Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6N-1.002 - Approval of In-State Institutions to Participate in NC-SARA

(1) An in-State institution seeking approval to participate in SARA shall submit an application to the Council on Form 1000, Application and Approval Form for Institutional Participation in SARA (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-11910), effective May 2020. This form is incorporated by reference and may be obtained without cost from the Council's website at www.flsara.org or by writing to the Commission for Independent Education at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1414, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(2) The Council shall, upon receipt of an in-State institution's complete application to participate in NC-SARA, approve the application if:

(a) The applicant is an in-State institution authorized to operate in Florida pursuant to law;

(b) If a private institution, an audited financial statement showing the financial responsibility composite score;

(c) The applicant is accredited;

(d) The institution, if it participates in federal Title IV financial aid, and has a federal financial responsibility rating of at least 1.5; or has a federal financial responsibility composite score of 1.0 to 1.5, and the Council has determined, upon examination of additional financial information, that either the institution has sufficient financial strength for state authorization or that the score between 1.0 and 1.5 results from an accounting error or the misapplication of General Accepted Accounting Standards in calculating the score. This alternative shall only be available for two (2) consecutive years. An institution whose composite score remains below 1.5 for three (3) years or longer shall no longer be eligible for participation in SARA;

(e) The institution, if it does not participate in federal Title IV financial aid, would, in the determination of the Council, have a federal financial responsibility rating of at least 1.5, or, with justification deemed acceptable by the Council, at least 1.0; and,

(f) The institution makes its state authorization-related complaint policies and procedures readily available to students, and informs students that they may appeal state authorization-related complaints to the Council pursuant to Rule 6N-1.006, F.A.C.

(g) For any course or program potentially leading to professional licensure: the institution notifies students and potential students that the course or program meets the licensing requirements of the state where the students or potential students reside; or the institution notifies students and potential students that it cannot confirm whether the course or program meets the licensing requirements of the state where the students or potential students reside, provides students and potential students with current contact information for applicable licensing boards, and advises students and potential students to determine whether the course or program meets state licensing requirements;

(h) The provisional approval criteria in Rule 6N-1.003, F.A.C., do not apply; and,

(i) The applicant has paid the fee required in Rule 6N-1.005, F.A.C.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 6N-1.002

Rulemaking Authority 1000.35(10) FS. Law Implemented 1000.35(3), (5)-(7) FS.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 191, October 3, 2017 effective 10/17/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 078, April 21, 2020 effective 5/5/2020.

New 10-17-17, Amended 5-5-20.