Vermont Agency of Education

Provide important web links:

• Home Page web link   https://education.vermont.gov/
• Statutes and Regulations Page web link  https://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/post-secondary-programs
• Authorization Information Page web link  https://education.vermont.gov/vermont-schools/school-operations/post-secondary-programs
• Application Information Page web link  no link provided
• 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.

No response provided

____ Institution

_____ Program

_____ Both

Clarifying comments:

VT approval does not result in licensure.

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 response provided

Clarifying comments

Vermont uses physical presence as the trigger to require state authorization for postsecondary operation. Vermont defines physical presence as any of the following occurring within Vermont borders: classrooms, in-person seminars, administrative offices, delivery of direct services to students, or any physical gathering of students required as part of a course of study. Physical presence does not include an in-state practicum, internship, clinicals, mentorship or teaching experience as long as it is not compensated by the institution. If the institution compensates individuals or organizations to provide these services to students within Vermont boundaries it would trigger physical presence. A professor based in VT would not alone trigger physical presence as long as all delivery is done solely via an online format – regardless of the location of the students.