ECSheading
From the ECS State Policy Database
Postsecondary Institutions--Private/Independent


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
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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OKSigned into law 05/2012P-12
Postsec.
Debit and Charge Card Fees
S.B. 1774
This bill amends state law to allow private educational institutions to charge a convenience fee for use of a debit or charge card. Such a f...

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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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FLSigned into law 04/2012Postsec.Private Institutions' Reporting of Performance Data
H.B. 7135 - Private Institutions' Reporting of Performance Data
Requires colleges and universities eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant Program to report stude...

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ILAdopted 04/2012Postsec.Program Review (Private Colleges and Universities)
23 IL ADC 1030.10, 20, 30, 60, 70, 90
Guides the reviews of private colleges' and universities' (a) applications to establish new colleges and universities in the state and (b) a...

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CASigned into law 09/2011Postsec.Definition of "Private College" or "Private Participating College"
A.B. 1163
Amends definition of a "private college" or "private participating college" for purposes of the California Educational Facilities Authority...

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NYSigned into law 08/2011Postsec.Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy Assistance for Not-for-Profit Postsecondary Institutions
S.B. 3755
Relates to the eligibility of certain independent not-for-profit institutions of higher education to receive assistance from the New York po...

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CASigned into law 08/2011Postsec.Private Postsecondary Education
A.B. 1013
Provides that if the U.S. Department of Education does not have a relevant exam for an ability-to-benefit student (i.e., a student without a...

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TXSigned into law 06/2011Postsec.Institutions Authorized to Operate Educational Programs Beyond Secondary Education
H.J.R. 130
Clarifies that the state meets U.S. Department of Education requirements concerning federal student aid by naming private institutions of hi...

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ALTo governor 05/2011Postsec.Oversight of For-Profit and Nonprofit Postsecondary Institutions
H.B. 321
Relates to the regulation of certain schools and courses of instruction and exemptions from school licensing. Clarifies the definitions of f...

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MDSigned into law 05/2011Postsec.Regulation of Public, Private Nonprofit, and For-Profit Institutions of Higher Education
S.B. 695
From Department of Legislative Services Fiscal and Policy Note: Distinguishes between public, private nonprofit, and for-profit institutions...

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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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CASigned into law 09/2010Postsec.Longitudinal Data Systems and Teacher Preparation Program Data
A.B. 2086
From bill analysis: Existing law creates the California Education Information System, consisting of the CALPADS (California Longitudinal Pup...

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ILAdopted 07/2010Postsec.Private Colleges and Universities Capital Distribution Formula
23 IAC 1039.10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90
Primarily from summary in Administrative Register: On July 13, 2009, Public Act 96-37 was signed into law, creating the Private Colleges and...

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TXAdopted 05/2010Postsec.Accreditation and Authorization of Colleges/Universities Other Than Public Institutions
19 TAC 7.3, 7.7, 7.11
Largely from Texas Register:
Amends provisions relating to degree-granting colleges and universities that are not Texas public institutions...

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COSigned into law 05/2010Postsec.
Community College
College Core Course Guidelines and Credits
S.B. 108
Allows a nonpublic institution of higher education to choose to participate in public higher education core course guidelines; provides that...

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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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SCVetoed 04/2010Postsec.Private Univeristy Campus Police - Extention of Authority
S.B. 19
Relates to the jurisdiction of campus police officers at private colleges. As proposed in the legislation, the authority of campus police of...

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KYSigned into law 04/2010Postsec.
Community College
Transfer/Articulation from Associate's Degree to Four-Year Programs
H.B. 160
Encourages postsecondary institutions to limit bachelor degree programs to 120 credit hours and associate degree programs to 60 credit hours...

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WYSigned into law 03/2010Postsec.Private Postsecondary Institutions
H.B. 16
Relates to private school licensing; provides an exemption from private school licensing requirements for any parochial, church or religious...

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NJSigned into law 01/2010Postsec.Proprietary Schools
A.B. 4023
Revises the representation of proprietary schools on New Jersey Presidents' Council and on its executive board; provides that the presidents...

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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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NCSigned into law 08/2009Postsec.
Community College
Student Protection Fund for Proprietary School Students
S.B. 860
Establishes a student protection fund for proprietary school (i.e., all private schools operated for profit, with some exceptions) students ...

