Colorado § 23-2-103.1 - Commission - department - duties - limitation - reciprocity.

§ 23-2-103.1. Commission - department - duties - limitation - reciprocity.

(1) The commission shall:

(a) Establish procedures for authorizing, reauthorizing, and revoking the authorization of private colleges and universities and seminaries and religious training institutions in accordance with the provisions of this article, including but not limited to procedures by which an institution may apply for authorization or reauthorization and the procedures the department shall follow in reviewing applications and making recommendations to the commission;

(b) Grant or deny authorizations, renew authorizations, and revoke authorizations pursuant to sections 23-2-103.3 and 23-2-103.4;

(c) Establish the types and amounts of fees that a private college or university or seminary or religious training institution shall pay as required pursuant to section 23-2-104.5 (1); and

(d) Establish policies to require private colleges and universities and seminaries and religious training institutions to submit to the department, upon request, data that is directly related to student enrollment and degree completion and, if applicable, student financial aid and educator preparation programs as described in section 22-60.5-121. The director of the commission and an employee of the department of higher education shall not divulge or make known in any way data for individual students or personnel, except in accordance with judicial order or as otherwise provided by law. A person who violates this subsection (1)(d) commits a class 2 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501, and shall be removed or dismissed from public service on the grounds of malfeasance in office.

(2) The department shall administer the provisions of this article in accordance with the provisions of this article and the policies, guidelines, and procedures adopted by the commission for the administration of this article. To administer this article, the department shall have, but need not be limited to, the following duties:

(a) Recommending that the commission grant, deny, revoke, or renew an authorization to operate a private college or university or seminary or religious training institution;

(b) Maintaining a list of the private colleges and universities and seminaries and religious training institutions that have authorizations on file with the department; and

(c) Establishing and maintaining a process in accordance with section 23-2-104 for reviewing and appropriately acting on a complaint concerning a private college or university or seminary or religious training institution operating in this state, including enforcing applicable state laws if the complaint is based on a claim of deceptive trade practice.

(3) The commission and the department are not authorized to regulate the operations of, including but not limited to the content of courses provided by, a private college or university or seminary or religious training institution except to the extent expressly set forth in this article.

(4) The commission may negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity agreements with other states if, in the judgment of the commission, the agreements do not obligate a private college or university or seminary or religious training institution to comply with standards or requirements that exceed the standards and requirements specified in this article and the agreements will assist in accomplishing the purposes of this article.

Source: L. 2012: Entire section added, (HB 12-1155), ch. 255, p. 1284, § 12, effective August 8. L. 2021: (1)(d) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3222, § 398, effective March 1, 2022. L. 2023: (1)(b), (1)(c), and (1)(d) amended, (SB 23-258), ch. 334, p. 2010, § 12, effective August 7.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 23-258, see section 1 of chapter 334, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.