Vermont Agency of Education
Agency Contact
Additional Contact
Secretary of State Contact
1: Important Agency Information to Note
- Home Page web link https://education.vermont.gov/
- Statutes and Regulations Page web link https://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/post-secondary-programs
- Authorization Information Page web link https://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/post-secondary-programs
- Application Information Page web link no link provided
- Renewal Information Page web link no link provided
Indicate the types of institutions that your agency authorizes.
- Note: Some agencies may refer to out-of-state public institutions as “private colleges” in their law. If this is the case for your agency, please select “public, out-of-state degree granting institutions” for purposes of this Guide so that the out-of-state public institution will find appropriate information.
- Note: If your agency is a coordinating board, your agency may have one division with some authority such as program approval over in-state public institutions that are established per statute, which is structured differently than another division of your agency with state authorization authority over non-public institutions that they “license” pursuant to different statute(s).
__X__ Public, in-state degree granting institutions
__X__ Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
__X__ 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
__X__ Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
__X__ Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
__X__ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
__X__ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
_____ Religious institutions
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
- For example, an agency may require an institution apply for licensure for institutional approval and also require the institution to apply for specific program(s) approval.
No response provided
____ Institution
_____ Program
_____ Both
VT approval does not result in licensure.
2: Authorization of Distance Education
- Meaning as example, the state regulates an out-of-state institution for merely enrolling a student into a distance education program
- Meaning as example, a solely online program that does not have any internships and practicums
No response provided
Vermont uses physical presence as the trigger to require state authorization for postsecondary operation. Vermont defines physical presence as any of the following occurring within Vermont borders: classrooms, in-person seminars, administrative offices, delivery of direct services to students, or any physical gathering of students required as part of a course of study. Physical presence does not include an in-state practicum, internship, clinicals, mentorship or teaching experience as long as it is not compensated by the institution. If the institution compensates individuals or organizations to provide these services to students within Vermont boundaries it would trigger physical presence. A professor based in VT would not alone trigger physical presence as long as all delivery is done solely via an online format - regardless of the location of the students.
3: Accreditation by an Accrediting Agency Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Yes per the below:
i. 16 V.S.A. § 176(d)(4) offers statutory authority to operate to institutions named in statute as long as it maintains accreditation
ii. VT State Board of Education Rule 2243.3 (Renewal of Certification) requires newly approved postsecondary institutions to obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order to be considered eligible for renewal by the Board within the first ten years of operation.
iii. Currently, two postsecondary institutions qualify for an exemption from the accreditation requirement as the initial approvals were received prior to January 1, 2015.
No response provided
Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education 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
Yes per the below:
i. 16 V.S.A. § 176(d)(4) offers statutory authority to operate to institutions named in statute as long as it maintains accreditation
ii. VT State Board of Education Rule 2243.3 (Renewal of Certification) requires newly approved postsecondary institutions to obtain accreditation from an accrediting entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, in order to be considered eligible for renewal by the Board within the first ten years of operation.
iii. Currently, two postsecondary institutions qualify for an exemption from the accreditation requirement as the initial approvals were received prior to January 1, 2015.
4: Physical Presence Policy
See above
No response provided
Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
See above regarding definition of physical presence
See above regarding definition of physical presence
No
Yes
Unlikely, See above regarding definition of physical presence
No response provided
5: Application Process
No response provided
No response provided
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6: Fees Associated with Authorization
Yes
See link below
No response provided
7: Surety Bonds
No
No response provided
No response provided
8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
No
No response provided
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9: Tuition Refund Policy
No
No response provided
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10: Reporting
No response provided
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11: Enforcement
No response provided
16 V.S.A. § 176(k) – (l) https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/003/00176
No response provided
12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
No response provided
No response provided
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Contact Name: Cassandra Ryan
Title: Director of Regulatory Compliance
Agency: Vermont Agency of Education
Address:
Email: cassandra.ryan@vermont.gov
Phone: 802-595-2757
URL:
No response provided
13: Records Retention
16 V.S.A. § 175 https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/003/00175
Entity acting as repository. List maintained on AOE Website:
Agency/Entity Name:
Contact Person:
Contact Phone:
Contact Address:
Contact Email:
Contact website:
No response provided
14: Additional Information
No response provided
No response provided
Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.