1. (a)

   1. (1) Nonpublic, not-for-profit colleges and universities currently incorporated and recognized by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board as Arkansas independent institutions of higher education, and operating under the applicable laws of this state shall not be required to receive certification from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board unless the institution fails to maintain accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
   2. (2) These Arkansas colleges and universities also shall not be required to receive licensure from the State Board of Private Career Education.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Arkansas independent colleges and universities must contact the Division of Higher Education prior to any change in the institution’s charter or level of degree program.

   2. (2) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board will consider all requests for changes in the:

      1. (A) Name of the institution;
      2. (B) Institutional charter; or
      3. (C) Level of degree program offered.

3. (c)

   1. (1) A nonpublic, not-for-profit college or university recognized as an Arkansas independent institution of higher education that fails to maintain recognized institutional accreditation must notify the division of its plan to cease operations in an orderly manner.

   2. (2) Before institutional operations can resume:

      1. (A) An application for certification for reinstatement of authority to grant degrees must be submitted to the division; and
      2. (B) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board must grant certification for institutional planning and development.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Institutions operated solely to provide programs of study in church-related training may be eligible for an exemption from certification.
   2. (2) Programs offered by such institutions would specifically prepare students to assume leadership positions in the church and/or religious organization.
   3. (3) Church-related training must be clearly labeled so that both the recipients of the training and persons evaluating the training are able to identify the nature and purpose of the program.

5. (e)

   1. (1) (e)(1) Because Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification is required for college-level courses and degrees, each degree title for church-related training must include a religious modifier.

   2. (2) The religious modifier must be placed on the title line of the degree, on the transcript, and whenever the title of the degree appears in:

      1. (A) Official school documents/catalogs; or
      2. (B) Written/electronic publications.

6. (f)

   1. (1) Institutions offering college-level courses and degrees on military installations with a majority of student enrollments being active/retired military personnel or their dependents, institutions offering courses and degrees through the Southern Regional Education Board Electronic Campus or other recognized regional compacts, and institutions offering only nonacademic, credit and noncredit programs for the specific purpose of avocational training and professional development/preparation may be exempt from certification.
   2. (2) The definition of nonacademic, avocational/professional preparation programs is included in the Appendix section of this part.

7. (g)

   1. (1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board acknowledges that the division is authorized to participate in all educational program initiatives offered through the Southern Regional Education Board, including the collaborative program with the National Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), and directs the division to meet all Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Southern Regional Education Board, and SARA requirements for the State of Arkansas to participate in the SARA.
   2. (2) Therefore, the distance technology courses and degrees approved for institutions authorized for participation in SARA are exempt from certification by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

8. (h)

   1. (1) Arkansas public, independent, not-for-profit, and for-profit colleges and universities must meet all Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Southern Regional Education Board, and SARA requirements regarding program reciprocity to be approved by the Director of the Division of Higher Education or designee for participation in SARA in collaboration with the Southern Regional Education Board.
   2. (2) Courses and degrees approved for SARA will include distance technology programs only and will not include professional licensure/certification programs.
   3. (3) Arkansas colleges and universities will not be assessed a state fee for participation in SARA.
   4. (4) Institutional participation in SARA is optional.

Codification Notes: Pursuant to Arkansas Code § 25-15-218, technical corrections were made to this section on May 18, 2026, as follows: The second instance of subsection “(c)” was corrected to “(e)” The second instance of subsection “(d)” was corrected to “(f)” The second instance of subsection “(e)” was corrected to “(g)” The second instance of subsection “(f)” was corrected to “(h)”