2021 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 09 - Education and Culture
Chapter 348 - Student Aid; Education Stability Fund; Planning
Section 348.603 - Duties of commission relating to degree authorization and nondegree programs; fees; rules.

(a) Authorize approved schools to offer academic degree programs;

(b) Authorize approved degree-granting schools to offer nondegree programs leading to a certificate or diploma;

(c) Validate claims of degree possession;

(d) Terminate substandard or fraudulent degree activities;

(e) Terminate activities of diploma mills operating in or from Oregon;

(f) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, terminate the operation in or from Oregon of post-secondary accrediting bodies that are not recognized by the United States Department of Education or by the commission; and

(g) Review proposed new publicly funded post-secondary programs and locations.

(2) The commission, by rule, may impose a fee on any school or person requesting information from the commission. The amount of the fee shall be established to recover designated expenses incurred by the commission in carrying out the administration of ORS 348.594 to 348.615. Any fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the Degree Authorization Account established under ORS 348.601.

(3) Subsection (1)(f) of this section does not apply to a body the role of which is to accredit schools that offer only associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees with titles in theology or religious occupations or, if the schools also offer doctoral degrees, offer doctoral degrees only in theology or religious occupations that have been approved by a federally recognized accrediting organization. [1997 c.652 §10; 2001 c.454 §2; 2003 c.674 §1; 2007 c.325 §2; 2009 c.328 §3; 2011 c.637 §180; 2013 c.288 §2; 2013 c.658 §1]