Application Due Dates, Review, and Training
The initial authorization and application review process has been significantly changed due to recent legislation. See 2022 Tenn. Pub. Ch. No. 1044 relevant to the statutes governing institutional authorization.
Information on the legislation and related rules is available HERE.
STARTING JULY 1, 2022
Authorization End Date Adjustments and Related Filing Deadlines
On June 30, 2022, the Executive Director signed a memorandum extending authorization time periods effective July 1, 2022, in order to effectuate the purposes of 2022 Tenn. Pub. Ch. No. 1044, and set future filing deadlines as indicated in the below chart at the bottom of this page. The memorandum directed that it be posted on this website and Commission staff provide notification via email of the posting to all institutions. Emails were sent to all authorized institutions on June 30, 2022. Questions concerning the memorandum should be sent to Julie Woodruff at julie.woodruff@tn.gov or Marcie Mills at marcie.mills@tn.gov. The memorandum is available HERE.
Initial Authorization Applications
Initial Authorization Applications will be reviewed by the staff of DPSA. If DPSA staff determines that the institution meets the minimum standards for authorization, then it will recommend that the Executive Director award the institution provisional authorization, subject to ratification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission at a regularly scheduled meeting. If necessary, the institution will have two (2) opportunities to correct its application. If the institution does not meet the minimum standards after the opportunity to submit corrections has been given, the application will be denied.
A Q&A Session will be presented via WebEx to offer an opportunity for you to ask questions regarding the application and authorization process. A short presentation will be offered at the start of the session. The meeting will then be opened to participants to ask questions. We strongly encourage you to review the IA Application prior to the meeting and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
- Check here for future training dates.
Initial Authorization Training
Institutions receiving iniitial provisional authorization from the Executive Director must attend the Initial Authorization (IA) Training following the Commission meeting during which the institution’s provisional authorization is ratified. The IAT training dates for 2023 are as follows:
- For institutions whose provisional authorization is ratified at the Friday, January 27, 2023 Commission meeting: Friday, February 03, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. CST/CDT. Institutions may register HERE.
- For institutions whose provisional authorization is ratified at the Thursday, May 11, 2023 Commission meeting: Friday, May 12, 2023, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. CST/CDT. Institutions may register HERE.
- For institutions whose provisional authorization is ratified at the Friday, July 20, 2023 Commission meeting: Friday, July 21, 2023, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CST/CDT. Institutions may register HERE.
- For institutions whose provisional authorization is ratified at the Thursday, November 9, 2023 Commission meeting: Wednesday, November 15, 2023, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CST/CDT. Institutions may register HERE.
To report issues with the meeting links, please email Marcie Mills at marcie.mills@tn.gov. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Optional Expedited Authorizations
Applications for Optional Expedited Authorization (OEA) of an institution with regular authorization or of an institution that is not currently authorized in Tennessee will be reviewed by the staff of the DPSA. If DPSA staff determines that the institution meets the minimum standards for authorization, then it will recommend that the Executive director award your institution provisional authorization, subject to ratification by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission at a regularly scheduled meeting. If necessary, the institution will have two (2) opportunities to correct its application. If the institution does not meet the minimum standards after the opportunity to submit corrections has been given, the application will be denied.
Additional Applications
The following applications will be reviewed and acted upon by the staff of DPSA. If DPSA staff determines that the application complies in all respects with the applicable statutes and rules, then it will approve the application. If necessary, the institution will have two (2) opportunities to correct its application. If the institution does not meet the minimum standards after the opportunity to submit corrections has been given, the application will be denied.
o Application for Reauthorization of a regularly authorized institution
o Application for Optional Expedited Authorization (renewal)
o Program Registration Requests
o Certifications of Compliance
o for Regular Authorizaion
o for Optional Expedited Authorization
o Applications for Change of Ownership
o Personnel Applications
o Exemption Determination Requests
Assistance in completing the applications is available by emailing THEC.DPSA-Applications@tn.gov.
Optional Expedited Authorization for Regularly Authorized Institutions
Regularly Authorized (RA) institutions accredited by a USDOE recognized accreditor will be able to apply for OEA. OEA gives deference to accreditors for many of the tasks and consumer documentation. The application is succinct, and applicant institutions do not submit new program applications. The current OEA rules are available at Rule Chapter 1540-01-10 and the application is available HERE. DPSA will begin accepting new OEA Applications on Friday, May 27, 2022; however, no determinations will be made prior to July 1, 2022. If you are interested in more information regarding this option, please send an email to marcie.mills@tn.gov.
