Please Note: Authorization and licensure approvals may vary by state. Please contact your academic department to determine if there are any restrictions.
State Authorization compliance for distance education
State Authorization refers to (1) the regulation of distance education courses and programs offered to residents of a particular state by an institution based in another state, and (2) various non-distance activities within a particular state by institutions outside of that state.
U.S. Department of Education's (DOE) regulation
Recent amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 include changes in regulation for State Authorization that may impact online, distance, and print-based education providers. § 600.9(c) of the U.S. Department of Education's 'state compliance' regulation states:
If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State's approval upon request. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002)
What Colorado Mesa University is doing
CMU is continuously working to evaluate and comply with these changes and will provide specific state information as it becomes available. As such, we are taking the following actions:
- Tracking prospective and current students' programs, internships, practica, and state of residence
Prospective online students residing in some states may be ineligible to apply for our programs if we are not authorized to operate in their state. Students participating in internships and practica in another state may also face restrictions. To determine if you can conduct internships or field experiences in your state, contact Distance Education at [email protected]. - Monitoring marketing and recruiting efforts for our distance programs
Many states require additional authorization paperwork or fees for distance programs that market directly to students in their state. Be sure to check with Distance Education at [email protected] before directly marketing a distance program to out-of-state students. - Monitoring employee hires
In some states where we are not authorized to operate, the state does not allow CMU to have any employees that live in their state to teach, proctor, or tutor on behalf of the University.
Complaint Resolution at Colorado Mesa University
CMU strives to provide the highest quality educational opportunities available. However, if a conflict does arise, our efforts are meant to resolve your grievances, complaints, and concerns in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner. Students wishing to file a formal complaint must first seek resolution using CMU's Student Complaint Policy.
If an issue cannot be resolved by CMU's internal processes, you may choose to file a complaint with your state of residence. View the complaint contact for each state.