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<![CDATA[CHAPTER 15-20.4POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS15-20.4-01. Definitions. As used in this chapter:1."Authorization to operate" or like term means approval of the board to operate or to<br>contract to operate a postsecondary educational institution in this state.2."Board" means the state board for career and technical education.3."Education" or "educational services" or like term includes any class, course, or<br>program of training, instruction, or study.4."Educational credentials" means degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, reports,<br>documents, or letters of designation, marks, appellations, series of letters, numbers,<br>or words which signify, purport, or are generally taken to signify enrollment,<br>attendance, progress, or satisfactory completion of the requirements or prerequisites<br>for education at a postsecondary educational institution operating in this state.5."Entity" includes any company, firm, society, association, partnership, corporation,<br>limited liability company, and trust.6."Executive officer" means the director of career and technical education.7."Postsecondary educational institution" includes an academic, vocational, technical,<br>home study, business, professional, or other school, college, or university, or other<br>organization or person, operating in this state, offering educational credentials, or<br>offering instruction or educational services (primarily to persons who have completed<br>or terminated their secondary education or who are beyond the age of compulsory<br>high school attendance) for attainment of educational, professional, or vocational<br>objectives.8."To grant" includes awarding, selling, conferring, bestowing, or giving.9."To offer" includes, in addition to its usual meanings, advertising, publicizing,<br>soliciting, or encouraging any person, directly or indirectly, in any form, to perform<br>the act described.10."To operate" an educational institution, or like term, means to establish, keep, or<br>maintain any facility or location in this state where, from, or through which, education<br>is offered or given, or educational credentials are offered or granted, and includes<br>contracting with any person, group, or entity to perform any such act.15-20.4-02.Exemptions.The following education and educational institutions areexempted from the provisions of this chapter:1.Institutions exclusively offering instruction at any or all levels from preschool through<br>the twelfth grade.2.Education sponsored by a bona fide trade, business, professional, or fraternal<br>organization, so recognized by the board, solely for that organization's membership,<br>or offered on a no-fee basis.3.Education solely avocational or recreational in nature, as determined by the board,<br>and institutions offering such education exclusively.4.Certain education provided through short-term programs as determined by the<br>board.Page No. 15.Education offered by charitable institutions, organizations, or agencies, so<br>recognized by the board, provided the education is not advertised or promoted as<br>leading toward educational credentials.6.Postsecondary educational institutions established, operated, and governed by this<br>or any other state or its political subdivisions, as determined by the board and any<br>educational consortium that includes one or more of the institutions.7.Private four-year institutions chartered or incorporated and operating in the state<br>prior to July 1, 1977, so long as the institutions retain accreditation by national or<br>regional accrediting agencies recognized by the United States office of education.8.Schools of barbering regulated under chapter 43-04.9.Schools of cosmetology regulated under chapter 43-11.10.Schools of nursing regulated under chapter 43-12.1.11.Native American colleges operating in this state, established by federally recognized<br>Indian tribes.12.Postsecondary educational institutions not operating in this state.15-20.4-02.1.Voluntary application for authorization to operate.Although apostsecondary educational institution not operating in this state is exempt from this chapter by<br>section 15-20.4-02, the institution may subject itself to the requirements of this chapter by<br>applying for and being awarded an authorization to operate by the board. An authorization to<br>operate, as applied to a postsecondary educational institution not operating in this state, means<br>approval of the board to offer to students in this state educational services leading to educational<br>credentials.15-20.4-03. Board powers and duties. The board has, in addition to the powers andduties now vested in it by law, the following powers and duties to:1.Establish and require compliance with minimum standards and criteria for<br>postsecondary educational institutions under this chapter.The standards andcriteria must include quality of education, ethical and business practices, health and<br>safety and fiscal responsibility, which applicants for authorization to operate shall<br>meet:a.Before such authorization may be issued; andb.To continue such authorization in effect.The criteria and standards developed will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, but<br>will not unreasonably hinder legitimate educational innovation.2.Prescribe forms and conditions for, receive, investigate as it may deem necessary,<br>and act upon applications for authorization to operate postsecondary educational<br>institutions.3.Maintain a list of postsecondary educational institutions authorized to operate in this<br>state under the provisions of this chapter.The list must be available for theinformation of the public.4.Negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with similar agencies in<br>other states, if in the judgment of the board such agreements are or will be