Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Agency Contact
Additional Contact
Secretary of State Contact
Important Links
1: Important Agency Information to Note
HPEAP authorizes accredited, degree-granting post-secondary institutions with physical presence. HPEAP also serves as the complaints review agency for these institutions.
2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized
_____ 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
_X___ Institution _____ Program _____ Both
Public in-state degree-granting institutions are already authorized per statute. Regarding religious institutions: Those which offer more than just religious degrees are authorized by HPEAP.
3: Accreditation
Yes
Accreditation 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
Institutional accreditation is required, whether regional or national.
However, religious institutions are not required to be accredited.
4: Exemptions
Yes.
Accredited, degree-granting institutions with no physical presence are allowed to offer distance education without authorization.
5: Authorization of Distance Education
No
Yes
No
No response provided
6: Physical Presence Policy
No response provided
7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions
All within the program
Contact Name: Jayson Horiuchi
Title: Program Administrator
Agency: Hawaii Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Address: 335 Merchant Street, Room 310, Hon., HI 96813
Email: hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
Phone: (808) 586-7327
No response provided
8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
For institutions not authorized by HPEAP, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) will take in complaints. OCP is a different agency from HPEAP although we are in the same department. OCP takes in complaints about unfair and deceptive acts or practices.
For institutions not authorized by HPEAP, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) will take in complaints. OCP is a different agency from HPEAP although we are in the same department. OCP takes in complaints about unfair and deceptive acts or practices.
Yes, for institutions not authorized by HPEAP, the Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) will take in complaints. OCP is a different agency from HPEAP although we are in the same department. OCP takes in complaints about unfair and deceptive acts or practices.
Contact Name: No response provided
Title: No response provided
Agency: Office of Consumer Protection
Address: http://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/contact/
Email ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov
https://web2.dcca.hawaii.gov/ocpcomplaint/
No response provided
9: Surety Bonds
Yes, if it has not been accredited or has not been operating in Hawaii for at least 10 years.
Surety bond is required unless they have been continuously operating in Hawaii for at least 10 years and have been accredited for at least 10 years.
10: Tuition Refund Policy
No, institutions must meet or exceed the refund policies required by the U.S. Dept. of Education or the requirements of its accrediting body if they do not participate in federal financial aid programs.
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
No
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
12: Reporting
Institutions must report in writing any disciplinary decision issued against the institution or the applicant in another jurisdiction within 30 days of the disciplinary decision. Institutions must report in writing any change in accreditation status by any accrediting agency. If its ownership changes, institutions must provide material information concerning the transaction at least 30 days prior to the transaction.
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
No response provided
13: Enforcement
Fines, orders of restitution, orders directing correction, revocation, suspension, probation, or conditions on authorization, orders relating to cessation of operations, payment of costs of investigation and legal action.
See HRS section 305J-11(c):
https://cca.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/HRS-Chapter-305J-2017.pdf
No response provided
14: Application Process
ESTABLISHING A LOCATION IN HAWAII:
If you are accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, please review the information on our website and do a preliminary consultation with HPEAP (hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov). You should allow at least 90 days for your application to be reviewed. You should not be enrolling students in a new program to be held in Hawaii until you obtain approval.
http://cca.hawaii.gov/hpeap/forms/institution-forms/
If you are not accredited, you must be in compliance with the provisions of HRS Chapter 446E. Please visit http://cca.hawaii.gov/ocp/udgi/ and consult with the Office of Consumer Protection (ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov). If you are in compliance with HRS Chapter 446E and have begun the accreditation process with an accrediting agency, you may consult with HPEAP about applying for provisional authorization.
No response provided
15: Fees Associated with Authorization
Yes
$10,000 biennially for institutions with enrollment of 100 or less
$19,000 biennially for all other institutions
No response provided
16: Records Retention
HPEAP only has records from closed institutions it had authorized. Students should carefully read the information provided in the following link to make sure that HPEAP has those records before submitting an online request form.
Contact website: https://dccabreg.force.com/transcripts/s/
- Agency Name: HPEAP
- Contact Person:
- Contact Phone: (808) 586-7327
- Contact Address: 335 Merchant Street, Rm. 310
- Contact Email: hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
- Contact website: https://dccabreg.force.com/transcripts/s/
No response provided
17: Additional Information
No response provided