Responses Last Confirmed:

Mississippi Commission of Proprietary School and College Registration

Agency Contact

Kim Verneuille, Ed.D.
601-432-6185
kverneuille@mccb.edu

Additional Contact

Secretary of State Contact

Michael Watson
601-359-1350
mississippi@sos.ms.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.

_____    Public, in-state degree granting institutions
_____    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
__X__    Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
__X__    Non-degree, for-profit institutions
_____    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?

NO

____ Institution   _____ Program   _____ Both

c.
Clarifying comments:

The Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration (CPSCR) is responsible for the administration of the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Law, Title 75, Chapter 60, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.  CPSCR serves as the state approval and licensing authority for proprietary schools offering vocational/occupational/technical post-secondary education.

CPSCR does not authorized any institutions offering academic programs, only vocational/technical/occupational programs.

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.

No response provided

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:

For institutions wishing to offer degrees, accreditation is required from an accrediting agency recognized/approved by the US Department of Education. Institutions offering diploma or certificates, accreditation is not required. However, all state laws on professional licensure must be adhered to by all registered CPSCR schools.

Topic

4: Exemptions

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

Exemptions are in CPSCR regulations and MS Law:

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

Miss. Code Ann. § 75-60-5

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

Please review the exemptions as established in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight page 18.

d.
Clarifying comments:

Exemptions are Regulation 3.5 page 18 or Miss. Code Ann. § 75-60-5

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:

Any institution not based in the State of Mississippi, whether or not it offers instruction to residents of Mississippi only over the Internet, is determined to need a Certificate of Registration issued by the Commission to offer postsecondary instruction in the State if they engage in at least one of the following activities:

  1. The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
  2. The institution maintains a postal address with a Mississippi zip code;
  3. The institution markets and/or recruits Mississippi students via any means of media which originates in Mississippi;
  4. The institution maintains an Internet URL which originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP which is based in Mississippi;
  5. The institution provides payment reportable for income tax purposes via either a W-2 or Form 1099 to any individual resident of the State for any purpose associated with the institution’s Mississippi students.
Topic

6: Physical Presence Policy

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

Any institution not based in the State of Mississippi, whether or not it offers instruction to residents of Mississippi only over the Internet, is determined to need a Certificate of Registration issued by the Commission to offer postsecondary instruction in the State if they engage in at least one of the following activities:

  1. The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
  2. The institution maintains a postal address with a Mississippi zip code;
  3. The institution markets and/or recruits Mississippi students via any means of media which originates in Mississippi;
  4. The institution maintains an Internet URL which originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP which is based in Mississippi;
  5. The institution provides payment reportable for income tax purposes via either a W-2 or Form 1099 to any individual resident of the State for any purpose associated with the institution’s Mississippi students.
b.
Web link for physical presence definition.
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.

As SARA portal entity, follow SARA policy.

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.)?

Not directly, MCCA is the SARA portal. However, due to the nature of the complaint and type of institutions, CPSCR will work with MCCA if necessary.

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

Contact Name: Dr. Sherice Robinson
Title: Director of Regulatory Affairs
Agency: MCCA
Address:
3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS
Email: srobinson@ihl.state.ms.us
Phone: 601-432-6336
URL: http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/

 

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?

Complaints on institutions not directly authorized by CPSCR, should direct their complaint to the home state in which the institution is located. However, MS residents may contact CPSCR for information.

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.)?

Complaints about academic institutions will be referred to MCCA. Otherwise, CPSCR can facilitate an investigation. Depending upon the nature of the complaint, the matter may be referred to the MS AG’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)?

Complaints on institutions not directly authorized by CPSCR, should direct their complaint to the home state in which the institution is located. However, MS residents may contact CPSCR for information.

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

Contact Name: Kim Verneuille, Ed.D.
Title: Director
Agency: Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration
Address: 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Email: kverneuille@mccb.edu
Phone: 601-432-6185
URL: https://www.mccb.edu/offices/proprietary-schools

e.
Web link for the complaint form.
f.
Clarifying comments:

CPSCR, MCCA and the AG are the primary/central contacts for complaints.

Topic

9: Surety Bonds

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

Yes – All CPSCR registered institutions are required in statute to carry a surety bond.

b.
Web link for surety bonds.

The CSPCR office should be contacted for a copy of the MS forms required as part of the application process.

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

10: Tuition Refund Policy

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

No

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)?

No, MS does not have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund. All schools carry a surety bond as part of their required state authorization from CPSCR. Miss. Code Ann. § 75-60-17 allows CPSCR to make claims to the surety bond for processes related to school closure and student refunds of unearned tuition.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

No response provided

c.
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

No response provided

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?

Out-of-state institutions not required to register with CPSCR must submit a letter of continued compliance with out-of-state criteria each year.

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually

c.
Is this information published or shared publicly?

No

e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided 

Topic

13: Enforcement

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

Regulation 3.21, 3.22, & 3.23.

b.
Web link for enforcement information.
c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

14: Application Process

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

Any person interested in making application for a certificate of registration or an agent's permit under the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Law should contact, in writing;

Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211

The application packet fee is $25.00 and must be submitted by check or money order.

After receipt of the written request and a $25.00 application fee, each prospective applicant will be emailed access login to the online registration system, a copy of the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Regulations, MS Law.

In your letter, please state:
1 - Type of School
2 - Location/Proposed Location
3 - Estimated date of opening/Offering Programs
4 – Email Address

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

No response provided 

Topic

15: Fees Associated with Authorization

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

Application fee: At the time you apply, the fee of $3000+ ($2500 for the application & $500 for each agent license). All completed applications must be submitted 30 days prior to a Commission meeting.

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

Review the Fee schedule in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

c.
Web link for fee information.

Review the Fee schedule in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

d.
Clarifying comments:

The CPSCR fee schedule in located in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight - https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

Topic

16: Records Retention

a.
When a school closes, what is the process your state uses to ensure that transcripts/records are kept available?
b.
From what agency do students request their transcripts/records from a closed school?

Agency Name: Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration
Contact Person: Kim Verneuille, Ed.D. or Megan Atkins
Contact Phone: 601-432-6185 or 601-432-6518
Contact Address: 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Contact Email: transcriptrequest@mccb.edu
Contact website: https://www.mccb.edu/closed-schools-and-transcripts

c.
Clarifying comments:

Before the end of FY2024, CPSCR will have a working partnership for Diploma Sender to handle the closed school records for students.

Topic

17: Additional Information

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

Rules and regulations are always being reviewed and updated. Please contact the CPSCR office with specific questions.