Responses Last Confirmed:

Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

Agency Information

Guide Topics

Agency Contact

Kathleen Fimple
402-471-0030
kathleen.fimple@nebraska.gov

Additional Contact

Mike Baumgartner
402-471-0029
mike.baumgartner@nebraska.gov

Secretary of State Contact

Robert Evnen
402-471-2554
sos.info@nebraska.gov
Topic

1: Important Agency Information to Note

a.
Provide any important information about your agency.

No response provided

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.

__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
_____ 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
__X__ Religious institutions
_____ 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:

“Authorization” varies with institution. Nebraska Department of Education authorizes non-degree granting institutions and may have different responses

Topic

3: Accreditation

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

Yes. if there is a physical presence.

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

Accreditation 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
__X__ Religious institutions
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions

c.
Clarifying comments:

All institutions falling under this agency must be accredited by an entity approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Religious institutions fall under this agency if they offer an academic degree.

Topic

4: Exemptions

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

Nebraska Department of Education covers non-degree granting and has exemptions.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions? Which types of programs?

No response provided

c.
Web link for exemptions.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

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?

No. 

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

6: Physical Presence Policy

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

No response provided

b.
Web link for physical presence definition.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=85-2403

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions

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

Student must have exhausted all options at the institution; then this agency covers the complaint.

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.)?

Student must have exhausted all options at the institution; then this agency covers the complaint.

c.
Web link for student complaints – SARA participating institutions.

https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/student-complaints-against-postsecondary-institutions

d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?
  • Contact Name: Kathleen Fimple                        
  • Title: Academic Programs Officer
  • Agency: Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
  • Address: PO Box 95005, Lincoln, NE 68509-5009
  • Email: Kathleen.fimple@nebraska.gov
  • Phone: 402-471-0030
  • URL:
e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions

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

Staff would assist the student in contacting the appropriate agency in the home state of 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.)?

A Nebraska student at an out-of-state institution could also contact the Attorney General’s consumer protection division.

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)?

No. 

d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?
  • Contact Name: Kathleen Fimple                        
  • Title: Academic Programs Officer
  • Agency: Nebraska’s Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
  • Address: PO Box 95005, Lincoln, NE 68509-5009
  • Email: Kathleen.fimple@nebraska.gov
  • Phone: 402-471-0030
  • URL:
e.
Web link for the complaint form.

https://ccpe.nebraska.gov/student-complaints-against-postsecondary-institutions

f.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

9: Surety Bonds

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

Yes, for for-profit institutions.

b.
Web link for surety bonds.

Chapter-08.pdf (nebraska.gov)

c.
Clarifying comments:

For for-profit institutions with a physical presence there is a Guaranty Recovery Cash Fund.

Topic

10: Tuition Refund Policy

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

Institutions must have one if not under Title IV (with physical presence).

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

No response provided

c.
Web link for tuition refund policy.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

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

Yes

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

For for-profit institutions with a physical presence there is a Guaranty Recovery Cash Fund

c.
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

Chapter-08.pdf (nebraska.gov)

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

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?

Program name and award, enrollments, completions, accreditation actions

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually; renewal typically every five years.

c.
Is this information published or shared publicly?

Yes. 

d.
Web link for reporting.

Renewal

AP_RecurrentAuthorization_Renewal Request.pdf (nebraska.gov)

e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

13: Enforcement

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

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=85-2414

b.
Web link for enforcement information.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

14: Application Process

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

Complete application and submit fee. The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education votes on the application at one of its regular meetings.

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=85-2403

b.
Web link for application.

AP_RecurrentAuthorization_Initial Application.pdf (nebraska.gov)

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

15: Fees Associated with Authorization

a.
Application Fee – Is there an application fee to initiate the authorization process? If so, what is the fee or fee schedule? Please provide a web link if available.

Yes

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

Varies

c.
Web link for fee information.

AP_Fee Schedule_July 2022.pdf (nebraska.gov)

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

16: Records Retention

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

Statute requires they be deposited at the University of Nebraska.

b.
From what agency do students request their transcripts/records from a closed school?
  • Agency Name:  University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Registrar
  • Contact Person:
  • Contact Phone:  402-472-3635
  • Contact Address: Transcripts, 107 Canfield Administration Building, Lincoln, NE 68588-0416
  • Contact Email:
  • Contact web site:  http://registrar.unl.edu
c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

17: Additional Information

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

No response provided