ECS
From the ECS State Policy Database
Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation


Education Commission of the States • 700 Broadway, Suite 810 • Denver, CO 80203-3442 • 303.299.3600 • fax 303.296.8332 • www.ecs.org

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format.

Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date].

State Status/Date Level Summary
NVAdopted 06/2012Postsec.Licensing, Personnel, Instruction and Operations in Postsecondary Education
NAC 394.535, 380, 385, 390, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 427, 435, 440, 445, 450, 485, 490, 522, 525, 535, 537, 540, 550, 560, 570, 575, 580, 600, 605, 610, 615, 623, 650, 655, 720, 735
Revises various provisions governing licensing, personnel, instruction, and operations in postsecondary education. http://www.leg.state.nv.u...

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PASigned into law 06/2012P-12
Postsec.
An Act amending Title 24 (Education) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in private colleges, universities and seminaries, further providing for certification of institutions.
S.B. 1406
Adds a new subsection to Title 24 concerning the certification of higher education institutions. Allows a private, nonprofit college or univ...

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COSigned into law 05/2012Postsec.Accreditation for Private Nonprofit and For-profit Institutions
H.B. 1155 (sections 12 to 20)
Details authority, responsibility of Commission on Higher Education to authorize, revoke right of private nonprofit or for-profit institutio...

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VTSigned into law 05/2011Postsec.Postsecondary Institution Approval Process
S.B. 100
Sets the process for approval for any postsecondary school that operates primarily or exclusively in the state of
Vermont. Defines "Postseco...

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ARSigned into law 03/2011Postsec.
Community College
Postsecondary Accreditation
H.B. 1254
Prohibits the use of false academic credentials. Requires accrediation from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board before a postse...

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MSSigned into law 03/2011Postsec.
Community College
Accreditation Alternative for Private Business Vocational Schools
H.B. 838
Authorizes private business and vocational schools that have obtained national accreditation from an accrediting agency designated by the U....

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MNSigned into law 05/2010Postsec.
Community College
Private Institutions Registering with Office of Higher Education
S.F. 184
Clarifies that public and private institutions outside Minnesota offering courses or programs to Minnesota residents must register with OHE...

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MNSigned into law 05/2010Postsec.
Community College
Student Refunds
S.F. 184
Requires private schools to issue students a full refund of money it received for a student or if a contract with that student is unenforcea...

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ALAdopted 03/2010Postsec.Postsecondary Course Offerings by Non-Accredited Institutions
300-2-1-.02
Defines "non-accredited institution" as an institution not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or Council...

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MISigned into law 01/2010Postsec.Proprietary Schools
S.B. 786
Provides for the accreditation, regulation and licensing of proprietary schools; authorizes a proprietary school to sell goods or services p...

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CASigned into law 11/2009Postsec.Workforce Development
S.B. 599
Requires the successor agency to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education to transmit school performance data from scho...

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TXAdopted 11/2009Postsec.Degree-Granting Colleges and Universities
19 TAC 1.7.7.1 -.13
Establishes new rules concerning degree-granting colleges and universities other than Texas public institutions. As stated in the August 7, ...

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IDAdopted 06/2009Postsec.Registration of Postsecondary Institutions
IDAPA 08.01.11
Clarifies that postsecondary institutions need to register to ensure they are legitimate degree granting institutions and that proprietary s...

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OHAdopted 06/2009Postsec.
Community College
Career Colleges and Schools
OAC 3332-1-01, -02, -04.5, -11, -12.1, -14, -18 thru -22, -22.1
Amends rules regarding career colleges and schools. Replaces all references to the state board of "proprietary school registration" to state...

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MDAdopted 05/2009Postsec.
Community College
Requirements for Degree-granting HE Institutions
COMAR 13B.02.02.01 to .22
Establishes minimum requirements for issuing certificates, diplomas, and degrees by in-state public and private institutions of postsecondar...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.Diploma Mills
S.B. 113
Limits the exemption of certain post-secondary schools and separately accredited campuses from degree requirements of Office of Degree Autho...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.Diploma Mills
S.B. 114
Prohibits person who receives degree from diploma mill from using disclaimer to claim or represent that person possesses academic degree; de...

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ORSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.
Community College
Career/Technical
H.B. 2108
Requires school that confers or offers to confer academic degree to be licensed as career school for course or program that does not lead to...

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COSigned into law 05/2008Postsec.
Community College
Diplomas from Private Colleges and Universities
S.B. 167
Clarifies the authority related to the authorization to do business for private colleges or universities, bible colleges, and seminaries; pe...

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VASigned into law 03/2008Postsec.Fraudulent Academic Credentials
H.B. 766
Makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor (a fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail) to issue or manufacture a fraudulent academic credential...

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SDAdopted 10/2007Postsec.TEACHER CERTIFICATION, STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION
SDR 24:15:03:08, :10, :43:01:01, :02:02, :08, :09:03
Amends rules to allow school service specialists to add a teaching program to their current certificate upon completion of a full degree. Re...

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MDAdopted 08/2007Postsec.
Community College
Postsecondary Institution Diploma and Degree Requirements
COMAR 13B.02.02.02-.08, .10-.19, .21, .22
Requires the Maryland Higher Education Commission to establish minimum requirements for issuing certificates, diplomas, and degrees by publi...