helpful in<br>effectuating the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that nothing contained<br>in any such reciprocity agreement may be construed as limiting the board's powers,Page No. 2duties, and responsibilities with respect to independently investigating or acting upon<br>any application for authorization to operate, or any application for renewal of such<br>authorization to operate, a postsecondary educational institution, or with respect to<br>the enforcement of any provision of this chapter, or any of the rules or regulations<br>promulgated hereunder.5.Receive and cause to be maintained as a permanent file, copies of academic<br>records specified by the board in the event any postsecondary educational institution<br>required to have an authorization to operate under this chapter proposes to<br>discontinue its operation.6.Promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures necessary or appropriate for the<br>conduct of its work and the implementation of this chapter, and to hold such<br>hearings as it may deem advisable in accordance with chapter 28-32 or as required<br>by law in developing such rules, regulations, and procedures, or in aid of any<br>investigation or inquiry.7.Investigate as it may deem necessary, on its own initiative or in response to any<br>complaint lodged with it, any person, group, or entity subject to, or reasonably<br>believed by the board to be subject to, the jurisdiction of this chapter; and in<br>connection therewith to subpoena any persons, books, records, or documents<br>pertaining to such investigation. The board may require answers in writing under<br>oath to questions propounded by the board and may administer an oath or<br>affirmation to any person in connection with any investigation. The board may, after<br>hearing, revoke or suspend authorizations to operate. Subpoenas issued by the<br>board are enforceable by any district court.8.Require fees and bonds from postsecondary educational institutions in such sums<br>and under such conditions as it may establish; provided, that fees established may<br>not exceed the reasonable cost of the service being provided.9.Exercise other powers and duties implied but not enumerated in this section but in<br>conformity with the provisions of this chapter which, in the judgment of the board,<br>are necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.15-20.4-03.1. Authorization fee fund. There is created an authorization fee fund intowhich fees provided to the board upon application for authorization to operate a postsecondary<br>educational institution under section 15-20.4-03 must be deposited.The fund and interestearned on the fund may be spent by the board pursuant to legislative appropriation exclusively to<br>carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter. This fund is not subject to section 54-44.1-11.15-20.4-04. Minimum standards - Exceptions.1.All postsecondary educational institutions must be accredited by national or regional<br>accrediting agencies recognized by the United States department of education. The<br>board may additionally require such further evidence and make such further<br>investigation as in its judgment may be necessary. Any postsecondary educational<br>institution operating in this state seeking its first authorization to operate may be<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate on an annual basis until the institution<br>becomes eligible for accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency. Institutions<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate must demonstrate a substantial<br>good-faith showing of progress toward such status. Only upon accreditation shall an<br>institution become eligible for a regular authorization to operate.2.This section does not apply to postsecondary educational institutions operating in<br>this state that do not grant degrees and that offer mainly hands-on training in low<br>census occupations, as determined by the board."Degree" as used in thissubsection means a document that provides evidence or demonstrates completionPage No. 3of a course of instruction that results in the attainment of a rank or level of associate<br>or higher.15-20.4-05. Prohibition. A person, group, or entity of whatever kind, alone or in concertwith others, may not:1.Operate, in this state, a postsecondary educational institution not exempted from the<br>provisions of this chapter, unless said institution has a currently valid authorization to<br>operate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.2.Instruct or educate, or offer to instruct or educate, including advertising or soliciting<br>for such purpose, enroll or offer to enroll, contract or offer to contract with any person<br>for such purpose, or award any educational credential, or contract with any institution<br>or party to perform any such act, at a facility or location in this state unless such<br>person, group, or entity observes and is in compliance with the minimum standards<br>and criteria established by the board pursuant to subsection 1 of section 15-20.4-03,<br>and the rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to subsection 6 of<br>section 15-20.4-03.3.Use the term "university", "institute", or "college" without authorization to do so from<br>the board.4.Grant, or offer to grant, educational credentials, without authorization to do so from<br>the board.15-20.4-06. Refund of tuition fees.1.Postsecondary educational institutions shall refund tuition and other charges, other<br>than a reasonable application fee, when written notice of cancellation is given by the<br>student in accordance with the following schedule:a.When notice is received prior to, or within seven days after completion of the<br>first day of instruction, or after receipt of the first correspondence lesson by the<br>institution, all tuition and other charges must be refunded to the