Colorado Department of Higher Education

• Home Page web link  https://cdhe.colorado.gov/
• Statutes and Regulations Page web link (page 31)  https://cdhe.colorado.gov/sites/highered/files/2020-2021%20Policy%20Amendments.pdf
• Authorization Information Page web link  https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/ihelanding
• Application Information Page web link  https://cdhe.colorado.gov/sites/highered/files/2020-2021%20Policy%20Amendments.pdf
• Renewal Information Page web link  https://cdhe.colorado.gov/sites/highered/files/2020-2021%20Policy%20Amendments.pdf

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).

______ 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
_____   Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____   Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
__o__  Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
__o__  Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__  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.

__X__ Institution 

_____ Program 

__X__ Both (for educator preparation programs only)

Institutions types marked with an “o” = Lorna Candler (Chief Occupational Officer, Director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools), 303-862-3001, Lorna.candler@dhe.state.co.us

• 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

The selected institutions fall under the purview of the Office of Private Postsecondary Education. The Colorado Department of Higher Education oversees public, in-state institutions and the Division of Private Occupational Schools oversees the vocational and non-degree schools in the state.

Yes; private colleges/universities require accreditation but religious training institutions are not required to hold accreditation but there are limitations on what these institutions can offer.

Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for: 
__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
_____ 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

Accreditation is required for authorization under the Degree Authorization Act for private colleges and universities. The authorization for Religious Training Institutions is different than from the process for private colleges and universities; the CO Department of Higher Education nor the CO Commission on Higher Education do not make evaluative statement regarding the administration, faculty, business practice, or quality of the offerings by these institutions. The Division of Private Occupational Schools does not require accreditation for approval unless the school offers Associate level degree programs.

See definition in policy (page 6).  CCHE Policy, Section I, Part J, Degree Authorization Act.pdf

CCHE Policy, Section I, Part J, Degree Authorization Act.pdf

Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency? 

Only if the institution places more than 10 students in CO. 

No

No

Yes

No

Found on page 6&7, in the definition of physical presence.

Institutions must demonstrate compliance with applicable statute and policy through documentation. The review is a paper based review conducted by an external evaluation team hired by me and paid for with the application fee. The team assesses the institution’s compliance with Colorado standards and applicable accreditation criteria and then provides a recommendation on whether the institution should receive authorization.

CCHE Policy, Section I, Part J, Degree Authorization Act.pdf

There is not an application, per se. The requirements/criteria are found in policy and the institution should tailor the documentation to the listed criteria in the policy.

Yes

Fee Schedule May 2024.pdf

Fee Schedule May 2024.pdf

No response provided

Yes, but the department only got authorization for surety bonds in 2012. Meaning only new institutions to Colorado since 2012 have been required to post a bond.

CCHE Policy, Section I, Part J, Degree Authorization Act.pdf

Section 29.00 on page 32

No

No response provided

No response provided

No response provided

No

No response provided

No response provided

No response provided

At a minimum, institutions must report enrollment and degrees granted on an annual basis. Those institutions that have approved educator preparation programs or those that participate in state financial aid submit data to the respective files.

One submission in February for enrollments from the previous calendar year and one submission in August for degrees granted.

I don’t think so.

https://surds.colorado.gov/signin/default.aspx

Institutions receive a reminder email to submit their data a month or two before the deadline.

CCHE Policy, Section I, Part J, Degree Authorization Act.pdf
Non-compliant institutions may face a probationary authorization or revocation of authorization.

No response provided

No response provided

Complaints are farmed out to the appropriate division within the department for review. For the private degree granting institutions, students must have exhausted all grievance avenues available at the institution prior to coming to our department. Statutorily, we have authority to investigate claims of deceptive practice only.

https://cdhe.colorado.gov/students/how-do-i/file-a-student-complaint

Students enrolled in out-of-state institutions through online instruction may submit a comment to our website specific to the issue they are having and we will work with the home state of the institution for resolution.

The complaints are divided up based on the type of institution and even down to the specific program, in some cases (i.e., educator preparation).

Contact Name: Heather DeLange
Title: Director, Office of Private Postsecondary Education
Agency: Colorado Department of Higher Education
Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202
Email: Heather.delange@dhe.state.co.us
Phone: 303-862-3001
URL: 

Only for the authorized institutions under the degree authorization act. Public institutions have a different staff member as do the private occupational schools.

Upon the closure of an institution, we collect the transcripts. Ideally, the institution has all transcripts in electronic form which we then maintain on our server. Additionally, we may send copies of the records along to a third-party vendor, Parchment, for fulfillment requests but all closed records are required to be housed with CDHE.

• Agency/Entity Name: Colorado Department of Higher Education or Parchment (all info is on CDHE’s website)
• Contact Name: Heather DeLange
• Contact Phone: 303-862-3001
• Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202
• Email: questions@dhe.state.co.us
• URL: https://cdhe.colorado.gov/students/post-college/transcript-requests

No response provided

There are two divisions that oversee all institutions that are not Colorado public institutions. We have the Division of Occupational Schools; these schools offer diplomas, certificate programs, and associate level programs only.

The Office of Private Postsecondary Education oversees institutions that predominantly serve students at the baccalaureate level and higher.

No response provided

Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.