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 Colleges & Universities,

Approval Procedures


COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY EVALUATION PROCEDURES

  1. The requesting institution sets up a meeting with the executive director to discuss the proposed institutional plan, timeline and process. It is most useful for the institution to have a brief narrative or outline prepared for discussion purposes.
  2. The institution forwards six (6) hard copies (spiral bound preferred) and an electronic version of the institutional plan according to Pos 1000word icon, with check made payable to: Treasurer, State of New Hampshire (see Schedule of Required Fees).
  3. The executive director and Commission chair (may include Executive Committee) decide on an appropriate Evaluation Team. A site visit date is then determined and confirmed.
  4. The executive director notifies the chairpersons of both the House and Senate Education Committees so that each may appoint a member to participate on the Evaluation Team.
  5. The Evaluation Team is forwarded confirmation letters, along with the institutional plan, history of the institution, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data sheet, administrative rules, procedures and list of the Evaluation Team. A confirmation letter is also forwarded to the institution requesting the approval. An agenda/schedule for the visit is prepared by either the executive director, chairman of the Evaluation Team, or a combination thereof.
  6. At the site visit, the following areas are considered by the Evaluation Team in the context of Pos 1000:

    Purpose and Mission
    Organization and Governance
    Educational Program
    Graduation Requirements
    Faculty
    Student Body
    Student Records
    Library
    Facilities & Technologies
    Financial Resources
    Publications
  7. Following the visit, the chair gathers feedback from the Evaluation Team, prepares a draft Evaluation Report, and forwards to the Evaluation Team for their comments. If, as a result of these comments, substantive changes are called for, the report is revised and, once again, forwarded to the Evaluation Team.
  8. The team chair sends the final Evaluation Report to the president, with copies to campus official(s), of the requesting institution to provide an opportunity for him/her to make corrections of fact, and to make substantive comments. The team chair may accept and incorporate any factual or minor corrections. Comments on substance made by the president and/or campus official(s) are appended to the final report.
  9. The Evaluation Report is placed on the Commission agenda, and the executive director forwards the Evaluation Report to the full Commission. An invitation to attend the Commission meeting is forwarded to the president of the institution, who may also designate appropriate representatives to attend.
  10. The team chair presents the Evaluation Report to the full Commission and introduces representatives of the institution. Following the presentation, and possible discussion, the Commission takes a vote to accept, amend or reject the report. Given an evaluation team recommendation for approval, the standard practice is to grant approval for a specific period of time with progress/annual reports due. Follow-up site visit(s) (re-evaluations) are typically scheduled prior to approval expiration. The Evaluation Team may recommend the Commission consider linking Commission approvals to a US Department of Education (USDOE) recognized accrediting association that is either an institutional or specialized licensing or professional association.
  11. The Commission will notify the institution, in writing, of its decision within 10 days of the meeting.
  12. When progress/annual reports are required, it is the responsibility of the institution to produce three (3) copies and an electronic version. Upon receipt of progress/annual reports, the executive director, the team chair, or if the team chair is not available, an appropriate representative from the Executive Committee representing that type of institution, will review the annual/progress report. A brief written summary is prepared and presented to the full Commission for a vote to accept, amend or reject the report.
  13. When approval(s) are linked to a USDOE recognized accrediting association, the executive director will review related materials and attend evaluation site visits as appropriate.
  14. Per RSA 292:8-g, the Commission reports its action (in writing) by January 31 of each odd-numbered year to both the House and Senate Education Committees.

SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED FEES

In-State Institutions
Requesting initial approval:
Requesting additional program
$3,000; $1,000 per visit thereafter (included in visit)
$500
Requesting additional approval:
Requesting additional program
(included in visit)
$1,500; $1,000 per visit thereafter
$500
Complications with accreditation$2,000 for resulting visit
Stipends for team members*$1,000 for non-Commission member chair
$750 for out-of-state team member(s)
Out-of-State Institutions
Requesting initial approval
Requesting additional program
(included in visit)
$3,000 initial review; $1,000 per visit thereafter
$500
Requesting additional approval:$1,500; $1,000 per visit thereafter
Requesting additional program
(included in visit)
$500
Approval for closed courses$500
Complications with accreditation$2,000
Stipends for team members*

$1,000 for non-Commission member chair
$750 for out-of-state team member(s)

Incorporation in NH $5,000 initial review; $1,000 per visit thereafter

Checks for required fees are to be made payable to: Treasurer, State of New Hampshire

*Plus all travel expenses, e.g., transportation, mileage, meals, lodging, etc. Payment is made to the individual and forwarded to the Commission thirty (30) days following the site visit.

Note: All direct costs for the visit (re-production of reports; meals for team, travel expenses, etc) are also the responsibility of the requesting institution.

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