Serendipity35

In a press release, Education Department Proposes Rule on State Authorization of Postsecondary Distance Education, Foreign Locations, new regulations are an attempt to clarify state-authorization requirements. These regulations now vary by state for institutions that offer online courses.

- colleges that offer online courses would have to be authorized by each state in which they enroll students, if the states require such authorization

-  regulations would close what’s been described as a loophole in which distance-education providers enroll students in states where the institutions are not located

-  states would also be required to document how they process and resolve student complaints about distance-education classes.

- foreign branch campuses or locations would be required to be authorized by the appropriate foreign government agency and, if at least half of a program can be completed at the foreign location or branch campus, be approved by the accrediting agency and reported to the state where the main campus is located.

The agency will accept public comment on the proposed regulations until August 24, and it expects to issue a final version before the end of the year.