Responses Last Confirmed:

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation

Agency Contact

Dr. Sheriece Robinson
601-432-6336
srobinson@mississippi.edu

Additional Contact

Secretary of State Contact

Michael Watson
601-359-1350
mississippi@sos.ms.gov
Topic

1: Important Agency Information to Note

a.
Provide any important information about your agency.

No response provided

Topic

2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized

a.
Indicate the types of institutions that your agency authorizes. Please provide a short explanation of any ambiguity in the comment section below.

__X__    Public, in-state degree granting institutions
__X__    Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
__X__    Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__    Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__    Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__    Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
_____    Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____    Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____    Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_____    Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__    Religious institutions
_____    Tribally-controlled institutions
_____    Federal Institutions
_____    Municipal institutions

b.
Does your agency authorize specific academic programs offered by institutions, only institutions themselves, or both?

____ Institution   _____ Program   ___X__ Both

c.
Clarifying comments:

Applies to academic degree-granting institutions that offer one or more postsecondary degree or instruction and are domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in Mississippi. Postsecondary academic degrees include, but are not limited to, associate, bachelor, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Some programs may require approval from another state agency before MCCA will consider institution/program approval (i.e., nursing, education).

Topic

3: Accreditation

a.
Is accreditation required for an institution to be authorized in your state?

Yes

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

Accreditation Required for:

__X__  Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
__X__  Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__  Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__  Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__  Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
_____  Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____  Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____  Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_____  Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__  Religious institutions
_____  Tribally-controlled institutions
_____  Federal Institutions
_____  Municipal institutions

c.
Clarifying comments:

The Commission recognizes the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accrediting Commission, the Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) Accrediting Commission, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Commission on Accrediting, Middles States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WASC Senior College and University Commission, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC), and Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

Topic

4: Exemptions

a.
Are certain institutions or programs exempt by law or policy from your state authorization requirements?

Yes

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions? Which types of programs?

Career/occupational schools and colleges subject to regulation under Section 75-60-1 et seq. (Miss. Code Ann. § 37-101-241(7))

c.
Web link for exemptions.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

5: Authorization of Distance Education

a.
Does your agency require purely online programs offered by out-of-state institutions to be authorized without regard to physical presence?

Yes

b.
If not, does your agency determine whether an institution must be authorized based on a physical presence (“operating”) standard?

No response provided

c.
Does your agency require correspondence study programs to be authorized without regard to physical presence?

No

d.
Clarifying comments:

If domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in the state, Commission approval required.  Examples of triggers for otherwise located include, but are not limited to:

  1.  The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
  2. The institution maintains a postal address (either physical or PO Box) with a Mississippi zip code;
  3. The institution maintains an internet URL that originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP that is based in Mississippi
  4. The institution advertises that a future institution will be domiciled, incorporated, or otherwise located in Mississippi

Out-of-state academic degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions that offer courses and programs exclusively online from their locations outside the borders of the State are required to apply for Commission approval. 

Topic

6: Physical Presence Policy

a.
If your agency uses a physical presence standard, how does your agency define physical presence?

For the purpose of state authorization, an institution has physical presence and therefore must seek authorization to operate in Mississippi if the institution engages in any of the following activities in Mississippi:

  1. Establishes a physical location for students to receive synchronous or asynchronous instruction; 
  2. Requires students to physically meet in a location for instructional purposes more than twice per full-term (quarter or semester) course for a total of more than six hours;
  3. Establishes an administrative office in the state; MCCA Standards and Regulations Page 14
  4. Provides information to students for the purpose of enrolling students, advising students, administrating exams, recruiting students or providing student support services (or any other services to prospective or current students), from a physical site operated by or on behalf of the institution in the state, or partners or contracts with a third-party provider or other entity located in the state to provide information to students for the purpose of enrolling students, advising students, administrating exams, recruiting students or providing student support services (or any other services to prospective or current students); 
  5. Offers a short course that requires more than 20 contact hours in one six month period; 
  6. Provides office space to instructional or non-instructional staff; 
  7. Maintains a mailing address or phone exchange in the state; 
  8. Carries out field study or field research located at a field station, research station or other physical site at which a faculty member or other institutional employee or contractor supervises or otherwise directs two or more students in an activity exceeding the allowable short course length and which either bears academic credit or is a requirement for the course or program;
  9. Operates career or information booths at fairs or other public gatherings within the state;
  10. Presents institutional information at secondary schools, postsecondary schools, or other entities within the state;
  11. Advertises in local media and publications that originate in Mississippi.
b.
Web link for physical presence definition.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

Out-of-state academic degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions that offer courses and programs exclusively online from their locations outside the borders of the State are required to apply for Commission approval.