student.b.When notice is received prior to, or within thirty days after completion of the first<br>day of instruction, or prior to the completion of one-fourth of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except twenty-five percent thereof must<br>be refunded to the student.c.When notice is received upon or after completion of one-fourth of the<br>educational services, but prior to the completion of one-half of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except fifty percent thereof must be<br>refunded to the student.d.When notice is received upon or after the completion of fifty percent of the<br>educational services, no tuition or other charges may be refunded to the<br>student.2.The provisions of this section do not prejudice the right of any student to recovery in<br>an action against any postsecondary educational institution for breach of contract or<br>fraud.3.A postsecondary educational institution may implement a refund schedule that<br>deviates from subsection 1 if the proposed refund schedule is more favorable to the<br>student than the schedule described in subsection 1.15-20.4-07. Negotiation of promissory instruments. Repealed by S.L. 2009, ch. 161, <meta property="og:url" content="https://statutes.laws.com/test/" />
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<h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2>
<a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t15'>T15</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t15/t15c204'>T15c204</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t15/pdf/t15c204.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t15/pdf/t15c204.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 15-20.4POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS15-20.4-01. Definitions. As used in this chapter:1."Authorization to operate" or like term means approval of the board to operate or to<br>contract to operate a postsecondary educational institution in this state.2."Board" means the state board for career and technical education.3."Education" or "educational services" or like term includes any class, course, or<br>program of training, instruction, or study.4."Educational credentials" means degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, reports,<br>documents, or letters of designation, marks, appellations, series of letters, numbers,<br>or words which signify, purport, or are generally taken to signify enrollment,<br>attendance, progress, or satisfactory completion of the requirements or prerequisites<br>for education at a postsecondary educational institution operating in this state.5."Entity" includes any company, firm, society, association, partnership, corporation,<br>limited liability company, and trust.6."Executive officer" means the director of career and technical education.7."Postsecondary educational institution" includes an academic, vocational, technical,<br>home study, business, professional, or other school, college, or university, or other<br>organization or person, operating in this state, offering educational credentials, or<br>offering instruction or educational services (primarily to persons who have completed<br>or terminated their secondary education or who are beyond the age of compulsory<br>high school attendance) for attainment of educational, professional, or vocational<br>objectives.8."To grant" includes awarding, selling, conferring, bestowing, or giving.9."To offer" includes, in addition to its usual meanings, advertising, publicizing,<br>soliciting, or encouraging any person, directly or indirectly, in any form, to perform<br>the act described.10."To operate" an educational institution, or like term, means to establish, keep, or<br>maintain any facility or location in this state where, from, or through which, education<br>is offered or given, or educational credentials are offered or granted, and includes<br>contracting with any person, group, or entity to perform any such act.15-20.4-02.Exemptions.The following education and educational institutions areexempted from the provisions of this chapter:1.Institutions exclusively offering instruction at any or all levels from preschool through<br>the twelfth grade.2.Education sponsored by a bona fide trade, business, professional, or fraternal<br>organization, so recognized by the board, solely for that organization's membership,<br>or offered on a no-fee basis.3.Education solely avocational or recreational in nature, as determined by the board,<br>and institutions offering such education exclusively.4.Certain education provided through short-term programs as determined by the<br>board.Page No. 15.Education offered by charitable institutions, organizations, or agencies, so<br>recognized by the board, provided the education is not advertised or promoted as<br>leading toward educational credentials.6.Postsecondary educational institutions established, operated, and governed by this<br>or any other state or its political subdivisions, as determined by the board and any<br>educational consortium that includes one or more of the institutions.7.Private four-year institutions chartered or incorporated and operating in the state<br>prior to July 1, 1977, so long as the institutions retain accreditation by national or<br>regional accrediting agencies recognized by the United States office of education.8.Schools of barbering regulated under chapter 43-04.9.Schools of cosmetology regulated under chapter 43-11.10.Schools of nursing regulated under chapter 43-12.1.11.Native American colleges operating in this state, established by federally recognized<br>Indian tribes.12.Postsecondary educational institutions not operating in this state.15-20.4-02.1.Voluntary application for authorization to operate.Although apostsecondary educational institution not operating in this state is exempt from this chapter by<br>section 15-20.4-02, the institution may subject itself