Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. The
purpose of the review committee is to assist the department in assuring that
non-accredited institutions maintain high quality programs and operations. The
committee will review applications of licensure for non-accredited institutions
seeking state authorization. The committee shall also conduct programmatic
review and approval for non-accredited institutions. The committee will make a
final recommendation to the department for state authorization or program
approval. The review committee will evaluate the following criteria:
(1) adequacy of the administration of the
institution;
(2) adequacy of the
curriculum and program requirements of the institution and of its
programs;
(3) adequacy of
qualifications and performance of the teaching faculty of the institution;
and
(4) the institution's
effectiveness as reflected in student outcomes such as program completion
rates, withdrawal rates, and satisfaction of students and employers.
B. The review committee membership
shall:
(1) be composed of an odd number of
members appointed by the department and serving at the pleasure of the
department;
(2) be representatives
of education providers and consumers, including owners and operators of career
schools and nonregionally accredited colleges and universities. Private
post-secondary institutions shall be consulted in selection of their
representatives; however, appointment and service shall be at the discretion of
the department;
(3) have no less
than two members representing the public interest. The public interest
representatives shall be representative of the general public with particular
interest in post-secondary education. Appointment and service shall be at the
discretion of the department;
(4)
have committee members who serve two year staggered terms or until their
successors are appointed. A member may be reappointed for successive
terms;
(5) not have more than one
representative from any one institution among the members of the committee;
and
(6) not allow a representative
of an institution that is designated in another state as an institution
offering fraudulent or substandard education.
C. Operation and work of the review committee
shall be coordinated by staff of the department. The review committee:
(1) shall organize itself as it deems
appropriate, at a minimum designating a chairperson to collaborate with
department staff in arranging meetings, other operations, and reports of the
committee;
(2) shall assist in
reviewing applications, upon the request of the department. When assisting
staff of the department in reviewing private post-secondary institutions,
members of the committee must recuse themselves in actions in which they have a
conflict of interest with their own institution or a direct competitor or that
would otherwise have the appearance of impropriety. For example, a member
representing a private post-secondary institution shall avoid participation in
a review of or visit to an institution that is a direct competitor for
students, defined as an institution offering a similar program of instruction
within the same community;
(3)
shall convene at minimum once a year to conduct review;
(4) shall report to the department at least
once each year regarding the status of private post-secondary education in the
state of New Mexico and any recommendations for improving the quality and
operation of private post-secondary institutions;
(5) shall be reimbursed for travel expenses
associated with convening and conducting review; and
(6) may form ad hoc work groups composed of
any persons it deems appropriate, to help fulfill its
responsibilities.