10 Miss. Code. R. 201-3.8 - Authorization to Operate in Mississippi
A. Registration with the Mississippi Secretary of State (SOS) Business Services Division is required; however, such registration alone does not constitute state authorization or approval to grant degrees or offer courses or programs or instruction leading to a for-credit credential including a degree, certificate, or other generally recognized credential.
B. Prior to offering instruction, courses, or degree programs at or above the associate level in Mississippi, the institution or entity shall submit an application, supporting documentation, and fees to the Commission.
C. Field placements are exempt from Standard A. However, prior to offering field placements, the institution or entity shall submit an Experiential Learning Placement Application, supporting documentation, and fee to the Commission. The Commission may consider applications for field placements at its scheduled, called, and/or annual meetings. Field placements shall mean site-based learning activities (e.g., clinicals, internships, student teaching, practicum, field-based experiences, etc.) in settings (e.g., hospitals, schools, businesses, etc.) in which candidates are working with patients, children, teachers, principals, etc. in Mississippi and are observed/assisted/evaluated by supervisors, preceptors, coaches, teachers, principals, or other individuals to determine that course and/or program requirements have been addressed.
D. Nursing clinicals are exempt from the above application materials. However, contact must be made with the IHL Director of Nursing Education for additional information. Refer to Appendix C.
E. If an institution or entity requires approval from another Mississippi agency, the institution or entity shall provide documentation of the approval to the Commission.
F. The Commission will not consider a college or university or any other entity that, in the two (2) years preceding submission of an application, has had its accreditation suspended or withdrawn or has been prohibited from operating in another state or that has substantially the same owners, governing board, or principal officers as a college, university, or any other entity.
G. Institutions and other entities shall be reviewed annually, and a list of institutions and their relationship to the Commission shall be published annually after July 1.
H. Institutions or any other entities shall submit the initial application, supporting documentation, and fees. Applicants must submit a written request for an application.
I. Institutions or any other entities must provide the annual report application, supporting documentation, and fees. Submit a written request for an application.
J. The Commission may request additional information needed to make a determination regarding an application. If any section of any application is deemed insufficient or inappropriate, the applicant shall receive written notification after the Commission meets.
K. At the discretion of the Commission, if an application is denied, the institution or entity may appeal or reapply during the following annual reporting period or later.
L. The Commission may consider initial and/or annual report applications at its annual meeting.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
A. Institutions shall submit to the Commission a notification or a request for approval along with documentation and a detailed description regarding how the change(s) will affect the institution's compliance with Commission standards and regulations, provisions, procedures, and policies.
a. Closing an institution, a program, a method of delivery, an instructional site, a non-instructional site;
b. Changing legal status, form of control, or ownership of an institution;
c. Merging/consolidating two or more institutions or entities;
d. Acquiring another institution or instruction site;
e. Relocating an institution or instructional site of an institution;
f. Re-opening a previously closed location;
g. Adding a location;
h. Entering into a cooperative academic arrangement or other arrangement;
i. Initiating programs by distance education;
j. Changing or adding method of delivery;
k. Offering programs at a higher or lower degree level than authorized;
l. Adding a program;
m. Changing a program;
n. Changing the way the institution measures student progress (clock or credit hours; semesters, trimesters, or quarters; time based or non-time based);
o. Adding competency-based education programs;
p. Change of recognized accreditors;
q. Change in institutional accreditation status;
r. Change in federal financial assistance program participation status;
s. Change in designated central institutional contact, administrators.
B. An institution must immediately notify the Commission if it is subject to any investigative action, complaint, show-cause or disciplinary action with an accrediting, state, or federal agency including loss of accreditation or loss of eligibility to participate in the federal financial assistance program. Reports and documents commonly included as part of the accreditation or eligibility process must be made available if requested by the Commission.
C. Commission authorization is not transferable. In the event of a change in ownership of an institution, the new owner must apply for state authorization.