Section R7-3-302. Institutional Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the Arizona LEAP Program, an Arizona postsec- ondary educational institution must either:

1.        Be a public or other nonprofit institution of higher educa- tion which:

a.        Admits as regular students only persons who have a high school diploma, have the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, or are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the state in which the institution is located, and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered;

b.        Is legally authorized by the state of Arizona to pro- vide an educational program beyond secondary edu- cation;

c.        Provides an educational program for which it awards an associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or profes- sional degree, or at least a two-year program which is acceptable for full credit toward a baccalaureate degree; or at least a one-year training program which leads to a certificate or degree and prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or at least a six-month training program at a postsec- ondary vocational institution (such as a public com- munity college) which leads to a certificate or degree and prepares students for gainful employ- ment;

d.        Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or if not so accredited, is an institution which has satisfactorily assured the Sec- retary that it will meet the accreditation standards of an approved agency or association within a reason- able time, considering the resources available to the institution, the period of time it has operated and its efforts to meet accreditation standards, or is an insti- tution whose credits are determined by the Secretary to be accepted on transfer by at least three accredited institutions on the same basis as transfer credits from fully accredited institutions.

e.        Has a certified Eligibility Letter and a valid written Program Participation Agreement from the Depart- ment of Education cited in 34 CFR 668.

2.        Be a proprietary institution of postsecondary education which:

a.        Is not a public or other nonprofit institution;

b.        Admits as regular students only persons who have a high school diploma, have the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, or are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the state in which the institution is located, and who have the ability to benefit from the training offered;

c.        Is legally authorized to provide postsecondary edu- cation in the state of Arizona;

d.        Provides at least a six-month or 600 clock hour pro- gram of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation;

e.        Is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association; and

f.         Has been in existence for at least two years. The Secretary considers a school to have been in exist- ence for two years if it has been legally authorized to provide, and has provided, a  continuous training program to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation during the 24 months (except for normal vacation periods) preceding the date of application for eligibility.

g.        Refer to this subsection (1)(e).

Historical Note

Adopted effective September 19, 1996, under an exemp- tion from the Administrative Procedure Act pursuant to

A.R.S. § 15-1852(C) (Supp. 96-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 5 A.A.R. 2046, effective June 1, 1999

(Supp. 99-2).