Section 5-A8016. CLOSING AN INSTITUTION

 

8016.1A postsecondary degree granting educational institution which closes shall make arrangements for its students and for the safekeeping of its records, as set forth in this section.

 

8016.2A postsecondary degree granting educational institution licensed under this chapter shall not close without the prior approval of the Commission.

 

8016.3Closure of an institution shall be conducted in accordance with a written plan which is submitted for approval to the Commission not less than ninety (90) days before the date of closure. The plan shall describe with specificity how the institution will comply with the requirements of this section.

 

8016.4In closing a postsecondary degree granting educational institution, the institution shall:

 

(a)Cease all recruitment activities and bar all new student enrollments;

 

(b)Provide all enrolled students an opportunity to complete their program of studies at the institution or receive maximum assistance for the orderly transfer to another educational institution acceptable to the student;

 

(c)Notify all enrolled students of the phase-out plan by letter, electronic mail, the Commission’s website, or direct notification from the Commission as the Commission may determine. The notification shall describe the students’ financial obligations, their rights to a refund or adjustment, provisions made for assistance toward completion of their academic program, and how students may obtain official copies of records or transcripts;

 

(d)Provide the Commission with copies of the closing or phase-out notices and all other communications sent to students regarding the closing or phase-out;

 

(e)Make provisions for transferring all official student records to the Commission;

 

(f)Notify students of the arrangements for the transfer of their records to the Commission, including information on how to obtain official copies of the records;

 

(g)Notify the Corporations Division of the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and other appropriate authorities of the status of the postsecondary degree granting educational institution or corporation, including the filing of a final report, if appropriate; and

 

(h)Describe steps being taken to protect the rights of staff, suppliers, and creditors.

 

8016.5During the phase-out process, the postsecondary degree granting educational institution shall submit periodic progress reports to the Commission within the timeframes specified and approved by the Commission, including specific information specified in the closure plan and how unanticipated or serious problems have been addressed in the process.

 

8016.6The Commission shall monitor the phase-out and closure of the institution and require the postsecondary degree granting educational institution to comply with the objectives as well as the specific provisions of the approved closure plan.

 

authority

The Education Licensure Commission (ELC) (Commission), pursuant to authority set forth in sections 6(b)(3) and 11 of the Education Licensure Commission Act of 1976 (the Act), effective April 6, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-104: D.C. Official Code §§ 38-1306(b)(3) and 38-1311 (2010 Supp.)), and Mayor’s Order 89-120, dated May 31, 1989; and the State Superintendent of Education pursuant to section 3(b) of the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code § 38-2602(b) (2010 Supp.)).

source

Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 6595, 6612 (October 19, 1990); as amended by Notice of Final Rulemaking published at 58 DCR 2424, 2446 (March 18, 2011).

EditorNote

5 DCMR A § 8016 is formerly entitled "Notice and Hearings."