Current through September 21, 2024
(a) Candidate institutions shall submit the
following information or documents to the Department for consideration for
registration:
(i) Complete and accurate
registration application in the form and manner prescribed by the Department of
Education;
(ii) Official
verification or proof of acceptance as a candidate or applicant for
accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency;
(iii) An annual registration fee of one
thousand dollars ($1000.00) in the form of a certified check payable to the
"Wyoming Department of Education";
(iv) A performance bond or letter of credit
in the amount of ten thousand dollar ($10,000) that is approved as to form by
the Attorney General. The following applies to any performance bond or letter
of credit obtained for purposes of this subsection:
(A) The performance bond or other form of
security shall be maintained continuously while registered as a candidate
institution.
(B) The Department
shall be the custodian of all bonds and other securities filed under this
Section and may render administrative, but not legal assistance, to all
aggrieved persons who may be entitled to relief under the bond.
(C) A finding by the Department that any
institution practiced fraud, made any fraudulent representation, or violated
any statute, rule or regulation relating to the application for registration or
operation of the institution may result in forfeiture of the full amount of the
bond and loss of registration.
(b) For registration by the Department as a
candidate institution, in addition to submitting the required application and
documentation, the candidate institution shall assist the Department in
development of a plan that monitors the progress of the candidate institution
towards obtaining accreditation. The plan shall:
(i) Include a detailed timeline specifying
the critical milestones to be undertaken by the candidate institution to obtain
accreditation and the time that is necessary to complete each item;
(ii) Be signed by the Department and the
candidate institution and serve as a formal agreement between the parties to
ensure the milestones are accomplished in accordance with the terms of the plan
to maintain registration as a candidate institution;
(iii) Include a provision which requires the
candidate institution to provide a copy of any and all correspondence or
documents, which relate to the accreditation or applicant or candidacy status
of the institution, to the Department in a timely manner.
(c) The candidate institution shall submit
annual progress reports with the annual renewal registration which outlines the
progress of the candidate institution towards accomplishing the items
identified in the plan. The progress report shall include documentation from
the accrediting agency which supports progress towards, or accomplishment of,
the tasks identified in the plan. Progress toward obtaining accreditation in
accordance with the plan outlined in Subsection (b) shall be made to maintain
registration as a candidate institution.
(d) The period of registration as a candidate
institution shall not exceed five (5) years and shall expire at the end of the
five (5) year period or at the time the applicant is refused candidacy or
application status or accreditation by the accrediting association, or
otherwise loses candidacy or application status, whichever occurs first. The
candidate institution shall not operate or conduct business in this State upon
expiration of the five (5) years or loss of candidacy or application status for
accreditation.
(e) Exceptions may
be granted to the five (5) year limitation upon a determination by the
Department that good cause has been demonstrated by the applicant and an
extension or an exception is necessary and appropriate. Good cause does not
exist and shall not be recognized by the Department for the following reasons:
(i) Change of ownership, management or
instructional staff by the applicant;
(ii) Change of location of the applicant's
campus;
(iii) Change of programs of
instruction;
(iv) Change of
financial status of applicant;
(v)
Change of name of institution; or
(v) Change of accrediting agency prior to
achieving accreditation;
(f) Requests for exceptions to the five (5)
year limitations shall be made in the writing and in the form and manner
prescribed by the Department.
(i) The
Department shall respond to a request for an extension of the five (5) year
limitation in writing.
(ii) In the
event the request is denied, the response shall state the reasons for
denial.
(iii) In the event the
request is granted, the Department shall state the appropriate reason for the
exception and shall identify a period of time for which the exception
applies.
(iv) In no event shall an
exception be granted in excess of one (1) year from the time it is requested.
Consecutive exceptions may be requested for good cause, but the Department
shall re-visit the exception request no less than once annually to determine if
it is still appropriate.
