Section 1030.30 Institutional Approval

Section 1030

Section 1030.30

Institutional Approval

The following general rules

apply to institutions seeking a Certificate of Approval under the 1945 Act and

an Authorization to Operate under the 1961 Act. Section 1030.40 identifies

exceptions to these rules for those institutions covered by only the 1945 Act.

Section 1030.50 identifies exceptions to the general rules for the institutions

covered by only the 1961 Act.

a)         Criteria for Evaluation of the Application for a Certificate

of Approval and/or Authorization to Operate

The following

criteria are designed to measure the appropriateness of the stated educational

objectives to the name and certificate or degree programs that require approval

of a given institution and the extent to which suitable and proper processes

have been developed for meeting those objectives:

1)         For institutions requiring approval, the objectives for the

institution and its certificate and degree programs that require approval must

be consistent with what the institutional name and program titles imply.

A)        The

term "university" shall only be used in the name of an institution of

higher education when the institutional structure includes two or more distinct

colleges (e.g., College of Business, College of Education, and College of

Liberal Arts and Sciences) providing instruction at the baccalaureate and

graduate levels, and is involved in public service activities, scholarship and

research.

B)        The

term "college" shall only be used to refer to an institution

providing instruction at the postsecondary level.

C)        Names

of certificate and degree programs that require approval shall adhere to the

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) developed by the National Center

for Educational Statistics

d is involved in public service activities, scholarship and

research.

B)        The

term "college" shall only be used to refer to an institution

providing instruction at the postsecondary level.

C)        Names

of certificate and degree programs that require approval shall adhere to the

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) developed by the National Center

for Educational Statistics.

2)         During review for operating authority, Board staff will

consider the following:

A)        Alleged

fraudulent conduct on the part of any person operating the institution or of

any person, acting within the scope of his/her employment by the institution,

on account of which any student ever enrolled in the institution has been

injured or has suffered financial loss.

B)        Loss,

suspension, probation or similar adverse action taken by an accrediting body

with which the institution is or was affiliated.

C)        Actions

of federal or state regulatory agencies or Offices of Attorneys General, Offices

of Inspectors General, or similar bodies that affect an institution's status

with those bodies.

D)        Compliance with the requirements outlined under the PBVS Act,

if applicable.

3)         The caliber and content of each course or program of

instruction, training or study shall be reasonable and adequate for achieving

the stated objectives for which the course or program is offered.  An

undergraduate curriculum shall include general education in alignment with the

degree level and objectives.

A)        Approved

program admission policies must include, at a minimum, the following:

i)          Undergraduate

degrees must require a high school diploma or its equivalency, or passage of an

ability to benefit test or alternative pathway that has been approved pursuant

to U.S. Department of Education regulations (see 34 CFR 668.145).  Home school

students who have obtained a diploma or similar credential under applicable

state law are considered to have met this equivalency requirement

Undergraduate

degrees must require a high school diploma or its equivalency, or passage of an

ability to benefit test or alternative pathway that has been approved pursuant

to U.S. Department of Education regulations (see 34 CFR 668.145).  Home school

students who have obtained a diploma or similar credential under applicable

state law are considered to have met this equivalency requirement. Students who

do not meet such a standard may be admitted provisionally but may only take

non-credit bearing coursework until the student passes an ability to benefit

test.

ii)         Graduate

degrees must require at least a baccalaureate degree from an accrediting

authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for

Higher Education Accreditation or degree from another country evaluated for

U.S. equivalency, with the exception of degrees for professional practice whose

professional standards do not require baccalaureate degrees for entry or for

dual degree programs that can demonstrate equivalency of student outcomes at

both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  For purposes of dual degree

programs that allow individuals to complete a bachelor's degree and either a graduate

or professional degree within the same program, a student is considered an

undergraduate student for at least the first three years of that program.

B)        Institutions

must show the capacity to develop, deliver, and support academic programs.

Procedures and policies that will assure the effective design, conduct and

evaluation of the program under the academic control of the institution must be

developed.  Assessment plans must demonstrate that the institution has

identified clear and appropriate program and student learning goals and must

have defined appropriate outcomes.  Appropriate data must be collected and may

be requested by the Board to show the level of student learning that has

occurred as a result of participation in the institution's programs of study

nstitution must be

developed.  Assessment plans must demonstrate that the institution has

identified clear and appropriate program and student learning goals and must

have defined appropriate outcomes.  Appropriate data must be collected and may

be requested by the Board to show the level of student learning that has

occurred as a result of participation in the institution's programs of study.

