Agency Contact

Brenna Harris
307-777-6210
brenna.harris@wyo.gov

Secretary of State Contact

Chuck Gray
307-777-7378
Business@wyo.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
__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
__X__ 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.

__X__ Institution

_____ Program

_____ Both

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

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

No response provided

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?

Yes

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
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions

Clarifying comments:

All degree granting institutions are required to be accredited by an agency recognized by the USDE. There is a provision for institutions that are in candidate status with a recognized accreditation agency.

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?

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

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

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 5: Application Process

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

An annual application and applicable fees must be submitted on or before July 1 each year.

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 6: Fees Associated with Authorization

Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?

Yes

If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

The annual fee for degree granting institutions is $100. Non-degree proprietary schools must submit a $10,000 bond as well as a $200 fee.

Web link for fee information.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 7: Surety Bonds

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

Maybe

Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

Clarifying comments:

A $10,000 Surety Bond is required for institutions in candidate status of accreditation as well as non-degree granting proprietary schools.

Topic 8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

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

No

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?

No response provided

If yes, for what types of institutions?

No response provided

Web link for tuition refund policy.

No response provided

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?

The institution must submit accreditation information. Proprietary schools must submit personnel, course catalog, financial information, etc

How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually.

Is this information shared publicly?

Some of the information is shared publicly.

Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic 11: Enforcement

What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

No response provided

Web link for enforcement information.

No response provided

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))

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.)?

The complaint duties are divided based on the nature of the complaint.

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

  • Contact Name: Elaine Marces
  • Title: Private School Licensing
  • Agency: Wyoming Department of Education
  • Address: 122 W. 25th St. Suite E200
  • Email: elaine.marces@wyo.gov
  • Phone: 307-777-6210
  • 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?

The state works with individual closing institutions to ensure the records are available to students.

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

No response provided

Agency Name:
Contact Person:
Contact Phone:
Contact Address:
Contact Email:
Contact website:

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?

No response provided

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.