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ILSigned into law 07/2009Postsec.Private Postsecondary Facilities
H.B. 2424 - Article 25
Establishes the Private Colleges and Universities Capital Distribution Formula Act. Creates a distribution formula for funds appropriated fr...

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TXSigned into law 06/2009Postsec.
Community College
Engineering, Applied Science and Applied Technology
H.B. 2425
Authorizes private higher education institutions to participate in specified engineering recruitment programs, including one-week summer pro...

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TXSigned into law 05/2009Postsec.Tuition Equalization Grant Program
H.B. 4476
Amends eligibility requirements for the Tuition Equalization Grant Program, which allows financially needy students to attend private, non-p...

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CAVetoed 09/2008Postsec.Private postsecondary
S.B. 823
Recasts, revises, and reenacts the provisions of the Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education Reform Act of 1989 as the Private Postse...

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OKSigned into law 05/2008P-12
Community College
Postsec.
Board of Private Vocational Schools
S.B. 1211
Relates to the Board of Private Vocational Schools; requires budgeting in certain categories and amounts; requires certain performance measu...

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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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CASigned into law 10/2007Postsec.Private postsecondary finance
A.B. 1749
Provides that the provision of existing law relating to the issuance of bonds for financing of public and private higher education facilitie...

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WASigned into law 04/2007Community College
Postsec.
Private Vocational Schools
S.B. 5402
It is clarified that private vocational schools must meet the minimum requirements to obtain and maintain an operating license. Private voca...

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NYSigned into law 04/2007P-12
Postsec.
High Needs Nursing Programs at Independent Institutions and Empire Innovation Programs
S.B. 2107, Parts E-4, E-5, E-6
Adds new section 6401-A to the education code. Authorizes the commissioner to grant state aid for high needs nursing programs to any indepen...

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VASigned into law 03/2007Postsec.Authorizes Establishment of Employee Benefits Consortium
H.B. 3021
Authorizes five or more private institutions of higher education to form a benefits consortium for the purpose of establishing a self-funded...

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MISigned into law 09/2006Postsec.
Community College
Religious College State Regulation Exemption
H.B. 6016
Exempts religious colleges from state regulation of educational programs offering degrees, diplomas or
certificates based on education beyon...

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MISigned into law 09/2006Postsec.
Community College
Religious or Ecclesiastical Educational Corporations
H.B. 6014
Revises the provisions of existing law regulating educational corporations; provides for an educational corporation classification to includ...

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NERule Adoption 08/2006Postsec.
Community College
Postsecondary Private Career Schools
Title 92 NAC Chapters 41 and 42
Establishes procedures for authorizing private postsecondary career schools to operate, be accredited and grant degrees.
Nebraska 1264...

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WYEmergency Rule Adoption 06/2006Postsec.
Community College
Private Postsecondary School Registration
Chapter 30
Amends rules regarding operation or registration of all private postsecondary degree granting
education institutions that are located within...

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VASigned into law 04/2006Postsec.Purchasing
S.B. 664
Allows private, nonprofit institutions of higher education chartered to purchase directly from state contracts established by the Division o...

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WYSigned into law 03/2006Postsec.Private School Licensing
S.B. 69
Relates to private school licensing; transfers duties from the state board to the department of education; requires registration of all accr...

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WASigned into law 03/2006Postsec.Tax-Exempt Property Usage
H.B. 2804
Recognizes that independent nonprofit schools, colleges, and universities are important economic drivers in their communities, and encourage...

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CASigned into law 09/2005Postsec.Definition of Private College for Funding Purposes
A.B. 947
Specifies that, for purposes of obtaining financing under the California Educational Facilities Authority Act, a "private college" also incl...

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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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CASigned into law 09/2004P-12
Postsec.
Special Education Students
A.B. 1858 (multiple provisions)
Prohibits a licensed children's institution and a residential care facility from requiring, as a condition of admission or residency, that a...

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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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HISigned into law 06/2004P-12
Postsec.
Community College
Revenue Bonds for Not-for-Profit Education Facilities
S.B. 3086
Relates to special purpose revenue bonds for Island Pacific Academy. The legislature finds and determines that the planning and construction...

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