Maine Department of Education

Provide important web links:

• Home Page web link https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/online and  
  https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees/authorization
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/forprofit
• Statutes and Regulations Page web link https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm
• Authorization Information Page web link https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/online and  
  https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees/authorization
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/forprofit
• Application Information Page web link https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/online and  
  https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/degrees/authorization
   and https://www.maine.gov/doe/learning/highered/forprofit
• Renewal Information Page web link no link provided

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).

__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
_____  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:

The Maine Department of Education’s Office of Higher Education and Educator Support Services coordinates the degree-granting authorization process, but the rules governing that process and the final vote on requests for degree-granting authorization are the purview by the Maine State Board of Education. Institutions which are approved for degree-granting authorization by the Maine State Board of Education must also seek the passage of a bill through the Maine State Legislature, per 20-A Maine Revised Statutes, Chapter 409. Please note that initial authorization for a degree-granting institution also requires the passage of a legislative document by the Maine State Legislature in specific cases spelled out in Rule Chapter 409.

There is a separate process by which an out-of-state institution may seek approval for specific programs rather than seeking full degree-granting authorization; both processes are governed by 05-071 Maine State Board of Education Rule Chapter 149.

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