Definitions

The definitions set forth in this section are intended to supplement the definitions in Section 10a-34 of the General Statutes and shall apply throughout the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (a) "Board" means the Board of Governors for Higher Education. (b) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Higher Education or the Commissioner's designee. (c) "Advisory Committee on Accreditation" means a committee composed of representatives of accredited public and independent institutions and of the public at large, appointed by the Board to advise the Board and the Commissioner on matters relating to licensure and accreditation. (d) "Licensure" means approval by the Board to operate an institution or program of higher learning at a specific location(s) for a specified period. Licensure does not provide authority to confer degrees. (e) "Accreditation" means approval by the Board to operate an institution or program of higher learning at a specific location(s) for a specified period and to confer specified degrees. (f) "Approval" means a formal action by the Board to grant either licensure or accreditation or both. (g) "Institution" or "institution of higher learning" means any organization, school, board, association or corporation which is licensed or accredited to offer one or more programs of higher learning leading to one or more degrees. (h) "Accredited institution" means an institution of higher learning that is accredited by the Board. (i) "Evaluation" means a review of an institution or program by competent educators approved by the Commissioner or the Board, for purposes of verifying compliance with the standards in Sections 10a-34-9 through 10a-34-24, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. (j) "New program" means any degree program, major, specialization or concentration not previously approved by the Board. (k) "Nonsubstantive change" means (1) an undergraduate certificate program of no more than 30 semester credit hours which fall within an approved program, (2) a new baccalaureate minor of no more than 18 semester credit hours, (3) a new undergraduate option or certificate program of no more than 15 semester credit hours, or (4) a new graduate option or certificate program of no more than 12 semester credit hours. (l) "Program modification" means a programmatic change that does not clearly qualify as a new program or a nonsubstantive change, including but not limited to a new program consisting primarily of course work from a previously approved program; an approved program to be offered at an off-campus location; a change in the title of a degree; and a change in the title of a program. Review procedures for program modifications are outlined in subsection (c) of Section 10a-34-3. (m) "Off-campus program" means any program offered by an accredited institution in which students may complete more than 50 percent of the requirements for a degree through resident instruction at a location other than the primary campus of the institution offering the program, or through distance education. (n) "Regional accreditation" means full accreditation by a commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in accordance with approval standards for accreditation of degree granting institutions, provided that such commission and standards are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. (o) "National accreditation" means full accreditation of a program at an accredited Connecticut institution by an accrediting association in the United States in accordance with approval standards for programs of higher education, according to a listing of associations recognized by the Commissioner as having standards comparable to those of the Board of Governors, provided that such associations are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. (p) "Resident instruction" means direct contact instruction which involves the physical presence of both the learner and the instructor at the same regularly scheduled location. Resident instruction also may involve independent study and clinical activities with characteristics similar to distance education. (q) "Distance education" means media related instruction, which does not require the physical presence of both the learner and the instructor at the same regularly scheduled location.