1. (a)

   1. (1) The Institutional Certification Advisory Committee will receive an annual report from the Director of the Division of Higher Education or designee on institutional/program certification that includes data on program enrollments and graduation.

   2. (2) The committee may meet as needed to discuss higher education:

      1. (A) Policies;
      2. (B) Legislative issues; and
      3. (C) Institutional and public concerns.
   3. (3) Based on institutional or public comments on courses/degree programs, committee questions, and/or the Division of Higher Education findings, the division will determine if a committee meeting is necessary prior to the quarterly Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board meeting and interested parties will be notified.
   4. (4) If requested by the division, a representative of the institution applying for course/degree program certification must attend the committee meeting, via telephone, at which the application will be considered to respond to questions.

   5. (5) Following this meeting, the division will either:

      1. (A) Make a recommendation for certification to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
      2. (B) Ask for more information regarding the course/degree program application; or
      3. (C) Deny the application for certification.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The institution may elect to appeal the division executive staff recommendation to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
   2. (2) However, the decision of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board is final.

3. (c) Student grievance procedure.

   1. (1)

      1. (A) All institutions participating in Southern Regional Educational Board activities, SARA activities, and/or obtaining Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board certification or exemption from certification must publish, post, and adhere to a procedure for handling a student grievance.
      2. (B) The institutions must furnish an e-mail address or toll-free telephone number for quick access in filing a student grievance.
   2. (2) These institutions also must notify the division of all formal student grievances upon filing and of the disposition of unresolved formal student grievances within twenty (20) days.
   3. (3) The student grievance procedure with timeline is included in the Appendix section of this part.

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Students may contact the division at ADHE_Info@adhe.edu for information on Arkansas colleges and universities or to report a grievance on any college/university offering programs to Arkansans.
      2. (B) Prior to contacting the division about a grievance, the student must complete the formal student grievance/complaint process at the college/university.

Codification Notes: “SARA” means the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.