STATE AUTHORIZATION
Recent amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 include changes in regulation for State Authorization that may impact online, distance, and correspondence education providers. The relevant language includes:
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. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)
Southeastern Community College is currently authorized, licensed, registered, exempt or not subject to approval in the following states: Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Exemptions/Authorizations for states not listed are currently in progress which include Alabama and Florida. The college will endeavor to seek authorization in any state as needed per enrollment of students in online courses offered by the institution.
The U.S. Department of Education requires disclosure to consumers residing in all states. The list below provides contact information for each state.
State Authorization is a legal issue dealing with a college’s adherence to state requirements for colleges to secure authorization to offer instruction in that state. Institutions offering distance education courses or programs must provide current and prospective students with the contact information for filing complaints with the college, its accrediting agency, and with the state agencies that handle complaints in the student’s state of residence.
The State Authorization Federal Regulation Chapter 34, ß 600.9(c)
If an institution is offering post-secondary 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 distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.
