Georgia Nonpublic Education Commission

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

• 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

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Yes, unless the institution is a SARA Participating institution.

To offer online education to Georgia residents, an institution must be a member of NC-SARA or be authorized by GNPEC. 

No. However, we now have an updated policy that requires institutions wanting to offer degree programs to seek and become accredited. Unaccredited degrees will no longer be permitted.

Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education 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
_____ Religious institutions
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions

Unaccredited institutions are not permitted to use “College” or “University” in their names nor are they permitted to offer degrees. Furthermore, out of state unaccredited institutions are required to hold state approval in their home states. If an institution of this type is unable to obtain documentation of approval (or exemption from approval), an explanatory statement including supporting documentation, if possible, may suffice.

Generally, an institution has physical presence when it operates a campus, branch instructional facility whether leased or owned, or administrative office within the boundaries of the state.  In addition, the following instances will create physical presence: 

Establish and /or maintain a telephone with a Georgia area code; 

Establish and / or maintain a postal address with a Georgia zip code; 

Market and/or recruit via media that originates in Georgia 

Maintain an Internet URL that originates in Georgia or utilizes an ISP based in Georgia; 

Employ an individual whose job is to recruit within the State of Georgia;

Employ faculty or individuals who are Georgia residents required to interact face-to-face with Georgia students.

Additionally, please note that any online enrollment of a Georgia resident requires GNPEC Authorization or SARA membership.

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/authorization-faq#field_related_links-431-3

Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency? 

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Authorization involves an application evaluation process and the remittance of fees and bonding. Please read https://gnpec.georgia.gov/authorization-application for a more detailed outline regarding the process and its components. 

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/authorization-application

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Please see the GNPEC website for the Schedule of Fees: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/schedule-fees

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https://gnpec.georgia.gov/schedule-fees

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The Executive Director is authorized, in his or her sole discretion, to require an applicant to file with the commission a surety bond if a financial assessment includes findings or notes raising concern about such applicant’s institutional internal controls or recommends that such applicant be placed on financial monitoring status.

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/policy-16-surety-bond-form-and-requirements

For the first five years of authorization and the first five years following a change of ownership

Yes

Institutions authorized at the time of closure

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/policy-13-tuition-guaranty-trust-fund-tgtf-claims

Institutions pay into the TGTF for the first seven years of authorization.

Yes

All unaccredited authorized institutions must meet the Minimum Standard Refund criteria. While accredited institutions may use their own refund policy, GNPEC has the right to require changes should a sufficient number of complaints arise.

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/standard-twelve-refund-policy

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All authorized institutions must renew authorization annually.  Unaccredited institutions, whether in-state or out-of-state, have additional annual reporting requirements, which can be found here: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/documents/additional-requirements-unaccredited-institutions.

Annually

Not at this time

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/documents/additional-requirements-unaccredited-institutions.

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Institutions may be subject to fines, loss of GNPEC approval, and legal action.

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/authorization/schedule-fines

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Please see GNPEC Student Complaint Rules and Form on the GNPEC website: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-complaints

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/webform/gnpec-student-complaint-form

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GNPEC handles student complaints of GNPEC authorized institutions as well as select exempted institutions.

Contact Name- Ms. Pat Neri
Title Program- Program Manager
Agency Address- 2082 E. Exchange Place, Suite 220, Tucker, GA 30084
Email- patn@gnpec.ga.gov
Phone- 770-414-3235
URL- https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-resources/student-complaints/gnpec-student-complaint-form

Complaints, with supporting documents, must be filed online.

Authorized institutions as well as those exempted from authorization that close in Georgia must surrender student records to GNPEC upon demand.

Students may request records from a closed institution in Georgia from GNPEC by completing a Student Transcript Request Form: https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-transcript-request

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Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.