C)        Provision

must be made for guidance and counseling of students, evaluations of student

performance, continuous monitoring of progress of students toward their

certificate and/or degree objectives, and appropriate academic record keeping.

D)

IBHE staff approval

is

required for certificates tied to an approved degree program. Board approval is

needed for the creation of a certificate program in a field or at a level in

which there is not a previously approved degree program.

E)        Programs

must meet the following requirements; variations from these standards require

justification:

i)          Associate

degree requires at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours.

ii)         Baccalaureate

degree requires at least 120 semester credit hours or 180 quarter credit hours

and at least 40 semester credit hours (60 quarter credit hours) in

upper-division courses.

iii)        Master's

degree requires at least 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours of

appropriate post-baccalaureate coursework.

iv)        Doctor's

degree – Professional Practice requires completion of a program providing the

knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential or license required for

professional practice; at least 60 semester hours of postsecondary credit

required for admission to the program; and a total of at least six academic

years of college work to complete the degree program, including prior required

postsecondary work plus the length of the professional program itself

ogram providing the

knowledge and skills for the recognition, credential or license required for

professional practice; at least 60 semester hours of postsecondary credit

required for admission to the program; and a total of at least six academic

years of college work to complete the degree program, including prior required

postsecondary work plus the length of the professional program itself.

v)         Doctor's

degree – Research and Scholarship requires the completion of an organized

program of study beyond the master's level.  The program shall demonstrate full

understanding of the level and range of doctoral scholarship; the function of a

dissertation and its defense based on original research, or the planning and

execution of an original project demonstrating substantial artistic or

scholarly achievement; the nature of comprehensive examination; and other

standards commonly held for these degrees; at least 2 full time years of

advanced academic coursework beyond the master's degree; and an independent

performance of basic or applied research at the level of the professional

scholar, typically a dissertation, or to perform independently the work of a

profession that involves the highest levels of knowledge and expertise.

vi)        Certificate

program requirements must be consistent with level and stated program

objectives.

F)         Success

in student progression and graduation across all existing approved programs,

and success rates in programs preparing students for certification and

licensure, shall be consistent with expectations in higher education and the

appropriate related field of study.  At a minimum, the Board shall consider the

following factors, based on results for similar institutions:

i)          Graduation

rates, certificate and degree completion rates, retention rates, and pass rates

for licensure and certification aligned with thresholds set by State or

national regulatory bodies

stent with expectations in higher education and the

appropriate related field of study.  At a minimum, the Board shall consider the

following factors, based on results for similar institutions:

i)          Graduation

rates, certificate and degree completion rates, retention rates, and pass rates

for licensure and certification aligned with thresholds set by State or

national regulatory bodies.

ii)         Success

rate, which shall be, at a minimum, higher than that of the lowest quartile of these

measures for similar Illinois institutions defined as open versus competitive

enrollment institutions and primarily associate versus primarily baccalaureate

granting institutions.  Exceptions may be made to the lowest quartile if an

institution is above the national average for these measures using the same

comparison categories of institutions.

G)        Additional

student success measures shall be considered in the review of applications for

authorization.  The Board shall establish minimum rates of success based on

results for similar institutions or thresholds set by State or federal

regulatory bodies.

i)          At a

minimum these data shall include student loan default rates, student

indebtedness rates, job placement rates, student learning measures and other

success indicators.

ii)         Institutions

that participate in Federal Student Loan programs shall have 3-year Official

Cohort Default rates no higher than 25 percent.  Institutions with Federal

Financial Responsibility Composite Scores shall have a score that is no lower

than 1.0.  Institutions that fail to meet these thresholds may be restricted

from implementing new certificate or degree programs.

iii)        The

success rate shall be, at a minimum, higher than that of the lowest quartile of

these measures for similar Illinois institutions defined as open versus

competitive enrollment institutions and primarily associate versus primarily

baccalaureate granting institutions

tutions that fail to meet these thresholds may be restricted

from implementing new certificate or degree programs.

iii)        The

success rate shall be, at a minimum, higher than that of the lowest quartile of

these measures for similar Illinois institutions defined as open versus

competitive enrollment institutions and primarily associate versus primarily

baccalaureate granting institutions.  Exceptions may be made to the lowest

quartile if an institution is above the national average for these measures

using the same comparison categories of institutions.

