N.H. Admin. Code § Hedc 405.07

Current through Register No. 45, November 7, 2024

Section Hedc 405.07 - Institutional Resources

The applicant shall include in its written plan a description of institutional resources as follows:

(a) Human resources including, but not limited to:

(1) Human resources policies to include:

a. Their availability;

b. How they are consistently applied; and

c. A procedure for their periodic review;

(2) Clear terms of employment, to include salary and benefits;

(3) A plan for equal opportunity inclusion with measurable objectives;

(4) Procedures for the regular evaluation of all personnel; and

(5) Policies and procedures regarding opportunities for professional development;

(b) Financial resources including, but not limited to:

(1) Plans that allow the institution to:

a. Support and sustain its purpose;

b. Implement its program; and

c. Graduate its entering class as follows:

1. For institutions seeking associate degree-granting authority, a minimum period of 4 years; and

2. For institutions seeking baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degree-granting authority, a minimum period of 6 years;

(2) Plans that allow the institution to adequately and effectively implement, achieve, and enhance its purposes and objectives as evidenced by the following:

a. Financial policies, procedures, and practices that ensure academic quality; and

b. A business plan for the time period described in (b)(1)c. above, which includes:

1. An enrollment plan including anticipated applications, deposits, yield, and retention rates;

2. Tuition and other sources of support; and

3. Anticipated expenses;

(3) A budget preparation process that is inclusive, and reviewed and approved by administrators and the institution's governing board;

(4) A budget, sufficient in detail to identify operating expenses including categories for:

a. Instruction;

b. Library;

c. Information resources and technology;

d. Student services;

e. Financial aid, including a calculation of the tuition discounting rate; and

f. Operation and maintenance of the physical plant;

(5) A chief financial officer responsible for administration of the financial resources with qualifications as follows:

a. Expertise, education, academic degrees, and an understanding of higher education finances;

b. Experience with financial and business operations of a higher education institution; and

c. Experience with the budget of higher education institutions, including overseeing the budget's formulation, revision, and implementation;

(6) Evidence to demonstrate fiscal soundness including, but not limited to, resources which shall ensure operations through the time period described in (b)(1)c. above, to include, but not be limited to:

a. Unrestricted net operating income demonstrating the institution's ability to live within its resources;

b. Resources necessary to meet covenants in any debt or other similar obligations of the institution;

c. Expendable reserves to sustain academic quality should resources in a. or b. above not meet expenditure needs in any given year; and

d. An existing realistic plan addressing issues raised by existing operational deficits, or in the event of a significant financial challenge or actual financial crisis to the institution or program, and reflecting significant assets to guarantee student protection;

(7) A financial records monitoring process which shall:

a. Be open for inspection and audit by the commission or its agents upon demand during normal working hours;

b. Be maintained in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

c. Include audited financial statements with an unqualified opinion for at least 2 consecutive years. "Audited financial statements" means independently audited and certified annual financial statements which are completed within 6 months after the end of each fiscal year; and

d. Be kept in accordance with procedures that are sufficient to maintain financial integrity that gifts or grants given to the institution shall be utilized according to the donor's or grantor's intent;

(8) Evidence of insurance, or other instruments to secure financial obligation, carried to protect the school's financial interest, which shall be sufficient to maintain the solvency of the school in case of loss by fire or other causes, and to protect it from instances of personal and public liability; and

(9) If the institution has or plans to incur debt, a plan and procedures for maintaining and updating the plan as needed, covering the period such debt will be outstanding which shows:

a. The anticipated interest and principal payments throughout the life of the debt; and

b. The provision for payment of such interest and principal as it becomes due and payable; and

(c) Information, physical, and technological resources, including, but not limited to:

(1) Library resources which shall include:

a. A written plan consistent with the institution's purpose, the nature of the education program, and the enrollment;

b. In-person and remote access provided to its basic physical and virtual collections. If other libraries or collections are to provide a major part of the library resources for the educational program, the extent of dependence shall be clearly stated, and the nature and details of agreements described;

c. If engaged in an agreement with other libraries and entities providing access to resources as referenced in b. above, a plan that specifies the following:

1. The degree to which the holdings of the other libraries or resources support the institution's educational program and enrollment; and

2. The degree to which students of the institution can use these libraries or resources;

d. Services including, but not limited to:

1. Availability for in-person and remote student use at regularly posted times;

2. In-person and remote availability of resource and supervisory personnel and standard library services including, but not limited to, circulation, reference services, instruction, and interlibrary loans; and

3. Provisions for an atmosphere conducive to learning;

e. A method for keeping up-to-date records of circulation, holdings, inventory data, materials on order, current periodicals received, subscription data base usage, expenditures, and budgets;

f. Evidence of sufficient holdings consistent with the purpose, the course offerings, and enrollment of the institution;

g. A method and timetable for review of its holdings to assure that the holdings remain consistent with the course offerings; and

h. A budget adequate to maintain the above standards; and

(2) Physical and technological resources which shall include:

a. A description of physical and technological resources necessary to achieve the purpose stated in the applicant's written plan including:

1. Evidence that facilities are constructed and maintained in accordance with all applicable health and safety standards, codes, ordinances, and laws;

2. For facilities not owned by the institution, evidence through a lease or other documentation that facilities and technologies are available to meet the institution's stated objectives;

3. A plan for how the institution provides information technology to support its academic and administrative operations; and

4. Policies and procedures to ensure the integrity and security of data, and the privacy of individuals.

N.H. Admin. Code § Hedc 405.07

#10429, eff 10-5-1313 (See Revision Note at chapter heading for Hedc 400)

Amended by Number 50, Filed December 14, 2023, Proposed by #13802, Effective 11/2/2023, Expires 11/2/2033.