An Act Regarding Rockport College (EMERGENC Y)
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0318
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: WELSH, RECTOR, EATON, KRUGER, MAZUREK, MILLER, O'BRIEN, PINGREE, RICHARDSON

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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srArE (AW LiBRARY 
AUGUStA, MAliVEO 
124th MAl E LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 318 
H.P.254 
House of Representatives, February 3,2009 
An Act Regarding Rockport College 
(EMERGENC Y) 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative WELSH of Rockport. 
Cosponsored by Senator RECTOR of Knox and 
I7/d(!~d~ 1J7 .17lac~l 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: EATON of Sullivan, KRUGER of Thomaston, MAZUREK of Rockland, 
MILLER of Somerville, O'BRIEN of Lincolnville, Speaker PINGREE of NOlih Haven, 
RICHARDSON of Warren. 
Prilllt:J on . ";ycieJ PrJl.' r 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, authorization by the Legislature is required for any institution of high~r 
education to confer academic, educational, literary or professional degrees, upon the 
recommendation of the State Board of Education; and 
Whereas, Rockport College, which does business as Maine Media College, offers 
professional certification and graduate education in the fields of photography, filmmaking 
and video and multimedia and intends to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree and needs to 
receive approval of degree-granting authority; and 
Whereas, it is necessmy for the Legislature to grant tIns authority in order that the 
school may begin offering degrees for students currently enrolled in programs; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency witIlln 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Degree. The school known as Rockport College is renamed Maine Media 
College and is authorized to confer upon all who successfully complete its prescribed 
course of study the degree of Master of Fine Arts as is usually conferred by like 
institutions of Illgher learning. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, tIlls 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
TIlls bill renames Rockport College Maine Media College and authorizes it to confer 
the degree of Master of Fine Arts upon students in accordance with the Maine Revised 
Statutes, TitIe 20-A, section 10704 based on the recommendation of the State Board of 
Education. The bill is an emergency because the school needs the authorization to initiate 
the national accreditation process with the United States Department of Education in time 
for current students to be eligible for degrees. 
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