Responses Last Confirmed:

Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development

Agency Contact

Leroy Wade
573-751-1776
leroy.wade@dhewd.mo.gov

Additional Contact

Secretary of State Contact

Jay Ashcroft
573-751-4936
info@sos.mo.gov
Topic

1: Important Agency Information to Note

a.
Provide any important information about your agency.

N/A

Topic

2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized

a.
Indicate the types of institutions that your agency authorizes. Please provide a short explanation of any ambiguity in the comment section below.

_____    Public, in-state degree granting institutions
__X__    Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions        
_____    Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions 
__X__    Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions    
__X__    Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__    Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
_____    Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
__X__    Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
__X__    Non-degree, not-for profit institutions (typically depends on accreditation status; unaccredited – yes; accredited – it depends on other factors such as if they are state aid eligible)
__X__    Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__    Religious institutions (authorized primarily through exemption from regulation)
_____    Tribally-controlled institutions
_____    Federal Institutions
_____   Municipal institutions

b.
Does your agency authorize specific academic programs offered by institutions, only institutions themselves, or both?

____ Institution   _____ Program   ___X__ Both

c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

3: Accreditation

a.
Is accreditation required for an institution to be authorized in your state?

No.

b.
If yes, please check all that apply as appropriate.

N/A

Accreditation Required for:
____ Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
____ Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
____ Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
____ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
____ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
____ Religious institutions
____ Tribally-controlled institutions
____ Federal Institutions
____ Municipal institutions

c.
Clarifying comments:

New non-public degree-granting institutions are expected to make continuous progress on obtaining appropriate, recognized accreditation within a reasonable timeframe. The institution must disclose to students the degrees are unaccredited until such time as accreditation is achieved.

Topic

4: Exemptions

a.
Are certain institutions or programs exempt by law or policy from your state authorization requirements?

Yes.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions? Which types of programs?
  • Not-for-profit religious institutions accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges, the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, or a regional accrediting association, such as the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, which is recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education
  • Not-for-profit religious institutions offering only religiously designated degrees and programs
  • Charitable institutions that provide instruction without financial charge
  • Schools offering only non-vocational or recreational courses or programs
  • Employer sponsored instruction or training available only to employees
  • Training by restricted membership trade or professional associations for members only
  • Schools or training programs regulated and approved by other state agencies
  • Elementary and/or secondary schools (i.e., schools enrolling students primarily under the age of 16)
c.
Web link for exemptions.
d.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

5: Authorization of Distance Education

a.
Does your agency require purely online programs offered by out-of-state institutions to be authorized without regard to physical presence?

No.

b.
If not, does your agency determine whether an institution must be authorized based on a physical presence (“operating”) standard?

Yes.

c.
Does your agency require correspondence study programs to be authorized without regard to physical presence?

Physical presence is the primary trigger. Online and correspondence are handled in the same way.

d.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

6: Physical Presence Policy

a.
If your agency uses a physical presence standard, how does your agency define physical presence?

“Physical presence” means any person or location within the state of Missouri where, from, or through which a school operates for the purpose of conducting an activity relating to postsecondary education, including the granting of certificates or degrees, or for the purpose of recruiting students. Location is defined to include any address, physical site, electronic device, or telephone number within or originating from within the boundaries of the state of Missouri. Physical presence shall also mean a formally scheduled instructional interaction organized by or through a school taking place between two (2) or more students and/or instructors within the state of Missouri. Physical presence does not include any activity conducted by a school based outside of Missouri covered by the provisions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.

b.
Web link for physical presence definition.
c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions

a.
Please describe the process for handling complaints about SARA participating Institutions.

Only formal written complaints are reviewed through this process. The complaint is reviewed by department staff and provided to the institution for response. The original complaint and the institutional response are reviewed by staff and an advisory committee and a determination is made regarding any action required by the institution.

b.
Is the process handled all within your agency or do you divide consumer protection and student complaint duties dependent on the type of institution (Public, Private, Technical, etc.)?

In most instances it is handled internally but we do have the authority to refer to another agency depending on the institutional type and its authorization status.

c.
Web link for student complaints – SARA participating institutions.
d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?

Contact Name: Dr. Laura Vedenhaupt
Title: Director of Academic Affairs
Agency: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Address: 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Email: laura.vedenhaupt@dhewd.mo.gov
Phone: 573-751-2361
URL:

e.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions

a.
Please describe the process for handling complaints about out-of-state postsecondary institutions or programs?

