Skip to main content

Regents Charters and Regents Certificates of Incorporation for Education Corporations

Education Law §216 gives the Board of Regents broad authority to incorporate educational institutions by issuing them either a Regents charter or a Regents certificate of incorporation.  Institutions issued a Regents charter or Regents certificate of incorporation are incorporated as education corporations, and are generally subject to the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law as provided in Education Law §216-a

In general, the following institutions must be chartered by the Board of Regents: (1) a college, university or other institution of higher education; (2) a nursery, elementary, secondary or charter school; (3) a library, archives, museum or historical society with collections; and (4) a public television or public radio station. 

The following institutions must be incorporated by issuance of a Regents certificate of incorporation: (1) a historical society that does not hold collections; and (2) a cultural agency.