Code of Maine Rules › 05 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › 071 - EDUCATION - GENERAL › Chapter 149 - PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING AUTHORIZATION FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO CONFER ACADEMIC DEGREES OR TO OFFER DEGREE COURSES/PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF MAINE › Section 071-149-2 - Procedures for Obtaining Authorization and Approval

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Initial Degree Authorization - From Within the State of Maine
(1)
Application
. Officials of
				the applicant institution of higher education shall notify the Commissioner, in
				writing, of their intent to obtain legislative authorization to confer a degree
				at the Associate level or higher. An application must be received at least six
				(6) months prior to the start of a legislative session.
(2)
Notification to Presidents
.
				The Commissioner will notify the Presidents of all Maine institutions of higher
				education indicating receipt of the initial request
(3)
Provide Materials
. The
				Commissioner will provide to the officials of the applicant institution of
				higher education such materials as are necessary to the conduct and finalizing
				of the authorization process. Such materials shall include a copy of the
				procedures to be followed and standards to be met and other items as are
				pertinent.
(4)
Preparing
				Report; Content
. Officials of the applicant institution of higher
				education shall prepare a report and forward it to the Commissioner. The report
				must provide in-depth information about the institution by giving attention to
				the following topics:
A.
Organization
				and Governance
1. The institution has
				a current written document detailing administrative responsibilities of the
				governing board, administrators, the faculty, the staff, and the students (if
				staff and students participate in institutional governance).
2. The institution has an organizational
				chart that clearly shows lines of authority and the relationship among
				component units and personnel.
B.
Institutional Objectives
1. The institution has defined its
				educational mission and general purposes or goals, and has included within its
				statement of purpose such uniqueness of programming and educational
				philosophy as may be inherent in the proposed degree offerings.
2. The institution's
				statement of purpose is readily identifiable through its course and
				program offerings.
C.
Degree Requirements
1. The
				institution awards degrees, only upon successful completion of the courses or
				programs of study, and degree requirements to be met are specified in
				writing.
2. The institution's
				semester hour
*
requirements for degree completion meet the
				following minimums:
Associate Degree
- An Associate degree requires
				  a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours. The Associate of Arts
				  degree shall include a minimum of 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours in
				  general education courses.** The Associate of Science degree
				  shall include a minimum of 15 semester hours or 23 quarter hours in general
				  education courses.
Baccalaureate Degree
- A Baccalaureate degree
				  requires a minimum of 120 semester hours or 180*** quarter hours
Master's Degree
- A Master's degree shall
				  require a minimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours beyond the
				  Baccalaureate.
Doctoral Degree
- A Doctoral degree shall
				  require a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours beyond the
				  Baccalaureate in addition to the dissertation.
Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis for
				  institutions using a non-traditional approach instead of semester hours or
				  quarter hours to determine degree completion
D.
Admission Requirements
1. The institution has a written policy
				defining the minimum requirements for admission and for acceptance at the
				specific degree level or into the specific degree program proposed by the
				institution, consistent with criteria established by the appropriate regional
				or nationally recognized specialized accrediting agency.
2. The admission policies include detailed
				attention to the standards for academic credit given for experience, and the
				criteria for transfer credit.
3.
				The institution has a written policy detailing the criteria and procedure to be
				followed in providing for a refund of tuition and fees.
E.
Academic Programs
1. The educational program and curriculum
				reflects the philosophy, purposes, and objectives of the institution.
2. The institution has a written policy
				describing its system for evaluating student performance, the minimum
				performance considered satisfactory, the criteria for academic probation and
				conditions for dismissal for unsatisfactory performance.
3. Procedures for the evaluation of the
				quality of programs of instruction and specific courses are clearly stated in
				writing.
4. The institution's
				programs of study consist of planned educational experiences to meet the stated
				objectives and include attention to the necessary prerequisites, required
				courses, and appropriate progression.
F.
Faculty
1. The preponderance of faculty members
				provide instruction and possess academic, scholarly, and teaching
				qualifications appropriate to their respective positions and teaching
				assignments and are distributed in such a way that all students benefit from
				these qualifications.
