This guide contains the application materials for institutions seeking operating and degree-granting authority as a post-secondary institution in Illinois from the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

• Statutory Authority and Policy Objectives
• Operating and Degree-Granting Authority
• Operating Authority Application
• Degree-Granting Application
• Approval Process
• Procedures
• For Additional Information

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is responsible for administering two statutes regulating private colleges and universities in Illinois, “The Private College Act” (100 ILCS 1005/1 et seq.) and “The Academic Degree Act” (110 ILCS 1010/1 et seq.) [ Illinois Statutes PDF | Word ] The State’s policy objectives are described in the Academic Degree Act as follows:

It is the policy of this State to prevent deception of the public resulting from the offering, conferring and use of fraudulent or substandard degrees. Since degrees are constantly used by employers in judging the training of prospective employees, by public and private professional groups in determining the qualifications for admission to and continuance of practice, and by the general public in assessing the extent of competence of persons engaged in a wide range of activities necessary to the general welfare, regulation by law of such evidences of academic achievement is in the public interest. To the same end, the protection of legitimate institutions and of those holding degrees from them is also in the public interest. [ Quality Assurance PDF | Word ]

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Two types of authorization are required under the statutes administered by the Board—operating authority and degree-granting authority. The rules adopted by the Board to administer the statutes establish the criteria and procedures for obtaining authorization to operate and authorization to grant degrees in Illinois. Both the Private College Act and the Academic Degree Act require each institution to obtain operating authority. In addition, the Academic Degree Act requires each institution to obtain authority for each new degree program. For the convenience of applicants, the Board has combined the rules for the two acts into one set of rules and one application for operating authority. [ Administrative Rules PDF | Word ].

Obtaining full degree-granting authority in Illinois is a two-step process. First, an institution must apply for and obtain authorization to operate as a postsecondary institution in the state. After the Board grants operating authority, the institution may begin enrolling students and offering coursework for credit. Second, an institution must apply for and obtain from the Board degree-granting authority for each major in which it plans to award degrees in Illinois. Institutions are required to obtain one or both of these authorizations if they plan to offer instruction for credit or award academic degrees such as a certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, advanced certificate, or doctoral degrees.

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Operating authority represents approval of the institution as a whole. In order to obtain operating authority, an institution needs to show that it has established or has a well developed plan to establish all of the resources, organizational structure, policies, and processes necessary to successfully achieve its objectives as a postsecondary educational institution. The criteria for granting operating authority address all aspects of the operation of a postsecondary institution including mission and objectives, programs, facilities, faculty, academic standards, maintenance of student records, public information, and financial stability [ Quality Assurance PDF | Word ].

When the Board approves this authority, it grants the Certificate of Approval to operate as a postsecondary institution under the Private College Act and the Authorization to Operate under the Academic Degree Act.

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Authorization to grant degrees represents approval of an organized course of study, or degree program, and permits an institution to confer a specific degree upon students who successfully complete that course of study. In order to obtain degree-granting authority, an institution must first show that it has fully developed and maintains all of the basic resources, organizational structure, policies, and processes necessary to operate a postsecondary institution. Second, the institution must show that it has developed the curriculum, faculty, and other support needed for students to successfully achieve the objectives of each individual degree program. In most cases, an institution is expected to obtain degree-granting authority within three years of receiving operating authority.

An institution must apply for and obtain degree-granting authority for each major and each level in which it plans to award degrees. For example, if an institution plans to offer the Bachelor of Science in Management and the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, two separate authorizations would be required. Similarly, two separate authorizations would be required to grant the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and the Master of Arts in Political Science.

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Colleges and universities should inform the Board of Higher Education staff by letter of their intent to seek authorization to operate or grant degrees. Institutions are encouraged to meet with Board staff prior to submitting an application to discuss the application procedures, criteria for approval, and any special considerations related to their plans for developing a degree-granting institution.

The institution prepares and submits an application. Following the receipt of the application, the Board staff reviews and analyzes the application and any supporting documentation submitted by the institutions. Site visits by the Board staff may be scheduled at a mutually convenient time if the staff believes a site visit is necessary. The Board staff may employ a consultant to assist in the evaluation of the application and site visit. If additional information is needed, written questions will be sent to the institution and the responses will become a part of the official application. If concerns are identified during the preliminary review of the application, they may be discussed with the institution at a site visit or meeting and may also be addressed in written questions.

