Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
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1: Important Agency Information to Note
The OSRHE is the coordinating board for public degree-granting institutions, the SARA State Portal Entity, and the federally recognized state approval agency for degree-granting institutions in Oklahoma. Non-degree granting institutions are licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools.
2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized
__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 – degree-granting, unless they are exempt as per Clarifying Comments below.
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
__X__ Institution _____ Program _____ Both
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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
__X__ Religious institutions - degree granting
_____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
State statute requires institutional accreditation by a USDE-recognized institutional accreditor for all institutions operating as a degree-granting institution in the state. This includes, but is not limited to, out-of-state institutions offering courses for college credit through dual/concurrent enrollment and placing students supervised field experiences that are required for students to complete their degree program. Unaccredited institutions may not conduct any degree-related instruction or activity in the state. Candidacy status does not fulfill this requirement. There is no procedure by which an unaccredited institution may offer degree programs or degree-related instruction in Oklahoma while earning accreditation.
For accreditation requirements for non-degree institutions, see the Oklahoma Board for Private Vocational Schools.
4: Exemptions
Certain private, non-profit Oklahoma-domiciled institutions are exempt from authorization through 70 O.S. § 4103 based on their approval by the OSRHE to participate in a state student scholarship program (70 O.S. Section 2632).
No out-of-state institutions are exempt from Oklahoma state authorization requirements, except those participating in an approved state authorization reciprocity agreement for activities conducted within the scope of the agreement.
Although Oklahoma does not currently require out-of-state institutions to obtain authorization to operate as a degree-granting institution through online-only distance education, this will change beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
No degree-granting institution or activity is exempt from accreditation requirements.
Institutions offering non-degree programs are licensed separately by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. If an institution offers both degree- and non-degree programs, it must be authorized by both agencies.
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5: Authorization of Distance Education
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
Yes
No
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6: Physical Presence Policy
1. The private or out-of-state public institution offers college level credit in the state that leads to an academic degree, including:
- Establishing a physical location in the State of Oklahoma for students to receive synchronous or asynchronous instruction;
- Requiring students to physically meet at a location in the State of Oklahoma for institutional purposes that comprise more than two (2) class periods equivalent to six (6) hours; or
- Providing an offering in the nature of a short course or seminar, if instruction for the short course or seminar is greater than twenty (20) contact hours.
2. The private institution or out-of-state public institution establishes an administration office in the state including:
- Maintaining an administrative office in the State of Oklahoma for the purpose of providing information to prospective students or the general public about the institution, enrolling students, or providing services to enrolled students;
- Providing office space to instructional or non-instructional staff; or
- Establishing an institutional mailing address, post-office box, street address, or phone number in the State of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization policy (3.1)
Activities that do and do not require authorization in Oklahoma will change beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions
Students can report complaints to the OSRHE after completing the institutional complaint/appeal process.
Complaints about institutions authorized by OSRHE are handled by OSRHE.
The person who receives SARA-participating institution complaints:
Name: Ms. Elizabeth Walker
Title: Coordinator for Academic Administration
Agency: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Address: 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City OK 73104
Email: ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu
Phone: 405-225-9154
URL: https://okhighered.org/admin-fac/sara/#sara-complaints
To submit a complaint about a SARA participating institution, a student must complete the SARA Student Complaint Review Request Form, found here: https://okhighered.org/admin-fac/sara/#sara-complaints.
This information is only for complaints of students attending an Oklahoma degree-granting institution through SARA. Information for complaints of Oklahoma students attending an Oklahoma institution is below.
For student complaints against non-degree granting institutions, see the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools.
8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
Students can report complaints to the OSRHE after completing the institutional complaint/appeal process.
Complaints about institutions authorized by OSRHE are handled by OSRHE.
No
OSRHE contact for non-SARA related complaints:
Contact Name: Ms. Lindsay Echols
Title: Executive Director for Campus Compact and Director of Student Affairs and Diversity
Agency: Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Address: 655 Research Parkway, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Email: lechols@osrhe.edu
Phone: 405-225-9128
URL: https://www.okhighered.org/current-college-students/complaints.shtml
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9: Surety Bonds
No
No response provided
No response provided
10: Tuition Refund Policy
Yes
All authorized institutions are required to have a tuition refund policy detailed in the student catalogue.
The OSRHE does not currently have a tuition refund policy of its own that all authorized institutions must follow, but requires authorized institutions to have a tuition refund policy.
11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
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12: Reporting
Institutions must report in-state enrollment information annually. Institutions must also comply with the reporting requirements found under OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, E, Reporting Requirements.
Additionally, beginning in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year, private institutions will be required to report Oklahoma tuition income for purposes of calculating payments into the new student tuition recovery fund. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
Annually
Enrollment and program offerings are shared publicly.
No response provided
This information is presented to the OSRHE at a public meeting and the presentation item is publicly available on the OSRHE website.
13: Enforcement
The authorization to operate as a degree granting institution may be denied, revoked, or non-renewed when a private institution or out-of-state public institution fails to meet or comply with any portion of OSRHE policy 3.1. Institutional Accreditation and State Authorization, section 3.1.3, Private Institutions and Out-of-State Public Institutions.
No response provided
14: Application Process
Institutions must fill out and submit an authorization application to the OSRHE.
To request more information on authorization of degree-granting institution or an application packet, contact Ms. Elizabeth Walker, ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu.
15: Fees Associated with Authorization
No. However, this will change in 2025 for authorizations beginning the 2025-2026 academic year. See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
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16: Records Retention
The state currently has no such process for degree-granting institutions. When this changes, authorized institutions will be notified.
For the process for non-degree granting institutions, see the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools.
No response provided
17: Additional Information
See New Oklahoma Authorization Requirements Starting 2025.
Contact:
Ms. Elizabeth Walker
Coordinator for Academic Administration
ok.stateauth@osrhe.edu