H)        Requirements

for Technologically Mediated Instruction Offered at a Distance. In addition to

meeting other requirements in this Part, programs offered through

electronically mediated distance learning must, at a minimum, meet the

following requirements:

i)          The

institution assures adequacy of technical and physical plant facilities,

including appropriate staffing and technical assistance, to support its

electronically offered programs.

ii)         The

institution provides students, faculty and staff with effective technical

support and training for each educational technology hardware, software and

delivery system required in a program.  The institution provides adequate

technical support to ensure students are able to complete coursework and make

steady progress in their programs.

iii)        Appropriate

measures for security of systems and adequacy of support are maintained.  The

selection of technologies is based on appropriateness for the students, faculty

and curriculum.

iv)        Faculty

are full participants in decisions regarding curricula and program oversight.

v)         Demonstration

of student learning and program outcomes are appropriate to the field and

degree level and consistent regardless of program delivery method.

vi)        Appropriate

admission processes, policies and assessments are used to ensure that students

are capable of succeeding in an on-line learning environment

articipants in decisions regarding curricula and program oversight.

v)         Demonstration

of student learning and program outcomes are appropriate to the field and

degree level and consistent regardless of program delivery method.

vi)        Appropriate

admission processes, policies and assessments are used to ensure that students

are capable of succeeding in an on-line learning environment.  Students are

adequately informed of the nature and expectations of on-line learning.

vii)       Assessments

of student learning, especially exams, take place in circumstances that include

student identification and assurance of the integrity of student work.

viii)      Assessment

of electronically offered programs by the institution occurs in the context of

the regular evaluation of all academic programs.

4)         The institution shall have adequate and suitable space,

equipment and instructional materials to support institutional programs.

A)        The institution shall provide students, faculty

and staff with appropriate library resources and support consistent with the

degree type and level offered at the institution.

B)        Library staff shall possess the necessary qualifications to

support the needs of the programs.

5)         The education, experience and other qualifications of faculty,

staff and instructors shall reasonably ensure that the students will receive

education consistent with the objectives of the course or program of study.

A)        At a

minimum, faculty shall have a degree from an institution accredited by a U.S.

Department of Education and/or Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized

accrediting body or a degree from another country evaluated for U.S.

equivalency in the discipline they will teach or for which they will develop

curricula at least one level above that of the courses being taught or

developed

At a

minimum, faculty shall have a degree from an institution accredited by a U.S.

Department of Education and/or Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized

accrediting body or a degree from another country evaluated for U.S.

equivalency in the discipline they will teach or for which they will develop

curricula at least one level above that of the courses being taught or

developed.

i)          Faculty

providing undergraduate general education coursework shall possess, at a

minimum, a master's degree with 18 graduate hours appropriate to the academic

field or discipline in which they are teaching.

ii)         Faculty

engaged in providing technical and career coursework at the associate degree

level shall possess, at a minimum, at least 2,000 hours of work experience and

the appropriate recognized credential, depending on the specific field.

iii)        Faculty

teaching in a baccalaureate degree program shall have, at a minimum, a master's

in the field of instruction.

iv)        Faculty

teaching in a graduate program shall have a doctorate or terminal degree in the

field of instruction.

v)         Exceptions

may be made for professional experience, equivalent training and other

qualifications; however, these will be the exceptions and not the rule in

meeting faculty qualification requirements.  These exceptions for faculty may

be reviewed by the Board staff.

B)        Faculty

to student ratios and full time faculty to part time faculty ratios shall be

factors in determining appropriate provision of qualified faculty.

Institutions shall have policies in place that serve to ensure equivalency of

instruction and program delivery across faculty members, including methods of

measuring equivalency of student learning outcomes across faculty.  The Board

shall establish minimum rates of success based on data for similar

institutions

ios shall be

factors in determining appropriate provision of qualified faculty.

Institutions shall have policies in place that serve to ensure equivalency of

instruction and program delivery across faculty members, including methods of

measuring equivalency of student learning outcomes across faculty.  The Board

shall establish minimum rates of success based on data for similar

institutions.  The ratios shall be, at a minimum, higher than those of the

lowest quartile of these measures for similar Illinois institutions defined as

open versus competitive enrollment institutions and primarily associate versus

primarily baccalaureate granting institutions.  Exceptions may be made to the

lowest quartile if an institution is above the national average for these

measures using the same comparison categories of institutions.