Topic

7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions

a.
Please describe the process for handling complaints about SARA participating Institutions.

Follow SARA policy

b.
Is the process handled all within your agency or do you divide consumer protection and student complaint duties dependent on the type of institution (Public, Private, Technical, etc.)?

Refer to Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration if the issue involves a SARA participating career/occupational school; and follow SARA policy.

c.
Web link for student complaints – SARA participating institutions.
d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?
e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions

a.
Please describe the process for handling complaints about out-of-state postsecondary institutions or programs?

If complaint relates to an out-of-state institution not authorized by MCCA, direct complaint to the authorizing/licensing agency in the institution’s home state or to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division

b.
Is the process handled all within your agency or do you divide consumer protection and student complaint duties dependent on the type of institution (Public, Private, Technical, etc.)?

Complaints about career/occupational schools in the State will be referred to the Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration. Otherwise, if within the jurisdiction of MCCA, MCCA will facilitate an investigation. Depending upon the nature of the complaint, the matter may be referred to the Mississippi AG’s Consumer Protection Division.

c.
Does this complaint process extend to institutions not authorized by the agency that may enroll residents of the state (such as explicitly distance education programs with no physical presence or exempt institutions)?

If complaint relates to an out-of-state institution not authorized by MCCA, direct complaint to the authorizing/licensing agency in the institution’s home state or to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division

d.
Who is the contact person at your agency for receiving complaints?
f.
Clarifying comments:

MCCA, CPSCR, and the AG are the primary/central contacts for complaints.

Topic

9: Surety Bonds

a.
Does your state require a Surety Bond for authorized out-of-state institutions?

Not currently.

b.
Web link for surety bonds.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

10: Tuition Refund Policy

a.
Does your state have a Tuition Refund Policy Requirement?

Institutions are required to have a tuition refund policy that is fair and applied equitably.

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

All institutions authorized by MCCA.

c.
Web link for tuition refund policy.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund

a.
Does your state have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund (or similar fund for school closure)?

No

b.
If yes, for what types of institutions?

No response provided

c.
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.

No response provided

d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

12: Reporting

a.
What kinds of information or data must an institution report to your agency as a condition for continued out-of-state authorization?

Progress and/or status reports, accreditation documentation, annual reports, or other information requested by the Commission, which could include reports on enrollment and graduation and financial reports.

b.
How frequently do institutions report data?

Annually or as requested by the Commission.

c.
Is this information published or shared publicly?

Enrollment and graduation data could be shared as part of the State’s Education Achievement Council report/records

d.
Web link for reporting.

No response provided

e.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

13: Enforcement

a.
What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?

Authorization may be refused, revoked, or suspended for proof of violation of the standards, regulations, policies, and procedures.

b.
Web link for enforcement information.

No response provided

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

14: Application Process

a.
Please provide a short description of the application process to obtain state authorization.

Submit a written request for an application to srobinson@mississippi.edu

b.
Web link for application.

No response provided 

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

15: Fees Associated with Authorization

a.
Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?

Yes

b.
If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?

No response provided

c.
Web link for fee information.
d.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

16: Records Retention

a.
When a school closes, what is the process your state uses to ensure that transcripts/records are kept available?

Institution officials are required to notify MCCA of the arrangements made for the location/management of student records including evidence of disposition of student records, with a contact person, complete address and telephone number/email address and instructions for how student records may be obtained.

b.
From what agency do students request their transcripts/records from a closed school?

Academic degree-granting institutions are required to provide MCCA with the contact information for the entity that will be storing/managing the student records and instructions that a student should use to request a transcript from that entity.  The entity’s contact information and instructions are placed on MCCA’s website (http://www.mississippi.edu/mcca, Closed School Transcript Request)

c.
Clarifying comments:

No response provided

Topic

17: Additional Information

a.
Is there anything else about the authorization process in your state that we and others ought to know about?

Career/occupational schools register with the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration