Creating a Distance Learning Authorization Board and making an appropriation. (FE)

Under the bill, if the DLA Board enters into an agreement, the DLA Board must 1) authorize eligible institutions for the offering of distance education programs; 2) maintain a list of these institutions; 3) maintain and administer a complaint resolution process for complaints related to the distance education programs of these authorized institutions; 4) monitor these authorized institutions with respect to consumer protection of students enrolled in distance education programs; and 5) administer and enforce the provisions of the agreement with respect to authorized institutions. The bill defines a "distance education program" as the offering of courses for credit, to students outside Wisconsin, that will lead to a degree or certificate from the institution. The bill defines an "eligible institution" as a postsecondary institution that 1) is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the federal Department of Education; 2) maintains its principal campus in Wisconsin and identifies Wisconsin as the state where this campus holds its institutional accreditation; 3) is authorized to offer in Wisconsin degrees at the associate level or higher; and 4) offers distance education programs and grants degrees or certificates in connection with these programs. If the DLA Board enters into an agreement, it may establish procedures consistent with the provisions of the agreement. The bill does not require an eligible institution to obtain authorization from the DLA Board for its distance education programs but, if the institution elects not to obtain the DLA Board's authorization, the institution does not receive any benefit under the agreement. If the DLA Board enters into an agreement, the DLA Board, not the EAB, has jurisdiction over the distance education programs of a postsecondary institution authorized by the DLA Board. In addition, if the DLA Board enters into an agreement, the EAB does not have jurisdiction over an out-of-state postsecondary institution that is located in a state which has joined an agreement and that has obtained authorization from that state to offer distance education programs to students in other states.

The bill also requires the DLA Board to create and maintain a list of the names of all postsecondary institutions that, under specified federal regulations, are legally authorized in this state and are exempt from additional state authorization requirements as provided under these federal regulations (exempt institutions). The DLA Board must make this list of exempt institutions available to the public and, at least annually, the list must be published in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.