Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 38, September 20, 2024
.
A. To obtain the Board's
approval of an educational program, an authorized representative of the
regionally accredited college or university shall submit:
1. An application, using a form approved by
the Board;
2. The fee prescribed
under
R4-6-215;
and
3. Documentary evidence that
the educational program is consistent with the curriculum standards specified
in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 33, and this Chapter.
B. The Board shall review the application
materials for administrative completeness and determine whether additional
information is necessary.
1. If the
application packet is incomplete, Board shall send a written deficiency notice
to the applicant specifying the missing or incomplete information. The
applicant shall provide the additional information within 60 days after the
deficiency notice is served.
2. The
applicant may obtain a 60-day extension of time to provide the deficient
information by submitting a written request to the Board before expiration of
the time specified in subsection (B)(1).
3. If an applicant fails to provide the
deficient information within the time specified in the written notice or as
extended under subsection (B)(2), the Board shall administratively close the
applicant's file with no recourse to appeal. To receive further consideration
for approval of an educational program, an applicant whose file is
administratively closed shall comply with subsection (A).
C. When an application for approval of an
educational program is administratively complete, the ARC shall substantively
review the application packet.
1. If the ARC
finds that additional information is needed, the ARC shall provide a written
comprehensive request for additional information to the applicant.
2. The applicant shall provide the additional
information within 60 days after the comprehensive request of additional
information is served.
3. If an
applicant fails to provide the additional information within the time specified
under subsection (C)(2), the Board shall administratively close the applicant's
file with no recourse to appeal. To receive further consideration for approval
of an educational program, an applicant whose file is administratively closed
shall comply with subsection (A).
D. After the ARC determines the substantive
review is complete:
1. If the ARC finds the
applicant's educational program is eligible for approval, the ARC shall
recommend to the Board that the educational program be approved.
2. If the ARC finds the applicant's
educational program is ineligible for approval, the ARC shall send written
notice to the applicant of the finding of ineligibility with an explanation of
the basis for the finding. An applicant may appeal a finding of ineligibility
for educational program approval using the following the procedure:
a. Submit to the ARC a written request for an
informal review meeting within 30 days after the notice of ineligibility is
served. If the applicant does not request an informal review meeting within the
time provided, the ARC shall recommend to the Board that the educational
program be denied approval and the applicant's file be closed with no recourse
to appeal.
b. If the ARC receives a
written request for an informal review meeting within the 30 days provided, the
ARC shall schedule the informal review meeting and provide at least 30 days'
notice of the informal review meeting to the applicant.
c. At the informal review meeting, the ARC
shall provide the applicant an opportunity to present additional information
regarding the curriculum of the educational program.
d. When the informal review is complete, the
ARC shall make a second finding whether the educational program is eligible for
approval and send written notice of the second finding to the
applicant.
e. An applicant that
receives a second notice of ineligibility under subsection (D)(2)(d), may
appeal the finding by submitting to the Board, within 30 days after the second
notice is served, a written request for a formal administrative hearing under
A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10.
f. The Board shall either refer a request for
a formal administrative hearing to the Office of Administrative Hearings or
schedule the hearing before the Board. If no request for a formal
administrative hearing is made under subsection (D)(2)(e), the ARC shall
recommend to the Board that the educational program be denied approval and the
applicant's file be closed with no recourse to appeal.
g. If a formal administrative hearing is held
before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Board shall review the
findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation of the Administrative
Law Judge and issue an order either granting or denying approval of the
educational program.
h. If a formal
administrative hearing is held before the Board, the Board shall issue findings
of fact and conclusions of law and issue an order either granting or denying
approval of the educational program.
i. The Board shall send the applicant a copy
of the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order.
E. The Board shall add an approved
educational program to the list of approved educational programs that the Board
maintains.
F. The Board's approval
of an educational program is valid for five years unless the accredited college
or university makes a change to the educational program that is inconsistent
with the curriculum standards specified in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 33, and
this Chapter.
G. An authorized
representative of a regionally accredited college or university with a
Board-approved educational program shall certify annually, using a form
available from the Board, that there have been no changes to the approved
educational program.
H. If a
regionally accredited college or university makes one of the following changes
to an approved educational program, the regionally accredited college or
university shall notify the Board within 60 days after making the change and
request approval of the educational program change under subsection (I):
1. Change to more than 25 percent of course
competencies;
2. Change to more
than 25 percent of course learning objectives;
3. Addition of a course in one of the core
content areas specified in
R4-6-501,
R4-6-601, or
R4-6-701;
or
4. Deletion of a course in one
of the core content areas specified in
R4-6-501,
R4-6-601, or
R4-6-701.
I. To apply for approval of an
educational program change, an authorized representative of the regionally
accredited college or university shall submit:
1. An approved educational program change
form available from the Board;
2.
The fee prescribed under
R4-6-215;
and
3. Documentary evidence that
the change to the approved educational program is consistent with the
curriculum standards specified in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 33, and this
Chapter.
J. To maintain
approved status of an educational program after five years, an authorized
representative of the regionally accredited college or university shall make
application under subsection (A).
K. The Board shall process the materials
submitted under subsections (I) and (J) using the procedure specified in
subsections (B) through (D).
L.
Unless an educational program is currently approved by the Board under this
Section, the regionally accredited college or university shall not represent
that the educational program is Board approved in any program or marketing
materials.
