June 30,
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2025, the commission shall review each degree and program for
approval or disapproval at least one (1) time every ten (10) years.
(c) The commission shall do the following:
(1) Outline a process for degree or program monitoring,
improvement, suspension, and closure.
(2) Publish quantitative information on a dashboard that is
available to the public to ensure accountability and
transparency.
(3) Publish a credit for prior learning inventory, including
information provided under section 5(b)(6) and 5(b)(7) of this
chapter.
SECTION 7. IC 21-39.5-2-2, AS ADDED BY P.L.113-2024,
SECTION 11, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. (a) Not later than five (5) years after the date
that a faculty member is granted tenure by an institution and not later
than every five (5) years thereafter, the board of trustees of an
institution shall review and determine whether the faculty member has
met the following criteria:
(1) Helped the institution foster a culture of free inquiry, free
expression, and intellectual diversity within the institution.
(2) Introduced students to scholarly works from a variety of
political or ideological frameworks that may exist within the
curricula established by the:
(A) board of trustees of the institution under IC 21-41-2-1(b);
or
(B) faculty of the institution acting under authority delegated
by the board of trustees of the institution.
(3) While performing teaching duties within the scope of the
faculty member's employment, refrained from subjecting students
to views and opinions concerning matters not related to the
faculty member's academic discipline or assigned course of
instruction.
(4) Adequately performed academic duties and obligations.
(5) Met any other criteria established by the board of trustees.
(b) When reviewing a faculty member under subsection (a), the
board of trustees of an institution shall assess and review the
staffing needs of the institution based on the:
(1) branches, campuses, extension centers, colleges, and
schools of the institution; and
(2) degrees or programs of the institution approved by the
commission for higher education under IC 21-18-9-5.
(b) (c) If the board of trustees of an institution reviews and makes
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a determination that a faculty member meets the criteria under
subsection (a), the board of trustees shall certify that the board
reviewed and made a determination that the faculty member met the
criteria.
(c) (d) In determining whether a faculty member has adequately met
the criteria under subsection (a), the board of trustees of an institution
may not consider the following actions by a faculty member:
(1) Expressing dissent or engaging in research or public
commentary on subjects.
(2) Criticizing the institution's leadership.
(3) Engaging in any political activity conducted outside the
faculty member's teaching duties at the institution.
(d) (e) The institution shall adopt a policy that establishes
disciplinary actions, including:
(1) termination;
(2) demotion;
(3) salary reduction;
(4) other disciplinary action as determined by the institution; or
(5) any combination of subdivisions (1) through (4);
that the institution will take if the board of trustees determines in a
review conducted under subsection (a) that a tenured faculty member
has failed to meet one (1) or more of the criteria described in
subsection (a)(1) through (a)(5).
(e) (f) The board of trustees of each institution shall, at least every
five (5) years, review and renew or amend:
(1) the process for reviewing and making a determination under
subsection (a); and
(2) any criteria established under subsection (a)(5).
(g) A board of trustees of an institution shall submit to the
commission for higher education the process and criteria described
in subsection (f) each time the process and criteria are reviewed,
renewed, or amended by the board of trustees.
(h) The commission for higher education shall promptly do the
following:
(1) Review the process and criteria submitted by a board of
trustees under subsection (g).
(2) Provide feedback for the board of trustees to consider as
the board exercises its statutory responsibility to ensure the
requirements of this chapter are satisfied.
SECTION 8. IC 21-40-4-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]: Sec. 7. (a) Subject to subsection (c), a state educational
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institution shall approve for admission an Indiana resident who:
(1) graduates with an Indiana diploma established under
IC 20-19-2-21(c);
(2) meets the diploma designation described in
IC 20-19-2-21(e)(2) and the requirements for the designation
under 511 IAC 6-7.2-21(b)(2); and
(3) submits a nationally recognized college entrance exam
score to the state educational institution to which the resident
is applying.
(b) Admission approval provided by a state educational
institution to an Indiana resident under subsection (a) does not
guarantee the resident admission to a specific academic degree or
program of the state educational institution.
(c) For purposes of admission under subsection (a), the
commission for higher education, in coordination with state
educational institutions, may establish additional admission
conditions based on academic dishonesty or other misconduct.
SECTION 9. IC 21-40-6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2025]:
Chapter 6. Student Enrollment Reporting
Sec. 1. (a) Not later than November 1, 2025, and each November
1 thereafter, the commission for higher education shall prepare a
report regarding student enrollment data for:
(1) each state educational institution; and
(2) each state educational institution's college or program of:
(A) engineering; and
(B) computer science;
if the institution offers a college or program described in this
subdivision.