C)        Support personnel, including but not limited to counselors,

administrators, clinical supervisors, and technical staff, that are directly

assigned to the unit of instruction have the educational background and

experience necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

6)         Support Services

A)        Facilities, equipment and instructional resources (e.g.,

laboratory supplies and equipment, instructional materials, computational

equipment) necessary to support high quality academic work in the unit of

instruction, research or public service are available and maintained.

B)        Clinical sites necessary to meet the objectives of the unit of

instruction, research or public service.

C)        Library holdings and acquisitions, owned or contracted for by

the institution, that are necessary to support high quality instruction and

scholarship in the unit of instruction, research and public service, are

conveniently available and accessible, and can be maintained.

7)         Program Information

A)        The institution shall provide to the public upon request a

catalog, either in print or electronically, with the information listed in this

subsection (a)

tution, that are necessary to support high quality instruction and

scholarship in the unit of instruction, research and public service, are

conveniently available and accessible, and can be maintained.

7)         Program Information

A)        The institution shall provide to the public upon request a

catalog, either in print or electronically, with the information listed in this

subsection (a).  This information shall be provided in print and on the

institution's website without requiring the student to provide contact or other

personal information in order to access the information. The catalog or brochure

shall contain the following information:

i)          Descriptions of the degree programs offered, program

objectives, length of program and institutional calendars with degree program

start and end dates;

ii)         Schedule of tuition, fees and all other charges and expenses

necessary for completion of the course of study, and cancellation and refund

policies;

iii)        A statement regarding the transferability of college credits,

including the fact that the decision to accept transfer credits is currently

made by receiving institutions;

iv)        A statement as to how the institution will advise students on

the nature of the transfer process, including the importance of consulting with

institutions to which the student may seek to transfer;

v)         Evidence of articulation arrangements with institutional

counterparts, when these arrangements exist;

vi)        A statement of the institution's most recent graduation rates and

the numbers of graduates and enrollments as provided by the institution to the

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  There is no exception

if the institution does not report data to IPEDS;

vii)       A statement of the institution's current accreditation status

with a U.S. Department of Education and/or Council for Higher Education

Accreditation recognized accrediting body

the numbers of graduates and enrollments as provided by the institution to the

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  There is no exception

if the institution does not report data to IPEDS;

vii)       A statement of the institution's current accreditation status

with a U.S. Department of Education and/or Council for Higher Education

Accreditation recognized accrediting body. If no such accreditation exists, the

institution must prominently state this in its advertising and published

materials; and

viii)      Other material facts concerning the institution and the program

or course of instruction as are likely to affect the decision of the student to

enroll, together with any other information specified by the Board and defined

in this Part.

B)        The information listed in subsection (a)(7)(A) shall be

available to prospective students prior to enrollment.

8)         Upon satisfactory completion of the degree program, the

student shall be awarded the appropriate degree by the institution, indicating

that a specifically approved course of instruction or study has been satisfactorily

completed by the student.

9)         Adequate records shall be maintained by the institution to

show attendance, progress or grades, and consistent standards should be

enforced relating to attendance, progress and performance. Institutions must

provide adequate security measures to protect student data and records and must

comply with all State and federal laws relevant to protection of individual

privacy and preservation of records.

10)         The institution shall be maintained and operated in

compliance with all pertinent local, State and national ordinances and laws.

11)         The institution should be financially stable and capable of

assuring the revenues needed for meeting stated objectives and fulfilling

commitments to students

ederal laws relevant to protection of individual

privacy and preservation of records.

10)         The institution shall be maintained and operated in

compliance with all pertinent local, State and national ordinances and laws.

11)         The institution should be financially stable and capable of

assuring the revenues needed for meeting stated objectives and fulfilling

commitments to students.

12)            Neither the institution nor its agents should engage in

advertising, recruiting sales, collection, credit or other practices of any

type that are false, deceptive, misleading or unfair.

13)             The institution should have a fair and equitable

cancellation and refund policy.  This policy shall apply equally to all

students regardless of whether the student receives federal or State financial

aid.

14)             The faculty, staff and instructors of the institution

shall be of good professional reputation and character.

15)             If the institution requires the student to sign an

enrollment agreement or a similar agreement, the agreement shall provide

consumer information including, but not limited to:  an explanation of all

criteria and requirements for retention, progress towards program completion,

and graduation of the student; the institution's tuition, cancellation and

refund policies; and a statement of the purpose and amount of any fees

assessed.

