West Virginia Higher Education Policy 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).

__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
____ 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

When authorizing an accredited out-of-state to temporarily offer degree or courses in the state, approval may be at the programmatic level.

• 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. 

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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
____ Religious institutions
____ Tribally-controlled institutions
____ Federal Institutions
____ Municipal institutions

Policy allows for the recognition of Regional or National accreditation.  By practice, the Commission has generally required Regional accreditation.

Defined in Series 20.

http://www.wvhepc.edu/resources/rules-and-policies/.

Series 20, Section 3.11.

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

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For online institutions who are not SARA approved, there is a short application to discern physical presence triggers. There is no specific application for institutions seeking to locate in West Virginia.  The process is spelled out in Series 20.  The entity would submit a self-study report to the Commission and fee after consultation with Academic Affairs staff.

http://www.wvhepc.edu/resources/rules-and-policies/

Series 20

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Yes.

$500 for non-SARA online institutions and accredited out-of-state institutions. For new institutions locating in West Virginia, the fee is $6,000.

http://www.wvhepc.edu/resources/rules-and-policies/

Series 20, Sections 7.2.c and 8.4.

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No

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No

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A new institution authorized to locate in West Virginia must have a refund policy.

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Non-SARA online institutions must provide enrollment data, identify programs and summarize the process for assessing online quality. 

Annually.

No. 

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There is a more extensive reporting requirement for institutions located in West Virginia. 

http://www.wvhepc.edu/resources/rules-and-policies/

Series 20, Section 10 and Series 52, Section 10.

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Student files a complaint utilizing the application and process described on the Commission web site, https://www.wvhepc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Student-Complaint-Process.pdf

 Student Complaint Process (wvhepc.edu)

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Everything is handled within the agency.

• Contact Name: Matt Turner
• Title: Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration
• Agency: West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
• Address: 2001 Union Carbide Drive,  South Charleston, WV  25303
• Email: matt.turner@wvhepc.edu
• Phone: 304-558-5719
• URL:  Bio: Matt Turner - West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (wvhepc.edu)

The Complaints are received through the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and then forwarded to the appropriate Office/Division for response.

Nothing precludes a student from filing a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division within the Office of the Attorney General.

Series 20 states that following a decision to discontinue operations, the institution must notify the Commission and provide the name and address of the agency where records will be maintained.

The closing institution identifies the entity that will maintain records.

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