Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Agency Contact
Additional 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).
__X__ 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
_____ Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
_____ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_____ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__X__ Religious institutions – degree-granting, unless they are exempt as per Clarifying Comments below.
_____ 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.
__X__ Institution
_____ Program
_____ Both
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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
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
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3: Accreditation by an Accrediting Agency Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Yes
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
__X__ Religious institutions - degree granting
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
State statute requires institutional accreditation by a USDE-recognized institutional accreditor for all institutions operating as a degree-granting institution in the state. This includes, but is not limited to, out-of-state institutions offering courses for college credit through dual/concurrent enrollment and placing students supervised field experiences that are required for students to complete their degree program. Unaccredited institutions may not conduct any degree-related instruction or activity in the state. Candidacy status does not fulfill this requirement. There is no procedure by which an unaccredited institution may offer degree programs or degree-related instruction in Oklahoma while earning accreditation.
For accreditation requirements for non-degree institutions, see the Oklahoma Board for Private Vocational Schools.
4: Physical Presence Policy
1. The private or out-of-state public institution offers college level credit in the state that leads to an academic degree, including:
- Establishing a physical location in the State of Oklahoma for students to receive synchronous or asynchronous instruction;
- Requiring students to physically meet at a location in the State of Oklahoma for institutional purposes that comprise more than two (2) class periods equivalent to six (6) hours; or
- Providing an offering in the nature of a short course or seminar, if instruction for the short course or seminar is greater than twenty (20) contact hours.
2. The private institution or out-of-state public institution establishes an administration office in the state including:
- Maintaining an administrative office in the State of Oklahoma for the purpose of providing information to prospective students or the general public about the institution, enrolling students, or providing services to enrolled students;
- Providing office space to instructional or non-instructional staff; or
- Establishing an institutional mailing address, post-office box, street address, or phone number in the State of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization policy (3.1)
Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
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Activities that do and do not require authorization in Oklahoma will change beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
5: Application Process
Institutions must fill out and submit an authorization application to the OSRHE.
To request more information on authorization of degree-granting institution or an application packet, contact Ms. Elizabeth Walker, ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu.
6: Fees Associated with Authorization
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
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7: Surety Bonds
No
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8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
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9: Tuition Refund Policy
Yes
All authorized institutions are required to have a tuition refund policy detailed in the student catalogue.
The OSRHE does not currently have a tuition refund policy of its own that all authorized institutions must follow, but requires authorized institutions to have a tuition refund policy.
10: Reporting
Institutions must report in-state enrollment information annually. Institutions must also comply with the reporting requirements found under OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, E, Reporting Requirements.
Additionally, beginning in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year, private institutions will be required to report Oklahoma tuition income for purposes of calculating payments into the new student tuition recovery fund. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
Annually
Enrollment and program offerings are shared publicly.
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This information is presented to the OSRHE at a public meeting and the presentation item is publicly available on the OSRHE website.
11: Enforcement
The authorization to operate as a degree granting institution may be denied, revoked, or non-renewed when a private institution or out-of-state public institution fails to meet or comply with any portion of OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, Private Institutions and Out-of-State Public Institutions.
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12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
Students can report complaints to the OSRHE after completing the institutional complaint/appeal process.
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Complaints about institutions authorized by OSRHE are handled by OSRHE.
OSRHE contact for non-SARA related complaints:
Contact Name: Ms. Lindsay Echols
Title: Executive Director for Campus Compact and Director of Student Affairs and Diversity
Agency: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Address: 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Email: lechols@osrhe.edu
Phone: 405-225-9128
URL: https://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml
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13: Records Retention
The state currently has no such process for degree-granting institutions. When this changes, authorized institutions will be notified.
For the process for non-degree granting institutions, see the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools.
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14: Additional Information
See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
Contact:
Ms. Elizabeth Walker
Coordinator for Academic Administration
ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu
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Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.