(b) The report described in subsection (a) must include the
following information:
(1) The total number of students enrolled in the institution,
college, or program, not including students enrolled in a dual
credit offering or a dual enrollment course, disaggregated by
the following:
(A) The number and percentage of enrolled students who:
(i) are Indiana residents; and
(ii) are not Indiana residents.
(B) The number and percentage of enrolled students who:
(i) are United States citizens; and
(ii) are not United States citizens.
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(C) The number and percentage of enrolled students
described under clause (B)(ii) disaggregated by the
student's country of origin.
(2) The total number of students enrolled in a dual credit
offering or a dual enrollment course from the institution,
college, or program.
(c) The commission for higher education shall:
(1) submit the report required under subsection (a) to the
legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6;
and
(2) publish the report on the commission's website.
SECTION 10. IC 22-4.1-4-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.152-2018,
SECTION 23, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) The department shall do the following:
(1) Administer the Wagner-Peyser program, the WIOA, a free
public labor exchange, and related federal and state employment
and training programs as directed by the governor.
(2) Formulate and implement an employment and training plan as
required by the WIOA, and the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49
et seq.).
(3) Coordinate activities with all state agencies and departments
that either provide employment and training related services or
operate appropriate resources or facilities, to maximize Indiana's
efforts to provide employment opportunities for economically
disadvantaged individuals, dislocated workers, and others with
substantial barriers to employment.
(4) Apply for, receive, disburse, allocate, and account for all
funds, grants, gifts, and contributions of money, property, labor,
and other things of value from public and private sources,
including grants from agencies and instrumentalities of the state
and the federal government.
(5) Enter into agreements with the United States government that
may be required as a condition of obtaining federal funds related
to activities of the department.
(6) Enter into contracts or agreements and cooperate with local
governmental units or corporations, including profit or nonprofit
corporations, or combinations of units and corporations to carry
out the duties of the department imposed by this chapter,
including contracts for the establishment and administration of
employment and training offices and the delegation of the
department's administrative, monitoring, and program
responsibilities and duties set forth in this article.
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(7) Perform other services and activities that are specified in
contracts for payments or reimbursement of the costs made with
the Secretary of Labor, any federal, state, or local public agency
or administrative entity, or a private for-profit or nonprofit
organization under the WIOA.
(8) Enter into contracts or agreements and cooperate with entities
that provide career and technical education to carry out the duties
imposed by this article.
(b) The department shall distribute federal funds made available for
employment training in accordance with:
(1) the WIOA, and other applicable federal laws; and
(2) the plan prepared by the cabinet under subsection (c)(1).
(c) In addition to the duties prescribed in subsections (a) and (b), the
department shall do the following:
(1) Implement the postsecondary career and technical education
programming plan prepared by the cabinet under IC 22-4.1-19-4.
(2) Upon request of the budget director, prepare a legislative
budget request for state and federal funds for employment
training. The budget director shall determine the period to be
covered by the budget request.
(3) Make or cause to be made studies of the needs for various
types of programs that are related to employment training and
authorized under the WIOA.
(4) Distribute state funds made available for employment training
that have been appropriated by the general assembly in
accordance with the general assembly appropriation.
(5) Collect from each employer subject to IC 22-4 the
following information in the form and manner prescribed by
the department:
(A) The Standard Occupational Classification code
applicable to each employee as prescribed by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of
Labor or primary job title as recorded and reported by the
employer.
(B) Whether each employee is:
(i) classified by the employer as full-time, part-time,
intern, or apprentice; or
(ii) designated as a seasonal worker pursuant to a
decision issued by the department.
(C) The hourly rate of pay for each employee.
(6) Enter into data sharing agreements and transmit the data
collected under subdivision (5), in addition to any other
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relevant data, to agencies deemed appropriate by the
department for:
(A) assessing outcomes of education and workforce
programs;
(B) evaluating educational and workforce training
investments;
(C) informing labor market analysis; and
(D) conducting economic research.
(7) Minimize employer reporting burdens, where feasible,
through:
(A) aligning and streamlining definitions and requirements
for quarterly wage and employment reports;
(B) deploying user friendly application programming
interfaces; and
(C) other means to simplify reporting processes.
(8) Establish an employer outreach and communications
campaign in collaboration with statewide business and
industry associations to increase the number of employers
that report accurate data under subdivision (5).
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President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Governor of the State of Indiana
Date: Time:
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