Responses Last Confirmed:

Nebraska Department of Education- Private Postsecondary Career Schools

Agency Information

Guide Topics

Agency Contact

Marisol (Baquerizo) Birth, Ph.D.
402-326-4519
marisol.birth@nebraska.gov

Additional Contact

Yvette Martin
402-416-0950
yvette.martin@nebraska.gov

Secretary of State Contact

John Gale
402-471-2554
sos.info@nebraska.gov
Topic

1: Important Agency Information to Note

a.
Provide any important information about your agency.

The Private Postsecondary Career Schools section of the Nebraska Department of Education has the responsibility of authorizing private postsecondary career schools to operate educational programs and to recruit/enroll students for their schools.

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
_____ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_____ 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?

____ Institution _____ Program ___X__ Both

c.
Clarifying comments:

The highest degree offered for Private Postsecondary Schools would an Associate Degree.

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.

Accreditation Required for:
____ Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
____ Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
__X_ Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
____ 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

c.
Clarifying comments:

If institution does not hold a home state authorizations or licenses.

All schools licensed by Private Postsecondary Schools in Nebraska are required to apply for accreditation by PPCS within five years of operation https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule42_2016.pdf - 009-009.02B2.

Topic

4: Exemptions

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

https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule41_2016.pdf - 003

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

Apprenticeship/On-the-job training programs

c.
Web link for exemptions.

https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/rules-and-regulations/ Rule 41 003; Rule 42 003

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?

Yes. 

b.
If not, does your agency determine whether an institution must be authorized based on a physical presence (“operating”) standard?

No response provided

c.
Does your agency require correspondence study programs to be authorized without regard to physical presence?

Yes. 

d.
Clarifying comments:

https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule41_2016.pdf - 002.12

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.

No response provided

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.

No response provided

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.)?

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

Contact Name

Title

Agency

Address

Email

Phone

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?

Complaints should be directed to the out-of-state postsecondary institution’s authorizing home State agencies.

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 are handled within the agency, and at times will consult with another state agency if necessary.

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:  Investigations Office
  • Title
  • Agency:  Nebraska Department of Education - Investigations Office
  • Address:  500 S. 84th St., 2nd Floor Lincoln, NE  68510-2611
  • Email
  • Phone:  402-471-2295
  • URL
e.
Web link for the complaint form.

https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/forms/  - PPCS Complaint Form

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

b.
Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

Out of state institutions are required to have an agent bond -  https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule42_2016.pdf  - 005.02B - 005.02B5

Topic

10: Tuition Refund Policy

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

School licensed by the Nebraska Department of Education – PPCS and schools licensed by Another State Agency.  https://cdn.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule44_2016.pdf

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

Private, in-state, not-for-profit non degree granting institutions
Private, in-state, for-profit non degree granting institutions

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?

No response provided

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Yearly. 

c.
Is this information published or shared publicly?

Yes. 

d.
Web link for reporting.

https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Rule42_2016.pdf 

e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

13: Enforcement

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

If operating without authorization, a school may be willfully violating Nebraska State Statute 85-1610 which is a Class II misdemeanor. Each day’s failure to comply is a separate violation.

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.

Information regarding applications forms and regulations for Nebraska can be found at: https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/

b.
Web link for application.

https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/forms/

c.
Clarifying comments:

A typical processing time frame would be 8 weeks, assuming that the agency has received all required information from the institution.

Topic

15: Fees Associated with Authorization

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

Yes. http://www.education.ne.gov/PPCS/

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

No response provided

c.
Web link for fee information.

   https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/fees/

d.
Clarifying comments:

PPCS requires a surety bond for the school and for agents, schools pay into the Tuition Recovery Cast Fund (TRCF) for the first 5 years in operation, and agents must have an agent permit (renews every 3 years) in Nebraska to recruit students.

Cost to renew include a renewal fee, program fee/program, and agent renewal fee of all agent permits that expires in that year.

Topic

16: Records Retention

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

Follow process as established in 85-1644 https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/rules-and-regulations/

b.
From what agency do students request their transcripts/records from a closed school?
  • Agency Name:  Nebraska Department of Education 
  • Contact Person: PPCS-VE Transcripts
  • Contact Phone:
  • Contact Address: PO Box 94987 Lincoln NE 68509-4987
  • Contact Email:
  • Contact web site: https://www.education.ne.gov/ppcs/transcripts/

If you hold a Nebraska cosmetology, esthetician, or nail technician license, please contact 402-471-4977 for a certification/transcript of your records.

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?

If you hold a Nebraska cosmetology, esthetician, or nail technician license, please contact 402-471-4977 for a certification/transcript of your records.