Dive Summary:
- Indianapolis will host representatives from 47 states as they discuss a proposal that would simplify state regulations for online courses, placing them under the oversight of reciprocity agreements with existing regional higher education boards.
- Under the proposal, which could affect millions of students, universities would comply with their home state's requirements, though it would not affect international students or non-degree institutions like MOOC providers.
- Under current regulations, colleges wishing to offer online courses to out-of-state students have to register their programs in each state and comply with that state's requirements, which can cost as much as $76,100 for public community colleges and $5.5 million for public university systems.
From the article:
... Commission member Paul Shiffman, an assistant vice president at Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y., says the reciprocity agreement "opens the door for institutions to expand at a time of minimal resources." ...