to the requirements of this chapter by<br>applying for and being awarded an authorization to operate by the board. An authorization to<br>operate, as applied to a postsecondary educational institution not operating in this state, means<br>approval of the board to offer to students in this state educational services leading to educational<br>credentials.15-20.4-03. Board powers and duties. The board has, in addition to the powers andduties now vested in it by law, the following powers and duties to:1.Establish and require compliance with minimum standards and criteria for<br>postsecondary educational institutions under this chapter.The standards andcriteria must include quality of education, ethical and business practices, health and<br>safety and fiscal responsibility, which applicants for authorization to operate shall<br>meet:a.Before such authorization may be issued; andb.To continue such authorization in effect.The criteria and standards developed will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, but<br>will not unreasonably hinder legitimate educational innovation.2.Prescribe forms and conditions for, receive, investigate as it may deem necessary,<br>and act upon applications for authorization to operate postsecondary educational<br>institutions.3.Maintain a list of postsecondary educational institutions authorized to operate in this<br>state under the provisions of this chapter.The list must be available for theinformation of the public.4.Negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with similar agencies in<br>other states, if in the judgment of the board such agreements are or will be helpful in<br>effectuating the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that nothing contained<br>in any such reciprocity agreement may be construed as limiting the board's powers,Page No. 2duties, and responsibilities with respect to independently investigating or acting upon<br>any application for authorization to operate, or any application for renewal of such<br>authorization to operate, a postsecondary educational institution, or with respect to<br>the enforcement of any provision of this chapter, or any of the rules or regulations<br>promulgated hereunder.5.Receive and cause to be maintained as a permanent file, copies of academic<br>records specified by the board in the event any postsecondary educational institution<br>required to have an authorization to operate under this chapter proposes to<br>discontinue its operation.6.Promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures necessary or appropriate for the<br>conduct of its work and the implementation of this chapter, and to hold such<br>hearings as it may deem advisable in accordance with chapter 28-32 or as required<br>by law in developing such rules, regulations, and procedures, or in aid of any<br>investigation or inquiry.7.Investigate as it may deem necessary, on its own initiative or in response to any<br>complaint lodged with it, any person, group, or entity subject to, or reasonably<br>believed by the board to be subject to, the jurisdiction of this chapter; and in<br>connection therewith to subpoena any persons, books, records, or documents<br>pertaining to such investigation. The board may require answers in writing under<br>oath to questions propounded by the board and may administer an oath or<br>affirmation to any person in connection with any investigation. The board may, after<br>hearing, revoke or suspend authorizations to operate. Subpoenas issued by the<br>board are enforceable by any district court.8.Require fees and bonds from postsecondary educational institutions in such sums<br>and under such conditions as it may establish; provided, that fees established may<br>not exceed the reasonable cost of the service being provided.9.Exercise other powers and duties implied but not enumerated in this section but in<br>conformity with the provisions of this chapter which, in the judgment of the board,<br>are necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.15-20.4-03.1. Authorization fee fund. There is created an authorization fee fund intowhich fees provided to the board upon application for authorization to operate a postsecondary<br>educational institution under section 15-20.4-03 must be deposited.The fund and interestearned on the fund may be spent by the board pursuant to legislative appropriation exclusively to<br>carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter. This fund is not subject to section 54-44.1-11.15-20.4-04. Minimum standards - Exceptions.1.All postsecondary educational institutions must be accredited by national or regional<br>accrediting agencies recognized by the United States department of education. The<br>board may additionally require such further evidence and make such further<br>investigation as in its judgment may be necessary. Any postsecondary educational<br>institution operating in this state seeking its first authorization to operate may be<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate on an annual basis until the institution<br>becomes eligible for accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency. Institutions<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate must demonstrate a substantial<br>good-faith showing of progress toward such status. Only upon accreditation shall an<br>institution become eligible for a regular authorization to operate.2.This section does not apply to postsecondary educational institutions operating in<br>this state that do not grant degrees and that offer mainly hands-on training in low<br>census occupations, as determined by the board."Degree" as used in thissubsection means a document that provides evidence or demonstrates completionPage No. 3of a course of instruction that results in the attainment of a rank or level of associate<br>or higher.15-20.4-05. Prohibition. A person, group, or entity of whatever