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Higher Education

Office of Higher Education

Program Offices within the Office of Higher Education​

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) works to coordinate New York's higher education system and strengthen partnerships to achieve the most effective use of resources and improve educational access, opportunities, and student results. To accomplish this work, OHE is comprised of five programmatic units:​

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  • OAECES – Office of Access, Equity & Community Engagement Services ​
    The Office of Access, Equity & Community Engagement Services (OAECES) oversees the Office of Postsecondary Access, Support, and Success (OPASS), which aims to assist students in the preparation for, access to, support during, and the successful completion of a postsecondary program, certificate or degree. OAECES also oversees the New York State My Brother's Keeper (MBK) initiative, which seeks to “Change the Narrative” of boys and young men of color, and all students, by closing and eliminating the opportunity gaps they face and helping them to reach their full potential.​
     
  • OCUE – Office of College & University Evaluation ​
    The Office of College and University Evaluation (OCUE) provides regulatory oversight of public, private and proprietary degree-granting institutions in New York State and the programs of study offered by those institutions.​
     
  • OEQPD – Office of Educator Quality & Professional Development ​
    By helping school districts and BOCES to develop comprehensive systems of preparation, support, and advancement for educators that are responsive to local context, the Office of Educator Quality and Professional Development seeks to ensure that all students, regardless of demography or zip code, have access to great teachers and school leaders.​
     
  • OSPRA – Office of School Personnel Review & Accountability ​
    The New York State Education Department’s Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA) pursues administrative educator discipline, manages the teacher tenure employment termination process, and manages fingerprint-supported criminal history background clearances for certification and school employment purposes.
     
  • OTLD - Office of Teacher and Leader Development ​
    The Office of Teacher and Leader Development (OTLD) supports NYSED’s vision for a sustaining educator pipeline, which systemically addresses the recruitment, development, and retention of high-quality, diverse educators grounded in the teaching and leadership standards.
     
  • OTI – Office of Teaching Initiatives​
    The Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI) processes New York State educator certificate applications, approves DASA workshop providers and CTLE sponsors, and responds to inquiries from prospective and practicing educators, school districts, institutions of higher education, and others regarding certification and registration.