Alabama Commission on Higher Education and Alabama Community College System, Private School Licensure Division
Agency Contact
Additional Contact
Secretary of State Contact
1: Important Agency Information to Note
Indicate the types of institutions that your agency authorizes.
- Note: Some agencies may refer to out-of-state public institutions as “private colleges” in their law. If this is the case for your agency, please select “public, out-of-state degree granting institutions” for purposes of this Guide so that the out-of-state public institution will find appropriate information.
- Note: If your agency is a coordinating board, your agency may have one division with some authority such as program approval over in-state public institutions that are established per statute, which is structured differently than another division of your agency with state authorization authority over non-public institutions that they “license” pursuant to different statute(s).
____ Public, in-state degree granting institutions
____ 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
_X__ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_X__ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
_X__ Religious institutions
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
* The Commission accepts NRI applications from out-of-state public degree and non-degree institutions to determine exemption from programmatic review.
- For example, an agency may require an institution apply for licensure for institutional approval and also require the institution to apply for specific program(s) approval.
____ Institution
_____ Program
__X__ Both
No response provided
2: Authorization of Distance Education
- Meaning as example, the state regulates an out-of-state institution for merely enrolling a student into a distance education program
- Meaning as example, a solely online program that does not have any internships and practicums
Yes
Licensure is required for any institution that is locally advertising or recruiting in the state.
3: Accreditation by an Accrediting Agency Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
The Private School Licensure Division of the Alabama Community College System does require accreditation of most institutions:
“All privately licensed degree granting, post-secondary educational institutions must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE), the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), be a candidate for accreditation or in process of application for accreditation as determined and monitored by the Alabama Community College System. This requirement became effective beginning October 1, 2008, for any degree granting institutions applying for initial or renewal licensure.” (GUIDELINES FOR POLICY (accs.edu))
Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for:
_____ 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
_____ Religious institutions
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
No response provided
4: Physical Presence Policy
Alabama does not use a physical presence standard.
No response provided
Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
5: Application Process
No response provided
6: Fees Associated with Authorization
Yes
No response provided
7: Surety Bonds
Yes
No response provided
8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
N/A
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
9: Tuition Refund Policy
No
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
10: Reporting
N/A
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
11: Enforcement
Non-compliance may result in the institution’s license/authorization being suspended or revoked.
No response provided
No response provided
12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
No response provided
No
Contact Name: Tivoli Nash
Title: Director for Private School Licensure
Agency: Alabama Community College System
Address: P.O. Box 302130, Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
Email: tivoli.nash@accs.edu
Phone: 334-293-4650
URL: Private School Licensure - Alabama Community College System (accs.edu)
No response provided
13: Records Retention
Schools are required to provide transcripts to the Division, a third party company or an agreement with another institution within 30 days of closure.
- Agency Name: Alabama Community College System, Private School Licensure Division
- Contact Person: Temetra Berry
- Contact Phone: 334-293-4650
- Contact Address: P.O. Box 302130, Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
- Contact Email: Temetra.berry@accs.edu
- Contact web site: https://www.accs.edu/about-accs/private-school-licensure/closed-school-transcript/
No response provided
14: Additional Information
No response provided
No response provided
Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.