West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 135 - Community And Technical College Education › Title 135 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE EDUCATION › Series 135-52 - Annual Reauthorization of Degree-Granting Institutions › Section 135-52-2 - Purpose

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
2.1. The West
				Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Council),
				through a process of granting authorization and annual reauthorization of
				education institutions operating in West Virginia that provide instruction up
				to and including the associate degree level, has the responsibility of
				protecting consumers and ensuring students are offered quality education by
				postsecondary providers within West Virginia. An institution authorized by the
				Council is required to operate in accordance with fair consumer practices to
				ensure that students can make appropriate decisions concerning their investment
				of time and money.
2.2. Fair
				consumer practices means honesty, fairness, and disclosure to students in the
				areas of recruitment, admission, contractual agreements, student financial
				assistance, obligations to repay student loans, placement assistance and job
				placement rates, advertising, refund policies, the meaning and recognition of
				different types of accreditation, the transferability of the institution's
				credits to other postsecondary institutions, the offering of quality
				instructional programs, and other appropriate performance measures.
2.3. Authorization is required for all
				postsecondary providers that offer certificates, degrees, or instruction at the
				associate degree level or below, and entities that use the term "academy,"
				"college," "institution," "university" or similar title, hereafter referred to
				as "institution," unless otherwise exempt.
2.4. The Council is responsible for the
				annual reauthorization of any private, proprietary, or out-of-state
				postsecondary institution that has physical presence in West Virginia and
				offers degree programs at or below the associate degree level. The process of
				conferring reauthorization by the Council includes the monitoring of standards
				for degrees awarded, the collection and dissemination of pertinent
				institutional data, the conduct of certain reviews and audits, and the
				imposition of certain sanctions including revocation of degree-granting
				authority.
2.5. Existing
				institutions of higher education authorized to operate in West Virginia prior
				to the effective date of this rule are subject to the reauthorization
				provisions of this rule and shall report annually to the Council on all items
				related to reauthorization prescribed in this rule.
2.6. The provisions of this rule apply to the
				annual reauthorization of any private institution in West Virginia which offers
				degrees at or below the associate level.
2.7. The Council shall make available
				information on institutional performance of all public institutions located in
				West Virginia on the Council's website and through other appropriate
				venues.
2.8. West Virginia's public
				community and technical colleges shall remain continuously authorized to
				operate unless the Legislature takes affirmative action to suspend or
				discontinue its operations;
Provided
, That such public
				community and technical colleges shall provide information delineated in
				Section 5.4 to the Council upon request or as needed for reporting
				purposes.