2. The
				faculty is involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating the curriculum
				for all degree programs to assure quality learning experiences are provided for
				all students.
3. The faculty
				participates in the governance of the institution and the academic programs as
				well as in short-term institutional planning activities.
G.
Student Services
1. Students are provided with, and have
				access to, a system of educational, career and personal advising
				services.
H.
Library and Learning Resources
1.
				The institution maintains and provides ready access to library and learning
				resources, virtual and/or physical, that are adequate and appropriate for
				student achievement of stated program goals and objectives.
[Other areas to be addressed, should be added by institution
				  officials in an effort to give as clear a picture as possible of the
				  institution's library and learning resources - (°see Appendix B)].
I.
Facilities
1. The institution
				provides and maintains an appropriate learning environment with the necessary
				supports and technologies sufficient for student achievement of educational
				objectives. In doing so, industry standards for health, safety, and maintenance
				are followed
J.
Financial Resources
1. The
				application for establishment of a new degree-granting program documents a
				complete and realistic plan for implementing and financing the proposed
				academic program during the first five-year cycle of operation. The
Five-Year Financial Plan°
is based on reasonably projected
				enrollment levels; the nature and extent of instructional services required;
				the availability of existing resources to support the program; additional
				resource requirements; and projected/committed sources of funding (°see
				Appendix C for details to be addressed in the five-Year Financial
				Plan).
2. The application from an
				existing degree-granting institution clearly documents that it has the
				financial resources necessary to support its purposes, implement its program
				and maintain its continuity for a minimum of five years by providing its most
				recent audited financial statement, and that evidence exists of long range
				financial planning and viability.
(5)
Form Review Committee
. After
				information requested in #4 is received, the Commissioner will form a Review
				Committee authorized to review and evaluate the submitted material and to
				conduct on-site visits when applicable. The membership of the Committee will be
				determined by the Commissioner after consultation with officials of the
				applicant institution subject to the final approval of the State Board of
				Education. The committee will consist of at least five (5) individuals who will
				be representative of Maine's institutions of higher education. Other members
				may be added by the State Board of Education. One of the members will be a
				member of the Maine Higher Education Council who will serve as Chair of the
				Committee. Expenses incurred by the Committee will be the responsibility of the
				applicant institution of higher education.
(6)
Review Committee Prepares
				Report
. The Review Committee will prepare a report detailing the facts
				based upon a review of the submitted materials, the application of standards
				for evaluating requests as adopted by the State Board of Education, and
				information obtained from the on-site visit, if one was conducted, and include
				a recommendation as to whether the request for degree granting authority should
				be authorized. Prior to completion of the final report, the Review Committee
				will prepare an initial draft copy, without recommendation, and submit this to
				officials of de applicant institution for their review of the accuracy of the
				facts presented.
(7)
Review
				Committee Forward Report
. The final report and recommendation shall be
				forwarded to the Commissioner within four weeks following the Committee's visit
				or by the last Friday in November. A copy of the report, and recommendation,
				shall also be forwarded to the President of the applicant institution. At this
				time, officials of the applicant institution will be notified concerning their
				responsibility to obtain a bill sponsor and to take the necessary steps to get
				a bill drafted and filed in preparation for legislative action.
(8)
Commissioner Transmits
				Report
. The Commissioner will transmit the report of the Review
				Committee to the State Board of Education. The Board will receive the report
				and recommendation at its December meeting with final action to be taken at the
				next regular meeting at which time the Commissioner will make a recommendation
				for action.
If the officials of the applicant institution wish to make
				  any comments, reaction, or rebuttal relative to the contents of the final
				  report of the Review Committee, this shall be in writing to the Board and shall
				  be available for receipt by the Board not later than at its December meeting.
				  Concurrently, this material shall be made available to the Chair of the Review
				  Committee and if the Committee wishes to respond to is content, this shall be
				  done in writing and submitted to the State Board of Education at least ten days
				  prior to the date of its meeting at which time final action is
				  scheduled.
(9)
State
				Board Action
. The State Board of Education will make a recommendation on
				the request and transmit this to the Joint Legislative Committee on Education,
				and officials of the applicant institution will be notified of this
				action.