### §8548. Degree granting authority for United States Naval Postgraduate School

(a) Authority.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, the President of the Naval Postgraduate School may, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School, confer appropriate degrees upon graduates who meet the degree requirements.

(b) Limitation.—A degree may not be conferred under this section unless—

(1) the Secretary of Education has recommended approval of the degree in accordance with the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies; and

(2) the Naval Postgraduate School is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting agency or organization to award the degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education.

(c) Congressional Notification Requirements.—(1) When seeking to establish degree granting authority under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives—

(A) a copy of the self assessment questionnaire required by the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies, at the time the assessment is submitted to the Department of Education's National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; and

(B) the subsequent recommendations and rationale of the Secretary of Education regarding the establishment of the degree granting authority.

(2) Upon any modification or redesignation of existing degree granting authority, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the rationale for the proposed modification or redesignation and any subsequent recommendation of the Secretary of Education on the proposed modification or redesignation.

(3) The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing an explanation of any action by the appropriate academic accrediting agency or organization not to accredit the Naval Postgraduate School to award any new or existing degree.

(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 438, §7047; renumbered §7048, Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title X, §1073(a)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2510; amended Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title V, §557(a)(4)(B), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1915; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, §543(e)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4460; renumbered §8548, Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §807(c)(1), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1836.)

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7047 | 34 U.S.C. 1076f. | Dec. 7, 1945, ch. 559, 59 Stat. 603; July 31, 1947, ch. 420, §7, 61 Stat. 706. |

In subsection (a) the words "of science" are omitted as surplusage since the curriculum is in engineering and related fields.

In subsection (b) the words "from time to time" are omitted as surplusage.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Prior Provisions

A prior section 8548 was renumbered section 9218 of this title.

#### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7048 of this title as this section.

2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(a) The President of the Naval Postgraduate School, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, may confer on any qualified graduate a bachelor's, master's, or doctor's degree in engineering or a related field.

"(b) A degree may not be conferred under this section unless the curriculum leading to that degree is accredited by the appropriate professional authority."

2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted "President" for "Superintendent".

1992—Pub. L. 102–484 renumbered section 7047 of this title as this section.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

#### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–417 applicable to any degree granting authority established, modified, or redesignated on or after Oct. 14, 2008, for an institution of professional military education referred to in such amendment, see section 543(j) of Pub. L. 110–417, set out as a note under section 2163 of this title.