• Adopt standards and require enforcement and exercise general supervision over all public higher education in the state and over independent higher education in the state. 
• Not engage in the operation or administration of any subordinate committee, university, junior college, or community college, except its own office of postsecondary education and except as specifically authorized by an act of the General Assembly, provided, the presidents of each institution of higher learning shall be the chief administrative and executive officers of that institution.
• Communicate with and seek the advice of the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education, the presidents of the public higher education institutions and all those concerned with and affected by its determinations as a regular procedure in arriving at its conclusions and in setting precedent.
• Govern the Division of Higher Education Assistance and exercise all powers and duties of the Division of Higher Education Assistance.

Budget

Roles & Responsibilities of the OPC

Pursuant to Article 20 of the FY15 appropriation act (RIGL §16-59-1; RIGL §16-59-2; RIGL §16-59-6 as amended) relating to the Board of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner is charged with performing the following:

Information and Planning

• Data Analysis: Systematically gather, process, and analyze information on all aspects of postsecondary education in Rhode Island, including identifying current and future needs [16-59-6(1)];
• Strategic Planning: Develop a strategic plan encompassing the broad goals and objectives for the state’s higher education system aligned with those of the Board of Education and the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, and with the activities of the independent higher education sector, where feasible, including a 5-year strategic funding plan [16-59-6(2), [16-59-6(6)];
• Policy Development: Formulate broad policy to implement the goals and objectives established and adopted by the Board of Education and Council on Postsecondary Education promoting coordination between public and independent higher education, PreK-12 education, and other stakeholders [16-59-6(3)], [16-59-6(4)];
• Fiscal: Assist in budget preparation for public higher education, prepare standard accounting procedures for all public colleges and universities, and, on direction of the Council, be responsible for appropriation allocations and the acquisition, holding, and disposition of property [16-59-6(4)], [16-59-6(12)];
• Regulatory & Administrative: Administer policies, rules, and regulations of the Council on Postsecondary Education including those duties relating to independent higher education institutions in Rhode Island under the terms of RIGL 16-40-1 et seq. and any other relevant laws [16-59-6(10), [16-59-6(11)];
• Advocacy & Implementation: Make recommendations to the Council on Postsecondary Education regarding the mission of each public institution and their programmatic operations and carry out the Council’s policies and priorities [16-59-6(7)], [16-59-6(8)], [16-59-6(9)], [16-59-6(13)].