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RISigned into law 07/2007Postsec.Purchase and Sale of Academic Degrees
S.B. 392
Prohibits the purchase and sale of academic degrees wherein the degree is obtained on the basis of a combination of a payment of a fee and t...

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CTSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.
Community College
Accreditation and Diploma Mill Oversight
S.B. 1139
Concerns enhanced enforcement authority by the Department of Higher Education; provides the Board of Governors of Higher Education and the C...

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ORSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.
Community College
Diploma Mills
S.B. 198
Allows the Student Assistance Commission to terminate activities of diploma mills and operation of post-secondary accrediting bodies not rec...

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TXSigned into law 06/2007Postsec.Independent Law School Accreditation
S.B. 480
Adds the American Bar Association as a recognized accrediting agent in Texas under Section 61.003 (15) of the Education Code. This is the on...

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IDTemporary Rule Adoption - Concurrently Proposed 08/2006Postsec.Registration of Postsecondary Institutions and Proprietary Schools
IDAPA 08.01.11
Repeals existing section 08.01.11 in its entirety. Sets forth the registration requirements for postsecondary educational institutions that ...

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IAAdopted 07/2006Community College
Postsec.
Community College Accreditation
IAC 281-Chapter 24, 281-24.1(260C) through 281- 24.4(260C), 24.4(1)through 24.4(5), 281-24,5(260C), 24.5(1) through 24.5(4), 281-24.6(260C),24.6(1) through 24.6(4)
Relates to the evaluation of the colleges' institutional effectiveness in a framework of CQI standards and benchmarks. Creates a new chapter...

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MDSigned into law 04/2006Postsec.Transfers from Unaccredited Higher Education Institutions
S.B. 270
Requires an institution of higher education that does not possess regional accreditation to require its students to sign a letter of acknowl...

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WASigned into law 03/2006Postsec.
Community College
False Academic Credentials
H.B. 2507
Declares that a person is guilty of issuing a false academic credential if the person knowingly: (1) Grants or awards a false academic crede...

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TXAdopted 02/2006Postsec.Fictitious, Fraudulent or Substandard Degrees
19 TAC 1.7.A.7.3
Adds new definitions pertaining to "fictitious degree," "fraudulent or substandard degree," "protected term." TEXAS 98741...

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MISigned into law 07/2005Postsec.Authentic credentials in education
S.B. 136
Prohibits the issuance or manufacture of false academic credentials.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2005-P...

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ORSigned into law 07/2005Postsec.Disclaimers for Degrees from Non-Approved Institutions
S.B. 1039
Allows a person who holds a degree from a post-secondary institution that is not accredited or approved by the Office of Degree Authorizatio...

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TXSigned into law 06/2005Postsec.
Community College
Fraudulent or Substandard Degrees
H.B. 1173
Adds Sec. 61.3021. Requires Texas Higher education Coordinating Board (board) by rule to establish a process for reviewing and approving a d...

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NDSigned into law 04/2005Postsec.
Community College
Private Postsecondary Institution Operations
S.B. 2120
Relates to fees provided to the state board for career and technical education for authorizations to operate private postsecondary instituti...

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CAVetoed 09/2004Postsec.Private Postsecondary Education Reform
A.B. 711
Relates to the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act of 1989. Defines nationally accredited institution to mean an insti...

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ILSigned into law 06/2004Postsec.Private Business and Vocational Schools
H.B. 3088
Amends the Private Business and Vocational Schools Act. Provides that certain educational institutions that enroll students in one or more b...

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TNSigned into law 06/2004Postsec.
Community College
Higher Education False Credentials
H.B. 433
Prohibits the use of false credentials in higher education. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Chapter/PC0825.pdf...

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TNSigned into law 05/2004Postsec.False Academic Degrees
S.B. 2305
Concerns criminal offenses; creates Class A misdemeanor for person who knowingly issues, sells or manufactures false academic degree; create...

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WASigned into law 03/2004Postsec.Degree Granting Institutions
H.B. 2381
Ensures the quality of degree-granting institutions of higher education; relates to the accreditation of and site inspections of such instit...

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ORRule Adoption 10/2003Postsec.Definitions of School Types
OAR 583-050-0006, -0011, -0016, -0031, -0040, -0021
Revises definitions of school types to classify degree-issuing entities as standard, substandard, or diploma mill. Establishes fee schedule ...

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CASigned into law 09/2003Postsec.Private Postsecondary Institutions
S.B. 967
Defines non-Western Association of Schools and Colleges regionally accredited institution under the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Edu...

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ILSigned into law 07/2003Postsec.False Academic Degrees
H.B. 1448
Provides it is unlawful for a person to knowingly manufacture or produce a false academic degree or for a person to knowingly use a false ac...

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NDSigned into law 04/2003Postsec.False Academic Credentials
H.B. 1068
Relates to the issuance, manufacture, and use of false academic degrees or certifications; provides a penalty....

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SDSigned into law 03/2001Postsec.Accreditation
S.B. 160
Prohibits the offering of postsecondary education credit or degree by non-accredited institutions....

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KYSigned into law 04/2000Postsec.Defines College
H.B. 44
Relates to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority; expands the definition of college to include postsecondary educational instit...

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