The Regents of the University of the State of New York, as the body with overall responsibility for education in New York State, is empowered by statute to create education corporations  for the purpose of operating educational institutions of all kinds, including colleges, universities, schools, libraries, museums, historical societies, and public television and radio corporations.

The Regents, the Commissioner of Education, and the State Education Department are also empowered to grant degree authority to and register, license, or otherwise approve  certain educational institutions and programs, whether or not the institution in question has been incorporated by the Regents.  Although frequently related to incorporation, degree authority, registration and licensing are completely separate and distinct functions.

The procedures and sample forms for the creation of education corporations by the Regents are available on this web site at Instructions and Sample Forms. Procedures and sample forms for the incorporation of libraries are available at http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/charter/index. In addition, the Office of Counsel has prepared a series of Questions and Answers concerning Education Corporations.

The official versions of pertinent statutory provisions, Rules of the Regents, and Regulations of the Commissioner may be found in the Education Law of McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York and Title 8 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.  Certain provisions are available on this web site at Education Law and Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to Education Corporations, however, one should always consult the official versions of the Education Law and Rules and Regulations.