Responses Last Confirmed:

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Agency Information

Guide Topics

Agency Contact

Ms. Elizabeth Walker, Coordinator for Academic Administration
Email ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu
ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu

Additional Contact

Secretary of State Contact

Mr. Josh Cockroft (https://www.sos.ok.gov/)
405.521.3912
Topic

1: Important Agency Information to Note

a.
Provide important web links:
b.
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
_____ 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 – degree-granting, unless they are exempt as per Clarifying Comments under Topic 3.
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions

c.
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.

__X__ Institution   

_____ Program   

_____ Both

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

2: Authorization of Distance Education

a.
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. See “Out of State Institutions Offering Distance Education in Oklahoma” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/

b.
Clarifying comments:

Certain activities conducted in Oklahoma by out-of-state institutions do not require authorization. See “Military Installations,” “Supervised Field Experiences,” and “Activities that do not Require Authorization” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/.

Topic

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

a.
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

b.
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 - degree granting
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions

c.
Clarifying comments:

State statute requires institutional accreditation by a USDE-recognized institutional accreditor for all institutions operating as a degree-granting institution in the state. This includes, but is not limited to, out-of-state institutions offering courses for college credit through dual/concurrent enrollment and placing students supervised field experiences that are required for students to complete their degree program. Unaccredited institutions may not conduct any degree-related instruction or activity in the state. Candidacy status does not fulfill this requirement. There is no procedure by which an unaccredited institution may offer degree programs or degree-related instruction in Oklahoma while earning accreditation.

In 2024, Oklahoma HB 4050 amended 70 O.S. § 4104 to exempt purely religious institutions and degrees from accreditation and authorization requirements. See: “Religious Degree-Granting Institutions here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/.

For accreditation requirements for non-degree institutions, see the Oklahoma Board for Private Vocational Schools.

Topic

4: Physical Presence Policy

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

No response provided

b.
Web link for physical presence definition.

No response provided

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

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

h.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

5: Application Process

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

Institutions must complete and submit an authorization application to the OSRHE with the required authorization fee, then, if approved by the State Regents, pay the required authorization fees and, if appropriate, the student tuition recovery fund payment.

b.
Web link for application.

https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/

c.
Clarifying comments:

To request more information on authorization of degree-granting institution or an application packet, contact Ms. Elizabeth Walker, ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu.

Topic

6: Fees Associated with Authorization

a.
Application Fee – Is there an application fee to initiate the authorization process? If so, what is the fee or fee schedule? Please provide a web link if available.

Yes.

b.
If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

See “Fees and Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/. 

c.
Web link for fee information.

See “Fees and Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/. 

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

7: Surety Bonds

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

No

b.
Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

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

Yes.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

Private, non-exempt institutions authorized to offer degrees in Oklahoma.

c.
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

See “Fees and Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/. 

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

9: Tuition Refund Policy

a.
Does your agency have a Tuition Refund Policy Requirement?

Yes

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

All authorized institutions are required to have a tuition refund policy detailed in the student catalogue.

c.
Web link for tuition refund policy.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

The OSRHE does not currently have a tuition refund policy of its own that all authorized institutions must follow, but requires authorized institutions to have a tuition refund policy.

Topic

10: Reporting

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

Institutions must report programs offered, in-state enrollment, and supervised field experience placement information annually, in addition to reporting requirements found under OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, M, Reporting Requirements https://okhighered.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/policy-3-1-state-authorization.pdf.

Additionally, private institutions will be required to report Oklahoma tuition income for purposes of calculating payments into the student tuition recovery fund. See “Fees and Student Tuition Recovery Fund Payments” here: https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/.

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually

c.
Is this information shared publicly?

Enrollment and program offerings are shared publicly.

d.
Web link for reporting.

No response provided

e.
Clarifying comments:

This information is presented to the OSRHE at a public meeting and the presentation item is publicly available on the OSRHE website.

Topic

11: Enforcement

a.
What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

The authorization to operate as a degree granting institution may be denied, revoked, or non-renewed when a private institution or out-of-state public institution fails to meet or comply with any portion of OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, Private Institutions and Out-of-State Public Institutions. 

b.
Web link for enforcement information.

https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions

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

See https://okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints/.

b.
Web link for the non-SARA complaint form.

https://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/

c.
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

d.
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.)?

Dependent on the governing or coordinating agency or board that governs the institution, and the type of complaint. See: https://okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints/.

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

OSRHE contact for non-SARA related complaints:

Contact Name: Ms. Lindsay Echols

Title: Executive Director for Campus Compact and Director of Student Affairs and Diversity

Agency: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Address: 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Email: lechols@osrhe.edu

Phone: 405-225-9128

URL: https://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml

f.
Clarifying comments:

Complainants must complete and submit the student complaint form available here:  https://okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints/ before their complaint will be reviewed.

Topic

13: Records Retention

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

The state currently has no such process for degree-granting institutions. When this changes, authorized institutions will be notified.

For the process for non-degree granting institutions, see the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools.

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

See Transcript Information/Closed Institutions.

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

14: Additional Information

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

See https://okhighered.org/state-system/state-authorization/. 

Contact: 
Ms. Elizabeth Walker
Coordinator for Academic Administration
ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu

b.
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.