Agency Contact

Courtney Britton
225-219-7150
courtney.britton@laregents.edu

Secretary of State Contact

Kyle Ardoin
225-922-2880
admin@sos.la.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
_____    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:

Non, degree granting institutions are considered proprietary schools and licensed under that law.

Academic degree granting institutions, not part of one of our existing systems are regulated by the Act 129.

Act 129 also allows for registration of religious institutions, but they are exempt from licensure.

Topic 2: Authorization of Distance Education

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

  • Meaning as example, the state regulates an out-of-state institution for merely enrolling a student into a distance education program
  • Meaning as example, a solely online program that does not have any internships and practicums

No

Clarifying comments

No response provided

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?

Yes and 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
__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

Clarifying comments:

Out of state academic degree granting institutions are required to be accredited. In-state academic degree granting institutions can operate on a conditional license as they pursue accreditation.

Proprietary schools are not required to be accredited.

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 an address, phone, agent, or clinical/internship/practicum site.

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.

Processes vary widely based on the type of institution. All process are a multi-month process, and require submission of various materials, fees and approval by the Board. (Proprietary schools must also be recommended to the board by the Advisory Commission on Proprietary Schools.) Both types of institutions will soon be required to submit application materials via an online portal.

Web link for application.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

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?

For Act 129 schools, $1500 annually.

For Proprietary schools: Initial $2000 fee, and $1000 fee contribution to the student protection fund.

Renewal fees, vary based on the previous year’s gross tuition, but start at a minimum of $500.

Web link for fee information.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 7: Surety Bonds

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

No, for academic institutions. Yes, for proprietary schools.

Clarifying comments:

In-state proprietary schools are required to be bonded also.

Conditionally licensed in-state academic intuitions are also required to be bonded.

Topic 8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

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

Yes.

If yes, for what types of institutions?

For proprietary schools, only for closed institutions.

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 licensed institutions. Details found in regulations.

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?

Financials, student data, program and location updates, instructor information, proof of bond continuation, enrollment data.

How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually, though not all data is required annually.

Is this information shared publicly?

Not at this time.

Web link for reporting.

(La. R.S. 17:3140.3.D)

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 11: Enforcement

What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

Fines, license suspension or revocation. Barred from future licensure.

Web link for enforcement information.

See Rule and Regs.

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))

Student complaint processes are outlined in our regulations.

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.)?

They are divided by Proprietary and Act 129. And it is an internal process.

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

Contact Name: Courtney Britton
Title: Director of Licensure
Agency: LA Board of Regents, Proprietary Schools Section
Address: P.O. Box 3677, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Email: courtney.britton@laregents.edu
Phone: 225-219-7150
URL: https://www.laregents.edu/proprietaryschools/

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

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?

No process for academic degree granting institutions. For proprietary schools, schools should submit to the Board of Regents, who is the recordkeeping body for those school’s records. (La. R.S. 17:3140.15) Records that are transmitted electronically are uploaded and stored as needed. Paper records are digitized and microfilmed prior to destruction.

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

Agency Name: LA Board of Regents, Proprietary Schools Section
Contact Person:
Contact Phone:
Contact Address: P.O. Box 3677, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Contact Email: transcripts@laregents.edu
Contact website:

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.