Pennsylvania Department of Education - Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
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1: Important Agency Information to Note
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2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized
__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
__x__ Religious institutions
__x__ Tribally-controlled institutions
__x__ Federal Institutions
__x__ Municipal institutions
Out-of-State: Both
____ Institution _____ Program ___X__ Both
Out-of-State institutions are regulated if physical presence is established.
3: Accreditation
New institutions approved to offer degrees shall have 3 years after commencing operations to obtain candidacy status for total institutional accreditation. Total institutional accreditation must be maintained.
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
_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
_x__ Religious institutions
_x__ Tribally-controlled institutions
_x__ Federal Institutions
_x__ Municipal institutions
- Out-of-state institutions that establish physical presence must be accredited.
- Out-of-State Degree-Granting Institutions with physical presence in PA: accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education and acceptable to the Department
- Non-degree: not required
4: Exemptions
No exemptions regarding any institution physically in PA.
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5: Authorization of Distance Education
No.
Yes.
No.
Degree-granting institutions: Out-of-state degree granting institutions who have a physical presence in PA must be authorized to operate in PA.
Non-degree granting institutions: If out-of-state non-degree-granting institutions recruit in PA, they must be registered.
6: Physical Presence Policy
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Title 22 Chapter 31 – §31.2
Physical presence—The operation of an entity that offers courses, programs, or degrees or maintains a campus, or an administrative, corporate or other address, including a post office box, telephone number, recruiters, instructors, advertising in local media and publications at a location in this Commonwealth.
7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions
When an individual contacts the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) with an informal complaint, they should be sent a higher education complaint form or referred to the complaint form on PDE’s website. The form is available at http://www.education.pa.gov/SARA. Complainants must print the complaint form and mail it to PDE with their signature before PDE can take official action. If they do not have Internet access or prefer a paper form, a paper complaint form can be mailed. When a complaint form is received, staff will add the complaint information to the higher education complaint database. Staff will confirm that the complaint involves a potential violation of the statute, regulations or policy. If any potential violation is possible, a copy of the complaint will be sent to the institution for response. If there is no potential violation of statute, regulation, or PDE policy, staff will send a closure letter to the complainant. If the complaint infers any potential violation, staff will mail a copy of the complaint to the institution with a standard cover letter, giving the institution 30 days to respond. If the complaint is against a state system university, staff will log the complaint and forward it to the Chancellor’s Office rather than the institution for response. All complaints against Pennsylvania institutions will be investigated and resolved equally, regardless of the domicile of the complainant. Complaints lodged against a Pennsylvania institution by a resident of another state, territory, or country will be given equal consideration and processing with those lodged by Pennsylvania residents. Staff will hold the complaint until the response comes in. If no response is received in 45 days, professional or management staff will follow up with the institution. Upon receipt of the institution’s response, professional staff will determine if a violation occurred. If additional information is needed to determine if a violation occurred, that information will be requested. The investigation will continue until adequate information is obtained to determine if a violation occurred. If necessary, a site visit will be conducted. If the investigation confirms that there was no violation, staff will send closure letters to the complainant, the institution and the accrediting agency. If a violation did occur, professional staff will work with the institution to resolve the violation and settle with the complainant. If this cannot be achieved, staff will work with the PDE legal staff to initiate legal action against the institution. Notice of final dispensation of all complaints will be provided in writing to the complainant, the institution, and the accrediting agency. Every effort is made to resolve complaints within 180 days of receipt. All complaints will be resolved within 24 months of receipt. When a complaint is closed, staff will record the closure in the complaint database and file the complaint in the institution file. Complaints will be retained for five years following final adjudication. The complaint database will maintain a permanent record of complaints.
Complaints are handled within our agency.
Contact Name: Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
Title: Administrative Assistant
Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Address: 333 Market Street 12th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17126
Email: RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov
Phone: 717-783-6786
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8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
Students may submit a complaint form to the Pennsylvania Department of Education if the institution has a physical presence in PA. If the institution does not have a physical presence, the complaint is forwarded to the state in which the institution is located. Our division will cooperate in any way possible to assist the home state in review of the complaint.
Complaints are handled within the agency.
If the complaint is an out-of-state institution, the complaint is sent to the home state that the institution resides.
Contact Name: Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity
Title: Administrative Assistant
Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
Address: 607 South Drive, Floor 3E, Harrisburg, PA 17120
Email: RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov
Phone: 717-783-6786
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9: Surety Bonds
No.
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Only for non-degree granting institutions
10: Tuition Refund Policy
Yes, but only for non-degree granting institutions.
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11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
No
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12: Reporting
- Education Enterprises are required to renew every five (5) years. Information to report includes accreditation status, program enrollment, program advisory committee members and meeting minutes from the past three meetings, current administration & faculty, admission requirements, and library and learning resources available to PA students.
- Education Enterprises must also submit an Annual Survey of Educational Programs in January of each year.
- Education Enterprises must comply with Act 16 of 2019 relating to the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program.
- Education Enterprises need to provide assurance that federal student loan disclosures are given to students as required in Act 121 of 2018.
- Renewals: every 5 years
- Annual Reports: Annually by March 1
- Annual Survey of Educational Programs: Annually by January 15
All information is public.
Reminders to submit reports are sent each year. Higher Education Reporting Website
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13: Enforcement
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14: Application Process
An application form must be completed and the appropriate fees must be in accordance with our website.
Any institution seeking authorization must contact the Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity, as stated on the Institution Resources Website.
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15: Fees Associated with Authorization
Yes.
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Education Enterprise (Out-of-State Authorization): $10,000
Education Enterprise New Program: $1,400
Education Enterprise Renewal: $2,000 every 5 years
SARA Participants: Fee schedule at www.education.pa.gov/SARA
16: Records Retention
Non-degree granting institutions must have a signed repository agreement at all times with another institution to keep records for 50 years in the event of a closure.
Degree-granting institutions must provide us with the location where records will be maintained.
Agency Name: The designated institution/company the institution has contracted with to keep records. A list is published on our website and kept in our office to update students when they call for information.
Contact Person: n/a
Contact Phone: n/a
Contact Address: n/a
Contact Email: n/a
Contact web site: n/a
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17: Additional Information
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