An Act Regarding Retention and Graduation Rates for Maine's Colleges and Universities
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0564
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: ALFOND, WAGNER, BARTLETT, BLISS, JACKSON, GOODE, LOVEJOY, NELSON, RICHARDSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10011

Legislative Document 
No. 564 
S.P. 156 
In Senate, February 15, 2011 
An Act Regarding Retention and Graduation Rates for Maine's 
Colleges and Universities 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator ALFOND of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative WAGNER of Lewiston and 
Senators: BARTLETT of Cumberland, BLISS of Cumberland, JACKSON of Aroostook, 
Representatives: GOODE of Bangor, LOVEJOY of Portland, McCLELLAN of Raymond, 
NELSON of Falmouth, RICHARDSON of Carmel. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §10011 is enacted to read: 
§10011.  Retention and graduation rates 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Graduation rate" means the percentage of students who enrolled at the start of a 
postsecondary educational or degree program, completed the program and graduated 
in a number of years specified in subsection 2, paragraphs B and C. 
B.  "Postsecondary institution" means an educational institution that offers an 
accredited postsecondary educational or degree program.  "Postsecondary institution" 
includes an institution that offers an accredited postsecondary educational or degree 
program on the Internet. 
C.  "Retention rate" means the percentage of students who enrolled at the start of a 
postsecondary educational or degree program and, not having completed the program 
at the end of a school year, continue enrollment in that program at the start of the next 
school year. 
2.  Retention and graduation rates.  A postsecondary institution that receives either 
state or federal funding shall report annually to the department: 
A.  The retention rate for the previous year for each educational or degree program 
offered by the institution; 
B.  For a postsecondary institution that offers an associate's degree program or other 
2-year program, the graduation rates for students who require 2 years, 3 years or 4 
years to complete that program; and 
C.  For a postsecondary institution that offers a bachelor's degree or other 4-year 
degree program, the graduation rates for students who require 4 years, 5 years or 6 
years to complete that program. 
3.  Report.  The department shall report the information received under subsection 2 
annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education and cultural affairs and publish the report on the department's publicly 
accessible website. 
4.  Rules.  The department may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.  
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules under Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires all postsecondary institutions in the State, including institutions 
offering accredited postsecondary educational and degree programs on the Internet, to 
report annually to the Department of Education the retention rates of the students for each 
degree program and the graduation rates for students who complete 2-year or associate's 
degree programs in 2, 3 or 4 years and for students who complete 4-year or bachelor's 
degree programs in 4, 5 or 6 years.  This bill requires the Department of Education to 
report this information annually to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education and cultural affairs and publish the report on the department's 
publicly accessible website.