(a) Notification and application submission timelines.

1. (1)

   1. (A) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board will consider applications for certification at its quarterly meetings.
   2. (B) The letter of intent and applications are due on:

(i) January 1;

1. (ii) April 1;

   1. (iii) July 1; and

      1. (iv) October 1.
   2. (C) A completed application, including all required documentation, must be submitted on or before the published deadlines.
   3. (D) Late applications, applications requiring additional review, or other time constraints may cause board action to be delayed until the next review cycle.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Should a certified degree be modified with the changes exceeding eighteen (18) semester credit hours of the total credit hours of the degree program, a letter of notification with a description of the changes must be submitted to the Division of Higher Education for review prior to the change.
   2. (B) Degree changes of eighteen (18) semester credit hours or less must be submitted with a letter of notification by the application deadlines listed above.

(b) Awarding of academic credential/degree.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Institutions may not award an academic credential/degree to any student unless demonstrated mastery of knowledge and skills has been documented.
   2. (B) A degree may not be granted to any student solely for experiential learning or work experience.
   3. (C) The minimum criteria for college-level courses/degree programs, faculty/administrators, instructional resources, institutional accreditation, and state authorization/agency approvals required for board certification are outlined in the Appendix section of this part.
   4. (D) These criteria must be met for initial and continued institutional and program certification by the board.

2. (2)

   1. (A) Arkansas Code § 6-61-135 defines false academic credential as a document that provides evidence or demonstrates completion of an academic or professional course of study at the postsecondary level that results in the awarding of a certificate, degree, or rank that is issued by an individual or institution that is not certified or exempt from certification under Arkansas Code § 6-61-301.
   2. (B) A person who knowingly uses a false academic credential for the purpose of obtaining employment, a professional license, a job promotion, college admission, or a government position, or introduces oneself to others as having attained an academic title or a level of academic achievement may be convicted of a Class B misdemeanor and fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000).