1. State Approving Agencies: Core Functions
Rob Breeckner – Ohio State Approving Agency Director
Dan Wellman – Illinois State Approving Agency Administrator
Tuesday, June 20, 2017

2. State Approving Agency Core Functions
Approval of Programs
Compliance and Other Visits to Schools and Training Establishments
Technical Assistance
Outreach
Liaison
Contract Compliance

3. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS Institutions of Higher Learning
Non-College Degree Programs
Apprenticeships
On-the-Job Training Programs
Flight Training Programs
Correspondence Programs
Licensing and Certification Exams

4. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS Authority for Approval
Degree Programs at Accredited Public and Non-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning (38 USC 3672)
Degree and Non-College Degree Programs at Accredited Educational Institutions Not Covered by Section 3672 (38 USC and 38 CFR )
Degree and Non-College Degree Programs at Nonaccredited Educational Institutions (38 USC 3676 and 21 CFR )

5. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Approval Criteria at Degree Programs at Accredited Public and Non-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning (38 USC 3672)
Proof Proper Accreditation and State Licensing
Adequate Records demonstrating enforcement of grades, progress and conduct
Written record of previous education and training demonstrating credit granted, training program proportionately shortened
Cannot approve bartending, personality, certain sales, and avocational/recreational courses; or programs offered by radio
Systems and capability to report enrollment, interruption and termination
Advertising, Sales and Enrollment Practices
Prohibition against offering commission/bonus payments for directly or indirectly securing enrollments or financial aid
No Federal Trade Commission Cease and Desist Orders
Contractual Programs

6. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Approval Criteria at Degree Programs at Accredited Public and Non-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning (38 USC 3672)
Proof Proper Accreditation and State Licensing
Adequate Records demonstrating enforcement of grades, progress and conduct
Written record of previous education and training demonstrating credit granted, training program proportionately shortened
Cannot approve bartending, personality, certain sales, and avocational/recreational courses; or programs offered by radio
Systems and capability to report enrollment, interruption and termination
Advertising, Sales and Enrollment Practices
Prohibition against offering commission/bonus payments for directly or indirectly securing enrollments or financial aid
No Federal Trade Commission Cease and Desist Orders
Contractual Programs

7. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Additional Concerns at Degree Programs at Accredited Public and Non-Profit Institutions of Higher Learning (38 USC 3672)
Distance Education
Independent Study
Branch Locations
Practical Training
Remedial/Deficiency Courses
Study Abroad
Cooperative Training

8. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Approval Criteria at Degree and Non-College Degree Programs at Accredited Educational Institutions Not Covered by Section 3672 (38 USC and 38 CFR )
Proof Proper Accreditation and State Licensing
Programs consistent in quality, length and content with similar courses
Adequate space, equipment, instructional material
Educational qualifications of directors, administrators, faculty
Adequate records for enforcement of grades and satisfactory progress
Standards of progress specific enough to determine termination point
Conduct records
Written record of previous education and training demonstrating credit granted, training program proportionately shortened

9. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Approval Criteria at Degree and Non-College Degree Programs at Accredited Educational Institutions Not Covered by Section 3672 (38 USC and 38 CFR )
Cannot approve bartending, personality, certain sales, and avocational/recreational courses; or programs offered by radio
Systems and capability to report enrollment, interruption and termination
Advertising, Sales and Enrollment Practices
Prohibition against offering commission/bonus payments for directly or indirectly securing enrollments or financial aid
No Federal Trade Commission Cease and Desist Orders
Contractual Programs
If Attendance Standards exist, are their adequate systems and records to enforce

10. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS
Approval Criteria at Degree and Non-College Degree Programs at Accredited Educational Institutions Not Covered by Section (38 USC 3675 and 38 CFR )
Distance Education
Independent Study
Branch Locations
Practical Training
Remedial/Deficiency Courses
Study Abroad
Cooperative Training
School Catalog Requirements

11. Compliance and Other Visits to Schools and Training Establishments
Conduct compliance visits to education and training facilities
Conduct visits to education and training facilities at the request of the VA

12. Technical Assistance Organize school meetings
Provide assistance to facility officials on any aspect of the approval process
Provide assistance during telephone interviews where approval criteria and processes are discussed

13. Outreach Promote usage of the GI Bill through various avenues:
Separation briefings
Veterans’ Benefit and Resource Fairs
Reintegration events for returning troops
Student Veteran Club Meetings on Campus

14. Liaison
Present and attend various professional organization meetings – AVECO, Apprenticeship Council, Financial Aid Administrators, College Registrars, Department of Labor
Respond to veterans who have received denial of benefit letters from the USDVA.
Regular meetings with VARO staff to review progress of the business/budget plan

15. Contract Compliance
Ensuring SAA meets all the requirements of its contract with the federal government – well over 60 performance measures

16. Questions