Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation

• Home Page web link  http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca
• Statutes and Regulations Page web link  http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/
• Authorization Information Page web link  http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/ and http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/downloads/federal-online-ed-requirements.pdf
• Application Information Page web link  http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/
• Renewal Information Page web link  no link provided

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
_____    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
__X__    Religious institutions
_____    Tribally-controlled institutions
_____    Federal Institutions
_____    Municipal institutions

• 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

Applies to academic degree-granting institutions that offer one or more postsecondary degree or instruction and are domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in Mississippi. Postsecondary academic degrees include, but are not limited to, associate, bachelor, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Some programs may require approval from another state agency before MCCA will consider institution/program approval (i.e., nursing, education).

• 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

Yes

If domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in the state, Commission approval required.  Examples of triggers for otherwise located include, but are not limited to:

1.  The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
2. The institution maintains a postal address (either physical or PO Box) with a Mississippi zip code;
3. The institution maintains an internet URL that originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP that is based in Mississippi
4. The institution advertises that a future institution will be domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in Mississippi

Out-of-state academic degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions that offer courses and programs exclusively online from their locations outside the borders of the State are required to apply for Commission approval. 

Yes

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
__X__  Religious institutions
_____  Tribally-controlled institutions
_____  Federal Institutions
_____  Municipal institutions

The Commission recognizes the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accrediting Commission, the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) Accrediting Commission, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Commission on Accrediting, Middles States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WASC Senior College and University Commission, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

For the purpose of state authorization, an institution has physical presence and therefore must seek authorization to operate in Mississippi if the institution engages in any of the following activities in Mississippi:

1. Establishes a physical location for students to receive synchronous or asynchronous instruction; 
2. Requires students to physically meet in a location for instructional purposes more than twice per full-term (quarter or semester) course for a total of more than six hours;
3. Establishes an administrative office in the state; MCCA Standards and Regulations Page 14
4. Provides information to students for the purpose of enrolling students, advising students, administrating exams, recruiting students or providing student support services (or any other services to prospective or current students), from a physical site operated by or on behalf of the institution in the state, or partners or contracts with a third-party provider or other entity located in the state to provide information to students for the purpose of enrolling students, advising students, administrating exams, recruiting students or providing student support services (or any other services to prospective or current students); 
5. Offers a short course that requires more than 20 contact hours in one six month period; 
6. Provides office space to instructional or non-instructional staff; 
7. Maintains a mailing address or phone exchange in the state; 
8. Carries out field study or field research located at a field station, research station or other physical site at which a faculty member or other institutional employee or contractor supervises or otherwise directs two or more students in an activity exceeding the allowable short course length and which either bears academic credit or is a requirement for the course or program;
9. Operates career or information booths at fairs or other public gatherings within the state;
10. Presents institutional information at secondary schools, postsecondary schools, or other entities within the state;
11. Advertises in local media and publications that originate in Mississippi.

No response provided

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

No response provided

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Out-of-state academic degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions that offer courses and programs exclusively online from their locations outside the borders of the State are required to apply for Commission approval.

Submit a written request for an application to srobinson@mississippi.edu

No response provided 

No response provided

Yes

http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/sara_faq.asp

No response provided

Not currently.

No response provided

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No

No response provided

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Institutions are required to have a tuition refund policy that is fair and applied equitably.

All institutions authorized by MCCA.

No response provided

No response provided

Progress and/or status reports, accreditation documentation, annual reports, or other information requested by the Commission, which could include reports on enrollment and graduation and financial reports.

Annually or as requested by the Commission.

Enrollment and graduation data could be shared as part of the State’s Education Achievement Council report/records

No response provided

No response provided

Authorization may be refused, revoked, or suspended for proof of violation of the standards, regulations, policies, and procedures.

No response provided

No response provided

http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/student_complaint_process.asp 

http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/student_complaint_process.asp and http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/downloads/mccastudentcomplaintform.pdf 

If complaint relates to an out-of-state institution not authorized by MCCA, direct complaint to the authorizing/licensing agency in the institution’s home state or to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division

Complaints about career/occupational schools in the State will be referred to the Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration. Otherwise, if within the jurisdiction of MCCA, MCCA will facilitate an investigation. Depending upon the nature of the complaint, the matter may be referred to the Mississippi AG’s Consumer Protection Division.

• Contact Name: Dr. Sheriece Robinson
• Title: Director of Regulatory Affairs
• Agency: Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
• Address: 3825 Ridgewood Road
• Email: srobinson@mississippi.edu
• Phone: 601-432-6336
• URL: http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/student_complaint_process.asp

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

Institution officials are required to notify MCCA of the arrangements made for the location/management of student records including evidence of disposition of student records, with a contact person, complete address and telephone number/email address and instructions for how student records may be obtained.

Academic degree-granting institutions are required to provide MCCA with the contact information for the entity that will be storing/managing the student records and instructions that a student should use to request a transcript from that entity.  The entity’s contact information and instructions are placed on MCCA’s website (http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca, Closed School Transcript Request)

Agency/Entity Name:
Contact Person:
Contact Phone:
Contact Address:
Contact Email:
Contact website: http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca/students.asp 

No response provided

Career/occupational schools register with the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration

No response provided

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