kind, alone or in concertwith others, may not:1.Operate, in this state, a postsecondary educational institution not exempted from the<br>provisions of this chapter, unless said institution has a currently valid authorization to<br>operate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.2.Instruct or educate, or offer to instruct or educate, including advertising or soliciting<br>for such purpose, enroll or offer to enroll, contract or offer to contract with any person<br>for such purpose, or award any educational credential, or contract with any institution<br>or party to perform any such act, at a facility or location in this state unless such<br>person, group, or entity observes and is in compliance with the minimum standards<br>and criteria established by the board pursuant to subsection 1 of section 15-20.4-03,<br>and the rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to subsection 6 of<br>section 15-20.4-03.3.Use the term "university", "institute", or "college" without authorization to do so from<br>the board.4.Grant, or offer to grant, educational credentials, without authorization to do so from<br>the board.15-20.4-06. Refund of tuition fees.1.Postsecondary educational institutions shall refund tuition and other charges, other<br>than a reasonable application fee, when written notice of cancellation is given by the<br>student in accordance with the following schedule:a.When notice is received prior to, or within seven days after completion of the<br>first day of instruction, or after receipt of the first correspondence lesson by the<br>institution, all tuition and other charges must be refunded to the student.b.When notice is received prior to, or within thirty days after completion of the first<br>day of instruction, or prior to the completion of one-fourth of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except twenty-five percent thereof must<br>be refunded to the student.c.When notice is received upon or after completion of one-fourth of the<br>educational services, but prior to the completion of one-half of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except fifty percent thereof must be<br>refunded to the student.d.When notice is received upon or after the completion of fifty percent of the<br>educational services, no tuition or other charges may be refunded to the<br>student.2.The provisions of this section do not prejudice the right of any student to recovery in<br>an action against any postsecondary educational institution for breach of contract or<br>fraud.3.A postsecondary educational institution may implement a refund schedule that<br>deviates from subsection 1 if the proposed refund schedule is more favorable to the<br>student than the schedule described in subsection 1.15-20.4-07. Negotiation of promissory instruments. Repealed by S.L. 2009, ch. 161, <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/","url":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/","name":"State Codes and Statutes - Statutes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/#website"},"datePublished":"2015-03-10T03:31:37+00:00","dateModified":"2019-12-27T23:25:16+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://statutes.laws.com/test/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/test/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://statutes.laws.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"State Codes and Statutes"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://statutes.laws.com/#website","url":"https://statutes.laws.com/","name":"Statutes","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://statutes.laws.com/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}</script>
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<h2>State Codes and Statutes</h2>
<a href='https://statutes.laws.com/'>Statutes</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota'>North-dakota</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t15'>T15</a> > <a href='https://statutes.laws.com/north-dakota/t15/t15c204'>T15c204</a><br><br><a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t15/pdf/t15c204.pdf">Download pdf</a><br><div id="embed_document" style="width:625px; height:815px; text-align:center;">Loading PDF...</div><script type="text/javascript"> var pdf_url = 'https://law.justia.com/codes/north-dakota/2009/t15/pdf/t15c204.pdf'; $(document).ready(function() { var embedwindow = $("#embed_document"); if ($.browser.msie){ embedwindow.html('<embed src="'+pdf_url+'" width="100%" height="100%"></embed>'); } else { embedwindow.html('<iframe style="width:100%; height:100%;" src="https://docs.google.com/gview?url='+window.escape(pdf_url)+'&embedded=true" frameborder="0"></iframe>'); } });</script><br><br><noframes>CHAPTER 15-20.4POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS15-20.4-01. Definitions. As used in this chapter:1."Authorization to operate" or like term means approval of the board to operate or to<br>contract to operate a postsecondary educational institution in this state.2."Board" means the state board for career and technical education.3."Education" or "educational services" or like term includes any class, course, or<br>program of training, instruction, or study.4."Educational credentials" means degrees, diplomas, certificates, transcripts, reports,<br>documents, or letters of designation, marks, appellations, series of letters, numbers,<br>or words which signify, purport, or are generally taken to signify enrollment,<br>attendance, progress, or satisfactory completion of the requirements or prerequisites<br>for education at a postsecondary educational institution operating in this state.5."Entity" includes any company, firm, society, association, partnership, corporation,<br>limited liability company, and trust.6."Executive officer" means the director of career and technical education.7."Postsecondary educational institution" includes an