The length of time required for the approval process will depend upon 1) the date of submission of an application and the schedule of Board meetings, and 2) the extent to which the application demonstrates that the criteria for approval have been met. Action on an application generally may be expected approximately six months after its submission. Meetings of the Illinois Board of Higher Education are usually held in February, April, June, August, October, and December, usually on the first Tuesday of the month [ Board calendar ].

The institution will be informed of the Board staff’s recommendations regarding the approval to operate or grant degrees approximately three to four weeks before the recommendation is submitted to the Board for action. If the staff does not recommend approval to the Board, the institution may provide written comments to the members of the Board, request to address the Board directly, or withdraw its application.

There are no review or licensing fees associated with applying to the Illinois Board of Higher Education for authorizations to operate or grant degrees. The costs for staff travel for site visits and consultants are not charged to the institution.

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Notice of Intent
Institutions are required to notify the Board staff, in writing, of its intent to operate as a post-secondary institution or its intention to offer new degree program(s). Notices of Intent are published at the beginning of each month on the website [ Notices of intent ].

Preparation and Submission of an Application
All institutions, particularly new institutions, are encouraged to arrange to meet with Board staff prior to preparing the application, to discuss application procedures, criteria for approval, and any special considerations related to their plans for developing a degree-granting institution or offering new degree programs. Meetings with Board staff may be held in person or via the phone.

The information requested in the applications is required to demonstrate that the criteria for operating and degree-granting authority have been met [ Application Criteria PDF | Word ]. The questions are in accordance with the Board’s policies and the rules and statutes. All questions must be answered as completely as possible.

In order to reduce duplication of materials submitted, general materials such as catalogs, brochures and handbooks may be provided as attachments and CLEARLY referenced in response to appropriate questions. If applications for more than one degree program are submitted at the same time, information that is identical for all programs may be submitted in a single attachment. The pages of the text and attachments (excluding pre-printed materials) should be numbered consecutively. One paper copy and one electronic copy using Microsoft Word should be submitted to:

Nina Tangman
Academic Affairs
Illinois Board of Higher Education
431 East Adams Street , Second Floor
Springfield , Illinois 62701-1287

Review of an Application
The staff of the Illinois Board of Higher Education typically reviews applications in the order they are received. During the staff’s review, areas are identified where more information or clarification is needed. Occasionally, the staff identifies concerns that will require changes by the institution before a recommendation to approve operating authority or degree-granting authority can be developed.

The staff may, at its discretion, use the services of outside consultants to assist in the review of the application. Consultants are usually selected from lists provided by appropriate professional organizations, most frequently from academic institutions in other states.

Site Visit
A site visit or meeting with representatives of the institution may be conducted. The staff will contact the institution to arrange for a mutually convenient time for the site visit or meeting, which usually requires two to three hours. The staff will meet with administrators and key faculty. Need for clarification of the information presented in the application, additional information, or concerns will be discussed. All major concerns will be discussed. During a site visit, the staff also will review the facilities, record systems, library, financial data, and curricular resources.

Report and Recommendation
After the review of the application, site visit or meeting, and review of the response to the request for additional information, the staff will prepare a report and recommendation that will be submitted to the Board.

The recommendation will be submitted by the Executive Director to the Board for action at a regular meeting and will be published in the Board’s agenda for the meeting. The institution will be notified of the staff’s recommendation three to four weeks prior to the meeting of the Board. The chief executive officer of the institution will be invited to attend the meeting to respond to questions from the members of the Board.

In the event that the staff recommendation is negative, the report will provide the findings of the review and the reasons for the negative recommendation. The report will be sent to the institution three to four weeks prior to the meeting of the Board. The institution may, at that time, decide to withdraw its application. If the application is withdrawn, the staff recommendation will not be submitted to the Board. If the institution decides not to withdraw its application, the chief executive officer of the institution may provide a written response to the staff’s report and recommendation that will be distributed to the Board prior to the meeting. The chief executive officer of the institution also may request an opportunity to address the Board at the meeting. An institution may reapply for operating or degree-granting authority at any time, in which case a complete new application is required.

Board Action
Following the Board’s decision to approve or deny operating or degree-granting authority, the Deputy Director Academic Affairs will send a letter to the chief executive officer of the institution notifying him or her of the Board’s action. In the case of approval of operating authority, the letter will serve as the official Certificate of Approval and Authorization to Operate. In the case of approval of degree-granting authority, the letter will serve as the official Authorization to Grant Degrees. Each authorization is subject to revocation if the institution fails to maintain the standards and conditions that were presented in its application and that served as the basis for the granting of the authorization.

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Questions related to policies, procedures, and application materials may be directed to Board staff member Nina Tangman at tangman@ibhe.org, (217) 557-7347.

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