Public School Licencing

The purposes of the rules are:

1. To establish a procedure for the licensing of post secondary education institutions (colleges, universities, correspondence schools offering degrees, etc.) with the exception of the University of Wyoming and the Community Colleges of Wyoming (21-2-102 and 21-2-103) or any post-secondary post secondary education institution possessing current accreditation by a recognized and accepted accrediting agency.
2. To establish minimum standards for post secondary education institutions until accreditation by a recognized and accepted accrediting agency may be achieved.
3. To protect persons enrolled in a course of study in post secondary education These rules are promulgated pursuant to W.S. 21-2-401 and 403 of the Private School Licensing Act, and have been adopted by the Wyoming State Board of Education in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act (W.S. 16-3-101 through 16-3-115).

They are effective upon filing with the Secretary of State. These rules govern the operation of all post secondary education institutions not accredited by a recognized and accepted accrediting agency as defined by rules of the Wyoming Department of Education, which are located within the state, or have their principal place of business out of state but do business in the state.

These rules do not apply to any parochial, church, or religious school as defined by W. S. 21-4-101(a)(iv), home-based educational programs as defined by W.S. 21-4- BC 101(a)(v), aircraft flight training schools approved and authorized by the Federal Aviation Agency of the United States of America, or a school teaching techniques of outdoor recreation, leadership, ecology, or conservation domiciled in the state of Wyoming. nor do they apply to post secondary Instit accredited by a recognized and accepted accrediting agency.

Amendment of Rules

Any amendments to these rules shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State.

• “Agent” means any person owning any interest in, employed by, or representing for remuneration or other consideration a post secondary education institution located within or without this state who enrolls or who, in places other than the principal school premises, offers or attempts to secure the enrollment of any person within this state for education in a post secondary education institution.
• “Attorney General” means the Attorney General of the State of Wyoming.
• “Degree” means any award, earned or honorary, conferred with the designation of associate, baccalaureate, master, professional, specialist or doctorate.
• “Post Secondary Education Institution” means any post secondary institution offering a degree, earned or honorary, conferred with the designation of associate, baccalaureate, master, professional, specialist or doctorate.
• “License” means a non-transferable document issued by the Wyoming Department of Education to a post secondary education institution located within this state or located outside the state, but whose agent solicits students from within the state in the name of such Institution, which permits the Institution to solicit, offer, and maintain a course(s) of instruction or study in compliance with the provision of the Private School Licensing Act and the rules of the Wyoming State Board of Education promulgated pursuant to the Act.
• “Recognized and Accepted Accreditation Agency” includes those agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education through National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility. If the post secondary education institution originates in a foreign country, accreditation recognized and accepted by that country’s Department of Education or equivalent agency is required.
• “StaDepartment” means Wyoming Department of Education.
• “StateBoard” means Wyoming State Board of Education.
• “Licensing year” is from July 1 through June 30 of the following calendar year.

Granting, Refusing or Revoking Licenses

Denial, suspensions, or revocations of a license may occur when it is found that a school has failed to comply with Wyoming Post Secondary Education Institution Licensing statutes and the Post Secondary Education Institution rules adopted by the Wyoming State Board of Education.

Such action will be governed by the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act (W.S. 16-3-101 through 16- BC 3-115). Licensure is not required once accreditation is achieved from a recognized and accepted accreditation agency and documentation of such is provided to the office of the Secretary of State and the Department.

Licensing Application Procedure

Application for a license shall be made to the Department. The applicant must submit the following:

• Documentation that the institution: is currently seeking appropriate accreditation and detailing steps taken during the year to achieve that goal, or  is not seeking accreditation and explaining why it is not necessary to achieve its goals.
• The application shall be accompanied by a certified check or money order made payable to the Wyoming Department of Education in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) for the school license, which covers a five year licensing period
• The application shall be accompanied by a certified check or money order payable to the Wyoming Department of Education in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each agent (to be renewed annually).
• A performance bond or other form of security to be approved by the Attorney General. (This bond or other form of security must be on a form prescribed by the Department and shall be in the amount of $50,000.00.)) Such bond or other form of security shall be renewed on July 1 of each year as long as the school retains its license to do business in Wyoming. The Department will be custodian of all bonds or other form of security and may render administrative assistance, but not legal assistance, to aggrieved persons who may be entitled to relief under the bond.
• A copy of each enrollment contract form.
• A statement of tuition, fees, and all other charges.
• A copy of the refund schedule.
• A description of instructional methods and an instructional outline used by the institution, including methods for assigning, monitoring and evaluating work, awarding credit, and granting degrees.
• A copy of a diploma for each degree offered.
• A copy of the attendance record form.
• A copy of each school catalogs, bulletins, and other published materials, advertising, and circulars.
• A completed professional credentials form for each director, supervisor, instructor, teacher, and agent, official copies of academic transcripts verifying academic status, verification of educational degrees attained, the names of the institutions granting the degrees and if the institution is accredited by a recognized and accepted accrediting agency as defined by department rule and regulation.

A current financial statement prepared or audited by a certified public accountant.

Term and Renewal of License

The following provisions shall govern the term, conditions, and renewal of license:

• The license granted to a post secondary education institution will be valid for a period of five years measured from the first day of July preceding the date on which the license is issued.
• During the term of the license, the licensee shall provide annual update information concerning all items in Section 6 above on the form prescribed from by the Department.
• A licensee may, upon 30 days written notice, be required to provide to the Department updated information concerning all items in Section 6 above as well as any other information the Department may request, either by a standardized renewal application form or specific request to an individual licensee.
• The Department will assess an annual fee to each licensee in connection with the submission of annual update information. The amount of the fee shall be included in the form.