A)        No

institution shall enter into any enrollment agreement in which the student

waives the right to assert against the school or any assignee any claim or

defense he or she may have against the school arising under the agreement.

B)        Although

the school may use an enrollment agreement that sets forth the total cost of

the program, no school may have a tuition policy or enrollment agreement that

charges a student for multiple periods of enrollment prior to completion of the

single semester, quarter, term or other period of enrollment

im or

defense he or she may have against the school arising under the agreement.

B)        Although

the school may use an enrollment agreement that sets forth the total cost of

the program, no school may have a tuition policy or enrollment agreement that

charges a student for multiple periods of enrollment prior to completion of the

single semester, quarter, term or other period of enrollment.

16)         Any institution applying for a Certificate of Approval or

authorization to operate in the State of Illinois must specify its

accreditation status.  New institutions without accreditation from an

accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the

Council for Higher Education Accreditation shall provide a clearly defined plan

to move from candidate to affiliate status.  The plan should include the name

of the accrediting organization, the basic outline of the accreditation

process, and the projected time line for obtaining affiliate status within five

years after the date of Board approval, unless the Board waives the original

time line because it is found to be an unrealistic expectation. Appropriate

steps shall be taken to assure that programmatic accreditation needed for licensure

or entry into a profession as specified in the objectives of the unit of

instruction will be sought in a reasonable amount of time and will be

maintained throughout the life of the program.

b)         Procedures for Obtaining a Certificate of Approval and/or

Authorization to Operate

Following is a

description of the steps in the approval process:

1)         Orientation

The agenda

will include a discussion of criteria to be met by the institution and

procedures used in applying for a Certificate of Approval and/or Authorization

to Operate

ained throughout the life of the program.

b)         Procedures for Obtaining a Certificate of Approval and/or

Authorization to Operate

Following is a

description of the steps in the approval process:

1)         Orientation

The agenda

will include a discussion of criteria to be met by the institution and

procedures used in applying for a Certificate of Approval and/or Authorization

to Operate.

2)          Notice of Intent (NOI)

The Chief

Executive Officer of the institution seeking a Certificate of Approval and/or

Authorization to Operate a degree-granting postsecondary institution in the

State of Illinois should make this intention known by filing a Notice of Intent

with the Board. Notices of Intent shall be publicly posted on the Board's

website for no less than 30 days before Board action on the application and are

active for one year.

3)         Submission of Application and Supporting Documentation

Following the submission

of a Notice of Intent, the institutional representatives shall complete the

application supplied by the Board. The application requests information and

supporting evidence to demonstrate that the institution meets the criteria

established. This information request includes a signed cover letter and

audited financial statements.

4)         Staff Analysis

Following the

receipt of the formal application and accompanying documentation, staff will

review and analyze all materials.

5)         Site Visit

A)        Following completion of documentation and staff analysis of the

application, a site visit may be arranged in order to verify and supplement the

information provided about the proposed institution. Site visits may be

scheduled if:

i)          the Board is not familiar with the physical facilities;

ii)         the institution asks for a site visit;

iii)        questions have been raised about the veracity of the

application; or

iv)        for other reasons the proposed institution/program does not

lend itself to an in-office analysis

he

information provided about the proposed institution. Site visits may be

scheduled if:

i)          the Board is not familiar with the physical facilities;

ii)         the institution asks for a site visit;

iii)        questions have been raised about the veracity of the

application; or

iv)        for other reasons the proposed institution/program does not

lend itself to an in-office analysis.

B)        The site visit may include interviews with prospective

administrators, students, faculty and/or board members and observations of

facilities, record systems, financial data and/or curricular resources.

6)         Outside Consultants

The Executive

Director of the Board, at his or her discretion, may utilize the services of

outside consultants to assist the staff in the verification and/or evaluation

of the documentation submitted or obtained through the site visit.

7)         Staff Report

A)        Board staff will prepare an analysis of the findings and

develop a recommendation to the Board regarding the institutional application.

This recommendation will be shared with the applicant.

B)        The recommendation will be one of the following:

i)          That the institution be issued a Certificate of Approval

and/or Authorization to Operate, subject to annual reporting and the

implementation and maintenance of the conditions under which

approval/authorization has been granted; or

ii)         That the institution be denied a Certificate of Approval

and/or Authorization to Operate.

