W. Va. Code R. § 133-20-10

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 133-20-10 - Termination of State Authorization

10.1. Termination of state authorization for those institutions not subject to annual reauthorization.

10.1.a. An institution shall provide the Commission with a copy of any notice of warning, suspension, revocation or other adverse action received from any national or regional accrediting agency within five (5) days of receipt of such notice.

10.1.b. The Commission may for good cause, suspend, withdraw or revoke the authorization of an institution to generate or solicit students within the state, place an institution on probation, order refunds to students, or forfeit the institution's surety bonds, or take any other appropriate action. Good cause shall consist of any one or more of the following:

10.1.b.1. The institution is no longer making reasonable and timely progress toward accreditation while assigned Preliminary or Probationary State Authorization;

10.1.b.2. Loss of accreditation by a nationally or regionally recognized accrediting agency;

10.1.b.3. Cancellation of the institution's bond by the bonding company and failure to secure a replacement in accordance with this rule;

10.1.b.4. Providing false, misleading, or incomplete information to the Commission;

10.1.b.5. Presenting information about the school which is false, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or inaccurate in a material respect to students or prospective students;

10.1.b.6. Refusal to allow reasonable inspection or to supply reasonable information after a written request by the Commission has been received;

10.1.b.7. A final determination that the institution has engaged in conduct prohibited by this rule, and any specified corrective action has not been taken within the required time;

10.1.b.8. Closure of the institution without adequately providing for the completion of students' classes or course work, without refunding students' unearned tuition or otherwise discharged the institution's contractual obligations to the students;

10.1.b.9. Conviction of the owner of an institution for a felony or crime involving administration of the institution or involving Federal Student Assistance programs.

10.1.b.10. Repeated and/or consistent violations of the guidelines found in this rule, particularly in areas such as advertising, fair consumer practices, or operational standards.

10.1.b.11. Exclusion from eligibility to participate in the West Virginia Higher Education Grant Program due to one of the following reasons:

10.1.b.11.A. The institution does not have a signed participation agreement in place; or

10.1.b.11.B. The institution has been deemed ineligible to participate in federal student financial aid programs by the United States Department of Education; or

10.1.b.11.C. The Commission has determined, based upon audits and/or administrative site visits by Commission staff, that the institution has seriously mismanaged higher education grant or other state financial aid funds or lacks adequate institutional controls to manage such funds properly.

10.1.b.12. Failure to submit an acceptable annual report, an incomplete or unsatisfactory annual report, as determined by Commission staff and as referenced in section 14 of this rule.

10.1.c. An institution authorized as a religious, theological or faith-based college that fails to continue to meet the criteria for a religious institution shall have its authorization terminated. The institution shall be so notified in writing. A phase-out period of not more than one additional academic term shall be permitted. An appeal to the Commission may be filed within ten (10) working days. In the absence of a timely appeal the termination shall be final.

10.2. Institutions that are not authorized but offer degrees and/or degree credits in West Virginia shall be notified by certified mail that they shall cease immediately to offer degrees and/or degree credits. The Commission shall initiate appropriate legal action if institutions fail to comply.

10.3. The provisions of section 8 of this rule are only applicable to accredited, out-of-state institutions offering only online instruction in West Virginia and accredited, out-of-state institutions authorized to deliver program and/or courses for a specified period of time.

W. Va. Code R. § 133-20-10