Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development

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 (typically depends on accreditation status; unaccredited – yes; accredited – it depends on other factors such as if they are state aid eligible)
__X__    Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__    Religious institutions (authorized primarily through exemption from regulation)
_____    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

N/A

• 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

Out of state Public Schools require programs to be authorized by the state for distance ed.  We do not regulate private schools.

N/A

No, but they must be actively seeking accreditation. 

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

In some instances approval may happen while an institution is seeking accreditation. New non-public degree-granting institutions are expected to make continuous progress on obtaining appropriate, recognized accreditation within a reasonable timeframe. The institution must disclose to students the degrees are unaccredited until such time as accreditation is achieved.

“Physical presence” means any person or location within the state of Missouri where, from, or through which a school operates for the purpose of conducting an activity relating to postsecondary education, including the granting of certificates or degrees, or for the purpose of recruiting students. Location is defined to include any address, physical site, electronic device, or telephone number within or originating from within the boundaries of the state of Missouri. Physical presence shall also mean a formally scheduled instructional interaction organized by or through a school taking place between two (2) or more students and/or instructors within the state of Missouri. Physical presence does not include any activity conducted by a school based outside of Missouri covered by the provisions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. 

Title 6 CSR 10-5.010(9)(E) Out-of-State Recruiter 

"All non-Missouri schools maintaining a physical presence in Missouri for the purpose of recruiting students to attend the non-Missouri school must be certified to operate. Physical presence, in the context of recruitment operations, shall mean any address, physical location, electronic device, or telephone number within the boundaries of the state of Missouri from which promotional material is distributed or recruitment effort initiated and/or to which potential or prospective students may inquire or respond. Physical presence does not include advertising through printed or electronic media as long as the initiation for that advertising is not within this state or the advertising does not identify any Missouri presence. In order to be certified to operate in Missouri for recruitment purposes, an out-of-state institution must comply with the same standards and procedures as are applicable to a Missouri institution and must annually apply for and receive a certificate of approval."

https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/6csr/6c10-5.pdf

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

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The review and approval of the school's application to operate a proprietary school is first. The major sections of the application deal with operational standards (compliance), institutional information (data collection and verification), and publications (consumer information). These areas are based on standards organized around institutional, programmatic, personnel, financial, and student services information. Each section contains requests for information and a testament by a school official verifying compliance with certification standards and confirming the accuracy and completeness of the application materials. The application must demonstrate that the proposal is the product of careful planning, that the instruction proposed has legitimate purpose and reasonable expectations of adequacy, and that the proposed school will have the necessary resources to implement and maintain the proposed instruction in compliance with certification standards. Schools must submit an application fee of $660 with the initial application in order to be placed in the queue for review. 

Processing time for an application for initial certification is impacted both by the care and diligence of its preparation and by the workload of DHEWD staff responsible for its evaluation. Applications are always processed as quickly as possible and usually in the order in which they are received. The suggested minimum expectation for the completion of the evaluation process is approximately 120 days. Schools proposing to offer a wide range of programs or to offer degree-level study should expect a longer review time. Depending on the type and level of programs envisioned, the DHEWD may use external consultants to assist with the evaluation of the application materials and the school proposal. Review of proposals to offer programs leading to professional licensure, such as massage therapy, will also include appropriate action or approval by the pertinent regulatory board in the state. 

Applications for initial certification may be submitted at any time. For schools seeking annual recertification, March 15 prior to expiration of the current certificate to operate is the deadline for submission of the recertification application. Failure to meet this deadline can result in the lapse or denial of certification.

https://dhewd.mo.gov/psc/edvera.php

N/A

Yes.

The formula for the calculation of the certification fee is included in the application section of the rules and regulations and varies depending on the type of certification the school is seeking. For schools applying for initial certification, the fee is established as a flat amount ($660 total) for the remainder of the current certification year. After the initial certification year, the minimum annual fee is $660 and the maximum is $6,600. For schools applying for recertification, this step is concurrent with the verification of the security deposit.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/6csr/6c10-5.pdf
(This is updating 7/1/24 to the pay structure above.)

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Yes.

https://dhewd.mo.gov/psc/processoverview.php

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No.

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Yes.

Any institution certified to operate under the proprietary school certification statute. Primarily in-state for-profit institutions and out of state private institutions regardless of tax status. 

We also usually get Bonds for Tuition Recovery from schools with a FCRS of 1.4 or less.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/6csr/6c10-5.pdf

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Institutional description (name, address, contacts, etc.); programs offered; financial information; enrollments; completions; student outcomes.

Annually

Not published but is available upon request as a public record.

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N/A

Probationary status; suspension of authorization; termination of authorization.

https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/6csr/6c10-5.pdf

N/A

Only formal written complaints are reviewed through this process. The complaint is reviewed by department staff and provided to the institution for response. The original complaint and the institutional response are reviewed by staff and an advisory committee and a determination is made regarding any action required by the institution.

https://dhewd.mo.gov/media/pdf/complaint-resolution-policy 

See above.

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In most instances it is handled internally but we do have the authority to refer to another agency depending on the institutional type and its authorization status.

Contact Name: Joshua Fischer
Title: State Portal Entity
Agency: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Address: 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Email: joshua.fischer@dhewd.mo.gov
Phone: 573-522-1377
URL:  Form issued after making sure that students have gone through their institution first.

N/A

By statute, institutions must make arrangements for the permanent storage of student records upon closure. The department requires documentation of these arrangements as part of the closure process.

Agency Name: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Contact Person: Leslie Winter
Contact Phone: 573-751-2361
Contact Address: 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO
Contact Email: leslie.winter@dhewd.mo.gov
Contact website: https://dhewd.mo.gov/

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