academic, vocational, technical,<br>home study, business, professional, or other school, college, or university, or other<br>organization or person, operating in this state, offering educational credentials, or<br>offering instruction or educational services (primarily to persons who have completed<br>or terminated their secondary education or who are beyond the age of compulsory<br>high school attendance) for attainment of educational, professional, or vocational<br>objectives.8."To grant" includes awarding, selling, conferring, bestowing, or giving.9."To offer" includes, in addition to its usual meanings, advertising, publicizing,<br>soliciting, or encouraging any person, directly or indirectly, in any form, to perform<br>the act described.10."To operate" an educational institution, or like term, means to establish, keep, or<br>maintain any facility or location in this state where, from, or through which, education<br>is offered or given, or educational credentials are offered or granted, and includes<br>contracting with any person, group, or entity to perform any such act.15-20.4-02.Exemptions.The following education and educational institutions areexempted from the provisions of this chapter:1.Institutions exclusively offering instruction at any or all levels from preschool through<br>the twelfth grade.2.Education sponsored by a bona fide trade, business, professional, or fraternal<br>organization, so recognized by the board, solely for that organization's membership,<br>or offered on a no-fee basis.3.Education solely avocational or recreational in nature, as determined by the board,<br>and institutions offering such education exclusively.4.Certain education provided through short-term programs as determined by the<br>board.Page No. 15.Education offered by charitable institutions, organizations, or agencies, so<br>recognized by the board, provided the education is not advertised or promoted as<br>leading toward educational credentials.6.Postsecondary educational institutions established, operated, and governed by this<br>or any other state or its political subdivisions, as determined by the board and any<br>educational consortium that includes one or more of the institutions.7.Private four-year institutions chartered or incorporated and operating in the state<br>prior to July 1, 1977, so long as the institutions retain accreditation by national or<br>regional accrediting agencies recognized by the United States office of education.8.Schools of barbering regulated under chapter 43-04.9.Schools of cosmetology regulated under chapter 43-11.10.Schools of nursing regulated under chapter 43-12.1.11.Native American colleges operating in this state, established by federally recognized<br>Indian tribes.12.Postsecondary educational institutions not operating in this state.15-20.4-02.1.Voluntary application for authorization to operate.Although apostsecondary educational institution not operating in this state is exempt from this chapter by<br>section 15-20.4-02, the institution may subject itself to the requirements of this chapter by<br>applying for and being awarded an authorization to operate by the board. An authorization to<br>operate, as applied to a postsecondary educational institution not operating in this state, means<br>approval of the board to offer to students in this state educational services leading to educational<br>credentials.15-20.4-03. Board powers and duties. The board has, in addition to the powers andduties now vested in it by law, the following powers and duties to:1.Establish and require compliance with minimum standards and criteria for<br>postsecondary educational institutions under this chapter.The standards andcriteria must include quality of education, ethical and business practices, health and<br>safety and fiscal responsibility, which applicants for authorization to operate shall<br>meet:a.Before such authorization may be issued; andb.To continue such authorization in effect.The criteria and standards developed will effectuate the purposes of this chapter, but<br>will not unreasonably hinder legitimate educational innovation.2.Prescribe forms and conditions for, receive, investigate as it may deem necessary,<br>and act upon applications for authorization to operate postsecondary educational<br>institutions.3.Maintain a list of postsecondary educational institutions authorized to operate in this<br>state under the provisions of this chapter.The list must be available for theinformation of the public.4.Negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with similar agencies in<br>other states, if in the judgment of the board such agreements are or will be helpful in<br>effectuating the purposes of this chapter; provided, however, that nothing contained<br>in any such reciprocity agreement may be construed as limiting the board's powers,Page No. 2duties, and responsibilities with respect to independently investigating or acting upon<br>any application for authorization to operate, or any application for renewal of such<br>authorization to operate, a postsecondary educational institution, or with respect to<br>the enforcement of any provision of this chapter, or any of the rules or regulations<br>promulgated hereunder.5.Receive and cause to be maintained as a permanent file, copies of academic<br>records specified by the board in the event any postsecondary educational institution<br>required to have an authorization to operate under this chapter proposes to<br>discontinue its operation.6.Promulgate such rules, regulations, and procedures necessary or appropriate for the<br>conduct of its work and the implementation of this chapter, and to hold such<br>hearings as it may deem advisable in accordance with chapter 28-32 or as required<br>by law in developing such rules, regulations, and procedures, or in aid of any<br>investigation or inquiry.7.Investigate as it may deem necessary, on its own