The same process is used. All information is the same at Topic 7.

b.
Is the process handled all within your agency or do you divide consumer protection and student complaint duties dependent on the type of institution (Public, Private, Technical, etc.)?

See above.

c.
Does this complaint process extend to institutions not authorized by the agency that may enroll residents of the state (such as explicitly distance education programs with no physical presence or exempt institutions)?

See above.

d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?

See above.
 

e.
Web link for the complaint form.

See above.

f.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

9: Surety Bonds

a.
Does your state require a Surety Bond for authorized out-of-state institutions?

Yes.

b.
Web link for surety bonds.
c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

10: Tuition Refund Policy

a.
Does your state have a Tuition Refund Policy Requirement?

Yes.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

Any institution certified to operate under the proprietary school certification statute. Primarily in-state for-profit institutions and out of state private institutions regardless of tax status.

d.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

a.
Does your state have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund (or similar fund for school closure)?

No.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

N/A

c.
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

N/A

d.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

12: Reporting

a.
What kinds of information or data must an institution report to your agency as a condition for continued out-of-state authorization?

Institutional description (name, address, contacts, etc.); programs offered; financial information; enrollments; completions; student outcomes.

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually

c.
Is this information published or shared publicly?

Not published but is available upon request as a public record.

d.
Web link for reporting.

N/A

e.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

13: Enforcement

a.
What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

Probationary status; suspension of authorization; termination of authorization.

c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

14: Application Process

a.
Please provide a short description of the application process to obtain state authorization.

The review and approval of the school's application to operate a proprietary school is first. The major sections of the application deal with operational standards (compliance), institutional information (data collection and verification), and publications (consumer information). These areas are based on standards organized around institutional, programmatic, personnel, financial, and student services information. Each section contains requests for information and a testament by a school official verifying compliance with certification standards and confirming the accuracy and completeness of the application materials. The application must demonstrate that the proposal is the product of careful planning, that the instruction proposed has legitimate purpose and reasonable expectations of adequacy, and that the proposed school will have the necessary resources to implement and maintain the proposed instruction in compliance with certification standards. Schools must submit an application fee of $200 with the initial application in order to be placed in the queue for review. This amount will be credited toward the school's total initial certification fee of $500.

Processing time for an application for initial certification is impacted both by the care and diligence of its preparation and by the workload of DHEWD staff responsible for its evaluation. Applications are always processed as quickly as possible and usually in the order in which they are received. The suggested minimum expectation for the completion of the evaluation process is approximately 120 days. Schools proposing to offer a wide range of programs or to offer degree-level study should expect a longer review time. Depending on the type and level of programs envisioned, the DHEWD may use external consultants to assist with the evaluation of the application materials and the school proposal. Review of proposals to offer programs leading to professional licensure, such as massage therapy, will also include appropriate action or approval by the pertinent regulatory board in the state.

Applications for initial certification may be submitted at any time. For schools seeking annual recertification, March 15 prior to expiration of the current certificate to operate is the deadline for submission of the recertification application. Failure to meet this deadline can result in the lapse or denial of certification.

b.
Web link for application.
c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

15: Fees Associated with Authorization

a.
Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?

Yes.

b.
If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

The formula for the calculation of the certification fee is included in the application section of the rules and regulations and varies depending on the type of certification the school is seeking. For schools applying for initial certification, the fee is established as a flat amount ($500 total) for the remainder of the current certification year. After the initial certification year, the minimum annual fee is $500 and the maximum is $5,000. For schools applying for recertification, this step is concurrent with the verification of the security deposit.

d.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

16: Records Retention

a.
When a school closes, what is the process your state uses to ensure that transcripts/records are kept available?

By statute, institutions must make arrangements for the permanent storage of student records upon closure. The department requires documentation of these arrangements as part of the closure process.

b.
From what agency do students request their transcripts/records from a closed school?

Agency Name: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Contact Person: Leslie Winter
Contact Phone: 573-751-2361
Contact Address: 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO
Contact Email: 
leslie.winter@dhewd.mo.gov
Contact website: https://dhewd.mo.gov/

c.
Clarifying comments:

N/A

Topic

17: Additional Information

a.
Is there anything else about the authorization process in your state that we and others ought to know about?

N/A