state authorization monday, april 11, 2011 tuesday, april 12, 2011
TRANSCRIPT
State Authorization
Monday, April 11, 2011Tuesday, April 12, 2011
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The regulation Section 600.9
• If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.
• http://tinyurl.com/47vxesx
Title HereNot new federal laws but enforcement of existing state laws
• To comply, institutions must– Get authorized in any state where your institution
has distance students—whatever that process – Provide students from other states with contact
information for the complaint process in their state
– Enforcement begins July 1, 2011
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Some clarifications:• Not about residential students, so if they live
in Washington while attending your school, no authorization is needed
• May involve other requirements and costs, such as a business license for that state
• Infractions will be discovered through audit process
• USDOE will accept a “good-faith” effort for the 2011-2012 year
• WCET working on list of complaint contacts by state
Title HerePenalty for Non-compliance• Return of Title IV federal financial
aid funds that were disbursed to students from the state for which your college is not authorized
• Accreditation may require you to teach- out students from another state who are currently in programs at your college
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Why now?• USDOE believes this will protect
federal financial aid dollars• USDOE believes this will protect
students• USDOE so far does not believe this
will be a burden to colleges (plus, they are just enforcing existing state laws)
Title HereSir John Daniel said about his attempt to create a US Open University:• “When I brought the OU to America
I thought I would be dealing with one country. I was mistaken.”
• http://www.insidehighered.com/layout/set/popup/views/2011/02/18/goldstein
Title HereHow do you eat an elephant?
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….One bite at a time…
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….and this elephant
isn’t even standing still…..
• States are changing and clarifying their rules• Efforts to extend timeline• Efforts to establish reciprocal agreements• Efforts to establish common requirements
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College Process Ideas• To comply each college has to
make decisions on how to proceed – Short-term: deadline July 1, 2011– Long-term: Authorization and fees are
an annual process
Title HereEstablish your committee and project manager• People to include:
– Elearning– Institutional research– Public information/marketing– Registration– Financial aid– Others?
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Gather information• How many students in how many
states?• Details of your presence in each
state?• Costs in money and time to comply
with each state?• Use links in Starter List: (It’s already out of
date) http://stateregulations.wikispaces.com/Research
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Some questions to ask about “presence” (Remember everything varies by state)
• Does your college have a site in that state?
• Does your college market to that state?• Does your college hire faculty who live
in that state?• Do your students do internships in that
state?• Do your students work toward
professional licenses? (i.e., nursing)
Title HereTips from those who have gone before….• Your communication with states should
be positive and signal that you want to be in compliance. The state officers are likely underfunded and overwhelmed, too.
• You can ask for a waiver if you have to teach-out students who move to another state mid-program.
• Keep detailed records
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SBCTC eLearning:• Has joined WCET State Authorization
Network--– access to information and reform efforts
• Will attend or report to councils and commissions on this issue
• Will post information on this wiki: (Thanks, Shoreline!) – http://stateregulations.wikispaces.com/
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SBCTC eLearning• Will collect questions for AAG• Will attempt to get authorization for whole
system in some states—starting with the closest (and maybe easiest)—Will need feedback from colleges on where to start and possibly other details:– Idaho– Montana– California – Oregon– (The right ones to start with?)
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What will help…• Provide a single contact at each
college—the project manager?
• Lead for SBCTC:– Connie Broughton,
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What else will help…• Post whatever you learn, decide or
create on wiki:• http://stateregulations.wikispaces.c
om/
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April Meetings• Two Elluminate sessions (same agenda)
– Monday, April 11 at 11:00 am– Tuesday, April 12 at 3:00 pm
• To attend: https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=2008170&password=M.6572CB4EFB13FD9E7F09659413DBD6
Recordings will be on the wiki