8)         Staff Recommendations to the Board

The Executive

Director of the Board will submit the staff recommendation to the Board for

action at a regular meeting. The Chief Executive Officer of the applicant

institution or a designee will be invited to attend the meeting and may be

asked to respond to Board questions. In the event the staff recommendation is

negative, the applicant shall be given an opportunity to respond in writing

rd

The Executive

Director of the Board will submit the staff recommendation to the Board for

action at a regular meeting. The Chief Executive Officer of the applicant

institution or a designee will be invited to attend the meeting and may be

asked to respond to Board questions. In the event the staff recommendation is

negative, the applicant shall be given an opportunity to respond in writing.

This response shall be transmitted to the Board at the same time as the staff

recommendation.

9)         Board Action

Following the

Board's decision to issue a Certificate of Approval and/or Authorization to

Operate or to deny a Certificate of Approval and/or Authorization to Operate, a

letter signifying the action will be sent from the Executive Director of the

Board to the Chief Executive Officer of the institution. A letter of approval

will serve as the official Certificate of Approval/Authorization to Operate for

the institution in the State of

Illinois.

c)         Initial authorization to operate in Illinois for institutions

new to the State shall be for five years.  In the fifth year of operation, the

Executive Director of the Board shall instruct staff to conduct a review.  The

Board may deny a continuation of the initial approval or offer a limited

extension if the institution:

1)         Has failed to implement and maintain the conditions that were

presented in its application and that formed the basis upon which

authorizations were granted;

2)         Has failed to maintain sound fiscal status;

3)         Has

failed to achieve accreditation through a U.S. Department of Education and/or

Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized accrediting body for

degree granting institutions during the initial five year period.  Failure to

achieve accreditation shall be grounds for immediate revocation of approval

tions were granted;

2)         Has failed to maintain sound fiscal status;

3)         Has

failed to achieve accreditation through a U.S. Department of Education and/or

Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognized accrediting body for

degree granting institutions during the initial five year period.  Failure to

achieve accreditation shall be grounds for immediate revocation of approval.

Until accreditation is achieved, the institution shall clearly and

appropriately state in all promotional materials and advertisements and on its

webpage that it is not accredited; or

4)         Has

failed to demonstrate success in student progression and graduation and success

rates in programs preparing students for certification and licensure that are

consistent with expectations in higher education and the appropriate related

field of study.  At a minimum, the Board shall consider the following factors,

based on results for similar institutions:

i)          Graduation

rates, program completion rates, retention rates, and pass rates for licensure

and certification aligned with thresholds set by State or national regulatory

bodies.

ii)         Success

rate, which shall be, at a minimum, higher than that of the lowest quartile of these

measures for similar Illinois institutions defined as open versus competitive

enrollment institutions and primarily associate versus primarily baccalaureate

granting institutions. Exceptions may be made to the lowest quartile if an

institution is above the national average for these measures using the same

comparison institutions.

iii)        Additional

student success measures shall be considered in the review of applications for

authorization.  The Board shall establish minimum rates of success based on

results for similar institutions or thresholds set by State or federal

regulatory bodies.

At a minimum, these data shall include student loan

default rates, student indebtedness rates, job placement rates, student learning

measures and other success indicators

ures shall be considered in the review of applications for

authorization.  The Board shall establish minimum rates of success based on

results for similar institutions or thresholds set by State or federal

regulatory bodies.

At a minimum, these data shall include student loan

default rates, student indebtedness rates, job placement rates, student learning

measures and other success indicators.

iv)        Institutions

that participate in Federal Student Loan programs shall have 3-year Official

Cohort Default rates no higher than 25 percent.  Institutions with Federal

Financial Responsibility Composite Scores shall have a score that is no lower

than 1.0.  Institutions that fail to meet these thresholds may be restricted

from implementing new certificate and/or degree programs.

d)        Nothing

in this Section shall be construed to prevent the Board from withdrawing Certification

of Approval or Authorization to Operate at any time, including during the first

five years of operation, if an institution has failed to implement and maintain

the conditions that were presented in its applications and that form the basis upon

which its certificate or authorization was granted.

e)         Publications and Information.  Institutions shall be

scrupulously ethical in all communication with the public and with prospective

students.  School publications, advertisements and statements shall be wholly

accurate and in no way misleading.  Violations of this subsection shall be grounds

for immediate investigation of the institution pursuant to Section 1030.70 and,

depending on the results of the investigation, may be grounds for revocation

proceedings under Sections 1030.70 and 1030.80.

