74-32,168. Certificate of approval, application; branch institutions; provisional certificate, requirements; rules and regulations. (a) Each institution shall apply to the state board for a certificate of approval. At least 60 days before an institution opens a branch campus in Kansas, such institution shall notify the state board that it intends to open a branch campus. Such branch campus shall be subject to review by the state board to determine whether it complies with the provisions of this act and the standards of the state board established pursuant thereto.

(b) An application for a certificate of approval shall be made on a form prepared and furnished by the state board and shall contain the information required by the state board.

(c) The state board may issue a certificate of approval upon determination that an institution meets the requirements of this act and all standards established by the state board pursuant thereto. The state board may issue a certificate of approval to any institution accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States department of education without further evidence.

(d) (1) The state board may issue a provisional certificate of approval to a degree-granting institution that is not yet accredited by a recognized accrediting organization and that is seeking to establish a physical presence in Kansas. The provisional certificate may be renewed annually as long as the institution continues to progress toward successful attainment of full institutional accreditation within the regular accreditation cycle established by the recognized accrediting organization.

(2) The institution shall submit a plan for achieving accreditation. Such plan shall include identification of the recognized accrediting organization's eligibility requirements, minimum accreditation requirements, review processes and the institution's timeline for achieving full accreditation.

(3) The institution shall submit quarterly updates on the institution's progress toward full accreditation to the state board.

(4) The state board may adopt rules and regulations imposing additional surety bond requirements for the indemnification of any student for any loss suffered as a result of a failure to achieve full accreditation.

History: L. 2004, ch. 185, § 8; L. 2010, ch. 150, § 4; L. 2021, ch. 17, § 10; July 1.