initiative or in response to any<br>complaint lodged with it, any person, group, or entity subject to, or reasonably<br>believed by the board to be subject to, the jurisdiction of this chapter; and in<br>connection therewith to subpoena any persons, books, records, or documents<br>pertaining to such investigation. The board may require answers in writing under<br>oath to questions propounded by the board and may administer an oath or<br>affirmation to any person in connection with any investigation. The board may, after<br>hearing, revoke or suspend authorizations to operate. Subpoenas issued by the<br>board are enforceable by any district court.8.Require fees and bonds from postsecondary educational institutions in such sums<br>and under such conditions as it may establish; provided, that fees established may<br>not exceed the reasonable cost of the service being provided.9.Exercise other powers and duties implied but not enumerated in this section but in<br>conformity with the provisions of this chapter which, in the judgment of the board,<br>are necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.15-20.4-03.1. Authorization fee fund. There is created an authorization fee fund intowhich fees provided to the board upon application for authorization to operate a postsecondary<br>educational institution under section 15-20.4-03 must be deposited.The fund and interestearned on the fund may be spent by the board pursuant to legislative appropriation exclusively to<br>carry out the intent and purpose of this chapter. This fund is not subject to section 54-44.1-11.15-20.4-04. Minimum standards - Exceptions.1.All postsecondary educational institutions must be accredited by national or regional<br>accrediting agencies recognized by the United States department of education. The<br>board may additionally require such further evidence and make such further<br>investigation as in its judgment may be necessary. Any postsecondary educational<br>institution operating in this state seeking its first authorization to operate may be<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate on an annual basis until the institution<br>becomes eligible for accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency. Institutions<br>issued a provisional authorization to operate must demonstrate a substantial<br>good-faith showing of progress toward such status. Only upon accreditation shall an<br>institution become eligible for a regular authorization to operate.2.This section does not apply to postsecondary educational institutions operating in<br>this state that do not grant degrees and that offer mainly hands-on training in low<br>census occupations, as determined by the board."Degree" as used in thissubsection means a document that provides evidence or demonstrates completionPage No. 3of a course of instruction that results in the attainment of a rank or level of associate<br>or higher.15-20.4-05. Prohibition. A person, group, or entity of whatever kind, alone or in concertwith others, may not:1.Operate, in this state, a postsecondary educational institution not exempted from the<br>provisions of this chapter, unless said institution has a currently valid authorization to<br>operate issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.2.Instruct or educate, or offer to instruct or educate, including advertising or soliciting<br>for such purpose, enroll or offer to enroll, contract or offer to contract with any person<br>for such purpose, or award any educational credential, or contract with any institution<br>or party to perform any such act, at a facility or location in this state unless such<br>person, group, or entity observes and is in compliance with the minimum standards<br>and criteria established by the board pursuant to subsection 1 of section 15-20.4-03,<br>and the rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to subsection 6 of<br>section 15-20.4-03.3.Use the term "university", "institute", or "college" without authorization to do so from<br>the board.4.Grant, or offer to grant, educational credentials, without authorization to do so from<br>the board.15-20.4-06. Refund of tuition fees.1.Postsecondary educational institutions shall refund tuition and other charges, other<br>than a reasonable application fee, when written notice of cancellation is given by the<br>student in accordance with the following schedule:a.When notice is received prior to, or within seven days after completion of the<br>first day of instruction, or after receipt of the first correspondence lesson by the<br>institution, all tuition and other charges must be refunded to the student.b.When notice is received prior to, or within thirty days after completion of the first<br>day of instruction, or prior to the completion of one-fourth of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except twenty-five percent thereof must<br>be refunded to the student.c.When notice is received upon or after completion of one-fourth of the<br>educational services, but prior to the completion of one-half of the educational<br>services, all tuition and other charges except fifty percent thereof must be<br>refunded to the student.d.When notice is received upon or after the completion of fifty percent of the<br>educational services, no tuition or other charges may be refunded to the<br>student.2.The provisions of this section do not prejudice the right of any student to recovery in<br>an action against any postsecondary educational institution for breach of contract or<br>fraud.3.A postsecondary educational institution may implement a refund schedule that<br>deviates from subsection 1 if the proposed refund schedule is more favorable to the<br>student than the schedule described in subsection 1.15-20.4-07. Negotiation of promissory instruments. Repealed by S.L. 2009, ch. 161, <!-- END .shortcode-content -->
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