Agency Information

Guide Topics

Agency Contact

Tyler Eggen
907-465-6741
tyler.eggen@alaska.gov

Additional Contact

Secretary of State Contact

Nancy Dahlstrom
907-465-3520
lt.governor@alaska.gov

Topic 1: Important Agency Information to Note

Provide important web links:

What types of institutions are subject to this agency’s authority? 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
_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
____    Tribally-controlled institutions
____    Federal Institutions
____    Municipal institutions

Does your agency authorize specific academic programs offered by institutions, only institutions themselves, or both?

  • 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.

____ Institution

_____ Program

_X__ Both

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 2: Authorization of Distance Education

Does your agency require exclusively online offerings offered by out-of-state institutions to be authorized?

No – if complete distance education exemption application. Must be SARA participant or apply for Exemption from Authorization for online programs.

Clarifying comments

Link to Online/Distance Education (Non-SARA) website: https://acpe.alaska.gov/IA/OnlineExempt

Topic 3: Accreditation by an Accrediting Agency Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Is accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for an institution to be authorized in your state?

No

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

Clarifying comments:

Accreditation is required to offer degrees but ACPE also regulates non-degree granting schools

Topic 4: Physical Presence Policy

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

Physical presence is defined as the presence within the state of paid staff or faculty, or a facility or address; in this paragraph, “faculty” and “staff” does not include site supervisors or mentors for local internships or practica, or adjunct personnel; staff or faculty residing within the state but working from a location other than the facility of a postsecondary educational institution does not constitute a physical presence.

Web link for physical presence definition.

https://acpe.alaska.gov/IA/OnlineExempt

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

Does a faculty member residing in your state and teaching an online course trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?

No response provided

Does advertising targeted to residents of your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?

No response provided

Does having an administrative site in your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?

No response provided

Does having a recruiter in your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 5: Application Process

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

See https://acpe.alaska.gov/IA/Initial

Web link for application.

https://acpe.alaska.gov/IA/ApplicationsDeadlinesFees

Clarifying comments:

Webpage has all fees and applications.

Topic 6: Fees Associated with Authorization

Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?

Yes

If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

$2,750 for in state initial authorization, up to 3 programs. $750 per additional program, $5,000 max.

Web link for fee information.

https://acpe.alaska.gov/IA/ApplicationsDeadlinesFees

Clarifying comments:

Webpage has all fees and applications.

Topic 7: Surety Bonds

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

No

Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

Does your agency have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund (or similar fund for higher education institution closure)?

No

If yes, for what types of institutions?

No response provided

Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 9: Tuition Refund Policy

Does your agency have a Tuition Refund Policy Requirement?

Yes

If yes, for what types of institutions?

All institutions

Web link for tuition refund policy.

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/aac.asp#20.17.115

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 10: Reporting

What kinds of information or data must an institution report to your agency as a condition for continued institutional state authorization?

None at this time.

How frequently do institutions report data?

n/a

Is this information shared publicly?

n/a

Web link for reporting.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 11: Enforcement

What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

(1) shall serve on the institution or agent, or both, an order requiring the institution or agent, or both, to cease and desist from the act or practice;

(2) may award the individual or class of individuals named in the complaint full or partial restitution for damage or loss if the commission finds that the individual or class of individuals has suffered loss or damage as a result of the act or practice;

(3) may impose the penalties provided for in AS 14.48.190;

(4) may assess a civil fine, not to exceed $5,000, for costs of investigating and adjudicating a matter under this section; and

(5) may, based on its own investigation and the evidence presented at the hearing, begin an action to revoke an institution’s authorization to operate or an agent’s permit.

Web link for enforcement information.

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.48.130

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions

Please describe the process for handling complaints about non-SARA out-of-state postsecondary institutions or programs? (34 CFR 600.9(a))

Must complete institutional grievance policy steps prior to complaint with the Commission.

Web link for the non-SARA complaint form.

https://acpe.alaska.gov/ConsumerProtection

How does your agency handle a non-SARA complaint from a resident of its state that is against an out-of-state institution that the agency does not authorize?

No response provided

Is the non-SARA 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.)?

Handled all the same.

Who is the contact person or entity for your state for receiving non-SARA student complaints?

Contact Name: Tyler Eggen
Title: Institutional Authorization Program Coordinator
Agency: Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
Address: PO Box 110505 Juneau, AK 99811
Email: eed.acpe-ia@alaska.gov
Phone: 907-465-6741
URL: www.acpe.alaska.gov/ia

Clarifying comments:

We direct students to our FAQ, which has resulted in less calls and emails with preliminary questions.

Topic 13: Records Retention

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

ACPE is the repository for closed school records for Alaska based schools

From what agency or entity do students request their transcripts/records from a closed higher education institution?

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 14: Additional Information

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

No response provided

What is your preferred method of communication?

No response provided

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