Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 610 CMR - BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION › Title 610 CMR 2.00 - Degree-granting Regulations For Independent Institutions Of Higher Education › Section 2.04 - Definitions

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
For the purpose of
						610 CMR
						2.00, the following terms will mean:
Accreditation
Formal recognition or
						acceptance of the institution or of programs or portions of the institution by
						a regional or professional accrediting agency recognized as such by the United
						States Secretary of Education, which first requires degree approval prior to
						accreditation.
Articles of Amendment
Amendments to a
						higher education corporation's certificate of organization filed with the
						Secretary of State's office in accordance with the Secretary of State's
						policies and procedures, and referred to the Board of Higher Education under
						M.G.L. c. 69, § 30.
Certificate of Organization
Articles
						of organization filed with the Secretary of State's office in accordance with
						the Secretary of State's policies and procedures, and referred to the Board of
						Higher Education under M.G.L. c. 69, §30.
College or University
Any institution
						of higher education maintained or conducted by any person, association,
						partnership, corporation or trust which offers courses leading to an academic
						degree. Colleges may be either two-year or junior colleges, or four-year or
						senior colleges. A two-year or junior college must provide programs of study
						leading to the award of the associate's degree, and may provide programs of
						study that lead to transfer into a four-year or senior college or university. A
						four-year or senior college must provide a wide range of programs leading to
						the baccalaureate degree, and may also include some programs leading to the
						master's degree. A university must meet the requirements of a four-year or
						senior college, must provide graduate programs in two or more professional
						fields, and must provide programs leading to the doctoral degree in two or more
						fields of study. A university must clearly identify graduate studies as a
						distinct element within its organization, and must provide the additional
						faculty, facilities, and resources necessary to support sound graduate
						programs.
Degree
Any academic or honorary title
						or designation, such as, but not limited to, associate's, bachelor's, master's,
						certificate of advanced graduate study, or doctorate, awarded in recognition of
						college-level academic work.
Degree-Granting Authority
The
						authority to grant degrees, vested in institutions of higher education by the
						Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Foreign Corporation
A corporation
						established, organized or chartered under laws other than those of the
						Commonwealth as defined in M.G.L. c. 181, § 1.
Foreign Corporation Certificate
As
						filed with the Secretary of State and defined in M.G.L. c. 181, §
						4.
Board of Higher Education
The agency
						established pursuant to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 15A, § 4, referred to
						hereafter as the Board.
Independent Institutions of Higher Education
						(Institution)
Any institution, other than institutions within the
						public system of higher education as set forth in M.G.L. c. 15A, § 5, that
						offers or seeks to offer courses for credit or courses leading to an academic
						degree in Massachusetts.
New England Association of Schools and
						Colleges
A regional accrediting association recognized by the
						United States Secretary of Education.
Proprietary Institution
An institution
						of higher education incorporated for profit-making purposes under the
						provisions of M.G.L. c. 156B or similar statutes in the case of a foreign
						corporation.
Regionally Accredited Institution
An
						institution of higher education accredited without sanction by the New England
						Association of Schools and Colleges.
Student Records
All official records
						of a student's enrollment in, attendance at, and performance in an institution
						of higher education.
Veterans Approval Agency
The agency
						that approves institutions to participate in programs that enable certain
						veteran enrollees to request financial benefits from the Veterans'
						Administration under Title 38 of the United States Code.
Visiting Committee
A committee of
						competent individuals in relevant fields appointed by the Board to evaluate an
						institution and/or to evaluate particular programs within an
						institution.