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

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

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

Yes.

Clarifying comments

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

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:

____ 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

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: Physical Presence Policy

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

No response provided

Web link for physical presence definition.

No response provided

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

Yes

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

Yes

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

Yes

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

Yes

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

Yes

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

Yes

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 5: Application Process

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/

Web link for application.

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

Clarifying comments:

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

Topic 6: Fees Associated with Authorization

Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?

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

If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

No response provided

Web link for fee information.

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

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 7: Surety Bonds

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

Yes

Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

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 8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

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

Yes

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

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, 005.02F Rule42_2016.pdf

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

If yes, for what types of institutions?

All

Web link for tuition refund policy.

Yes, 005.02F Rule42_2016.pdf

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?

Renewal checklist at Forms – Nebraska Department of Education

How frequently do institutions report data?

Yearly.

Is this information shared publicly?

Yes.

Web link for reporting.

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

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 11: Enforcement

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.

Web link for enforcement information.

Nebraska Legislature

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))

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

Web link for the non-SARA complaint form.

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

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.)?

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

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

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?

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

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

  • 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.

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?

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

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.