1)         An institution may state that it is approved or authorized to

operate in the State of Illinois only after approval has been officially

granted and received in writing from the Board and while authorization is

maintained

tution pursuant to Section 1030.70 and,

depending on the results of the investigation, may be grounds for revocation

proceedings under Sections 1030.70 and 1030.80.

1)         An institution may state that it is approved or authorized to

operate in the State of Illinois only after approval has been officially

granted and received in writing from the Board and while authorization is

maintained.

A)        Institutions

authorized by the Board may use the authorization in advertising and

promotional material and on letterhead stationery only if using the following

language: (name of school) is authorized for operation by the Illinois Board of

Higher Education.  The entire statement must be used with the same size font

and font type of print.

B)        Institutions

authorized by the Board that have presence, advertise or offer instruction via Internet

or other electronic telecommunication means must state or have a link on the

first page (as registered with standard web/internet search engines) to the

following statement that can be readily viewed by the consumer: (name of school)

is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the

Illinois Board of Higher Education.  In the case of a website, within the required

statement, the term "Illinois Board of Higher Education" must be a

hyperlink to the Board's website at www.ibhe.org.

2)         No statement shall be made that the institution or its courses

of instruction have been accredited unless the accreditation is identified as

that of an appropriate U.S. Department of Education and/or Council for Higher

Education Accreditation recognized accrediting agency.  An institution shall

not advertise or state in any manner that it is "accredited" by the

Board.

3)         No institution shall publish or otherwise communicate to

prospective students, faculty, staff or the public misleading or erroneous

information about the operating or degree-granting status of a given

institution

Council for Higher

Education Accreditation recognized accrediting agency.  An institution shall

not advertise or state in any manner that it is "accredited" by the

Board.

3)         No institution shall publish or otherwise communicate to

prospective students, faculty, staff or the public misleading or erroneous

information about the operating or degree-granting status of a given

institution.

4)         Recruitment and informational materials of an institution that

has received only approval and/or authorization from the Board to operate shall

indicate that the institution is not yet authorized to award degrees.

5)         No

dollar amount shall be quoted in any advertisement as representative or

indicative of the earning potential of graduates.

6)         Institutions

or representatives shall not use a photograph or other such illustration in

public documents, sales literature or otherwise in such a manner as to convey a

false impression as to size, importance or location of the institution or equipment

and facilities associated with that institution.

7)         Institutions

or representatives shall not make deceptive statements concerning other

institutional activities in attempting to enroll students.

8)         No

statement or representation shall be made that students will be guaranteed

employment while enrolled in the institution or that employment will be

guaranteed for students after graduation, nor shall any institution or

representative misrepresent opportunities for employment upon completion of any

course of study.

9)         The

Board, at any time, may require that an institution furnish proof to the Board

of any of its advertising claims.  If proof acceptable to the Board cannot be

furnished, a retraction of the advertising claims, published in the same manner

as the claims themselves, must be published by the institution and continuation

of that advertising shall constitute cause for revocation of the institution's

Certificate of Approval and Authorization to Operate

urnish proof to the Board

of any of its advertising claims.  If proof acceptable to the Board cannot be

furnished, a retraction of the advertising claims, published in the same manner

as the claims themselves, must be published by the institution and continuation

of that advertising shall constitute cause for revocation of the institution's

Certificate of Approval and Authorization to Operate.

10)         Student

loans offered to students by the institution or those agents it recommends must

clearly state whether the loans are federal student aid loans.

11)         No

statement shall be made by an institution or its representatives that the

programs and/or courses or exams are transferable to another institution

without current documentation by an authorized official of the receiving

institution.

12)         Each

Board authorized institution or institution receiving a Board degree

authorization must provide in its catalog and print promotional materials and

on its website the Board's mailing address and the Board's website link for

reporting complaints.  For the website information, there must be a hyperlink

to the Board's website on the first page (as registered with standard

web/internet search engines).

A)        Institutions

authorized by the Board, or an institution receiving a Board degree

authorization, must provide in their catalogs and print promotional materials

and on the first page of their websites the institution's procedure for

complaint resolution. The web page providing information on the institution's

complaint procedure must also have a hyperlink to the Board's website link for

reporting complaints not resolved at the institution's level.

B)        Institutions

authorized by the Board must respond in writing within 10 business days after

receiving a student's complaint from the Board. The Board shall review the

response and determine if additional information is needed from the

institution.