Institutional Catalog

(1) Each institution must publish a catalog that includes at a minimum: (a) The full and correct name and address of the institution; (b) Identifying data, such as catalog number and publication date; (c) Table of contents; (d) Names of owners and officers and credential requirements for faculty; (e) The institutional calendar, including holidays, application and registration periods and the beginning and ending dates of terms, courses, or programs; (f) The institutional admission procedures and entrance requirements, including late admission, if permitted; (g) The institutional attendance policy, including minimum attendance requirements, how attendance will be determined, the withdrawal policy, the circumstances under which a AUTHORIZATION AND REGULATION OF REGULARLY AUTHORIZED CHAPTER 1540-01-02 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS student will be interrupted for unsatisfactory attendance, and the conditions under which a student may be readmitted; (h) The institutional policy covering satisfactory progress, including an explanation of any grading system used, a description of any probation policy, and a description of the institutional system for making progress reports to students; (i) The institutional policy regarding student conduct, including causes for dismissal and conditions for readmission; (j) A description of each program offered including objectives, costs, length, program components, and course requirements, including, if applicable, cleaning or similar tasks as described in Rule .08(7). , Institutions that require students to complete cleaning or similar tasks as part of any program curriculum shall describe such tasks and explain how the tasks are reasonably related to the field for which the student is being prepared and are consistent with the types of tasks that the student would be expected to complete as part of the student’s primary duties or functions when working in the field that the education is preparing the student to enter; (k) A description of student services provided, including whether placement assistance is available and, if none, so state; (l) A description of the facilities and equipment used for educational programs; (m) The policy concerning credit granted for previous education, training, and experience and, if none, so state; (n) The refund and cancellation policy, including the procedure for determining the last date of attendance and the time within which a refund will be provided; (o) A statement provided within the first four pages of the catalog which reads as follows: “The (name of institution) is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This authorization is based on an evaluation of minimum standards concerning the provision of education, ethical business practices, and fiscal responsibility”; (p) A description of the student grievance procedure, including: 1. The title, address, and telephone number of the institutional employee designated to receive student complaints; 2. The timeframe for the institution’s investigation of the complaint, the steps of the investigation and the timeframe and method for communicating the written decision to the student; 3. If the institution allows for nonbinding mediation or voluntary arbitration, the catalog must describe the process in its entirety; and 4. The address and telephone number of Commission staff along with a statement that reads: “Any person claiming damage or loss as a result of any act or practice by this institution that may be a violation of the Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 20 or Rule Chapter 1540-01-02 may file a complaint with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Division of Postsecondary State Authorization after exhausting the grievance process at the institution.” AUTHORIZATION AND REGULATION OF REGULARLY AUTHORIZED CHAPTER 1540-01-02 POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (q) A disclosure regarding the ability to transfer credit earned to another institution, with language sufficient to describe limitations on the transfer of credit. Institutions have a responsibility to advise potential enrollees that transfer of credit is controlled by the receiving institution and that accreditation does not guarantee transferability. Suggested language is as follows: “Students should be aware that transfer of credit is always the responsibility of the receiving institution. Whether or not credits transfer is solely up to the receiving institution. Any student interested in transferring credit hours should check with the receiving institution directly to determine to what extent, if any, credit hours can be transferred.”; (r) The cash discount policy, if offered to students; (s) The ATB testing policies, if any, in accordance with Rule .12(3) of these rules; and (2) Institutions may provide electronic catalogs to students as long as the institution provides the student a hard-copy upon the student’s request. (3) Use of supplemental pages must be done in a way as to ascertain that supplemental pages become an effective part of the catalog and must show an effective date and be presented to students prior to enrollment or payment of fees; (4) Catalogs should be written at a level that allows prospective students and enrollees to comprehend the information and make informed decisions.