(a) For the purposes of this section, (1) “program of higher learning” means any course of instruction for which it is stated or implied that college or university-level credit may be given or may be received by transfer, including any course offered by dual enrollment; (2) “degree” means any letters or words, diploma, certificate or other symbol or document which signifies satisfactory completion of the requirements of a program of higher learning; (3) “institution of higher education” means any person, school, board, association, limited liability company or corporation which is authorized to offer one or more programs of higher learning leading to one or more degrees; (4) “authorization” means the approval by the Office of Higher Education to operate or continue operating a program of higher learning or institution of higher education for subsequent periods, and in such periods to confer specified degrees; (5) “program modification” means (A) a change in a program of higher learning that does not clearly qualify as a new program of higher learning or a nonsubstantive change, including, but not limited to, a new program of higher learning consisting primarily of course work for a previously approved program of higher learning, (B) an approved program of higher learning to be offered at an off-campus location, (C) a change in the title of a degree, or (D) a change in the title of a program of higher learning; and (6) “nonsubstantive change” means (A) a new undergraduate certificate program, within an existing program of higher learning, of not more than thirty semester credit hours that falls under an approved program of higher learning, (B) a new baccalaureate minor of not more than eighteen semester credit hours, (C) a new undergraduate option or certificate program of not more than fifteen semester credit hours, or (D) a new graduate option or certificate program of not more than twelve semester credit hours.

(b) The Office of Higher Education shall establish regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, concerning the requirements for authorization, administration, finance, faculty, curricula, library, student admission and graduation, plant and equipment, records, catalogs, program announcements and any other criteria pertinent thereto, as well as the periods for which authorization may be granted, and the costs and procedures of evaluations as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (i) of this section.

(c) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall confer any degree unless authorized by act of the General Assembly. No application for authority to confer any such degree shall be approved by the General Assembly or any committee thereof, nor shall any such authority be included in any charter of incorporation until such application has been evaluated and approved by the Office of Higher Education in accordance with regulations established by the Office of Higher Education.

(d) The Office of Higher Education shall review all requests and applications for program modifications, nonsubstantive changes and authorizations. The office shall review each application in consideration of the academic standards set forth in the regulations for authorization adopted by said office in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 10a-34e, any application that is determined by the office to be for (1) a program modification that meets all such academic standards, (2) a nonsubstantive change, or (3) authorization shall be deemed approved, and the office shall notify the institution of such approval, not later than forty-five days from the date the office receives such application without requiring any further action from the applicant.

(e) If the executive director of the Office of Higher Education, or the executive director’s designee, determines that further review of an application is needed due at least in part to the applicant offering instruction in a new program of higher learning or new degree level or the financial condition of the institution of higher education is determined to be at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of § 10a-34h, then the executive director or the executive director’s designee shall conduct a focused or on-site review. Such applicant shall have an opportunity to state any objection regarding any individual selected to review an application on behalf of the executive director. For purposes of this subsection and subsection (f) of this section, “focused review” means a review by an out-of-state curriculum expert; and “on-site review” means a full team evaluation by the office at the institution of higher education.

(f) The executive director of the Office of Higher Education, or the executive director’s designee, may require (1) a focused or on-site review of any program application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut, and (2) evidence that a program application in a field requiring a license to practice in Connecticut meets the state or federal licensing requirements for such license.

(g) Any application for authorization of a new institution in this state shall be subject to an on-site review upon a determination by the Office of Higher Education that the application is complete and shall be reviewed at the institutional level for each program as described in subsection (b) of this section. Such process shall be completed not later than nine months from the date said office receives the application.

(h) If the Office of Higher Education denies an application for authorization of a program or institution of higher education, the applicant may appeal the denial not later than ten days from the date of denial. The office shall conduct a hearing in accordance with the requirements of chapter 54 to hear such appeal.

(i) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall operate a program of higher learning or an institution of higher education unless it has been authorized by the Office of Higher Education, nor shall it confer any degree unless it has been authorized in accordance with this section. The office shall accept accreditation recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection unless the office finds cause not to rely upon such accreditation. If any institution of higher education provides evidence of programmatic accreditation, the office may consider such accreditation in satisfaction of the requirements of this subsection and deem the program at issue in the application for accreditation to be accredited in accordance with this section.

(j) No person, school, board, association or corporation shall use in any way the term “junior college” or “college” or “university” or use any other name, title, literature, catalogs, pamphlets or descriptive matter tending to designate that it is an institution of higher education, or that it may grant academic or professional degrees, unless the institution has been authorized by the office, nor shall it offer any program of higher learning without authorization of the Office of Higher Education.

(k) Authorization of any program or institution or authority to award degrees granted in accordance with law prior to July 1, 1965, shall continue in effect unless the Office of Higher Education determines that an institution is at risk of imminent closure as a result of a financial screening conducted pursuant to the provisions of § 10a-34h.

(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (j), inclusive, of this section and subject to the authority of the State Board of Education to regulate teacher education programs, an independent institution of higher education, as defined in § 10a-173, shall not require approval by the Office of Higher Education for any new programs of higher learning or any program modifications proposed by such institution until June 30, 2023, and for up to fifteen new programs of higher learning in any academic year or any program modifications proposed by such institution on and after July 1, 2023, provided (1) the institution maintains eligibility to participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (2) the United States Department of Education has not determined that the institution has a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available, and (3) the institution has been located in the state and accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and maintains such accreditation status. Each institution that is exempt from program approval by the Office of Higher Education under this subsection shall file with the office (A) on and after July 1, 2023, an application for approval of any new program of higher learning in excess of fifteen new programs in any academic year, (B) a program actions form, as created by the office, prior to students enrolling in any new program of higher learning or any existing program subject to a program modification, and (C) not later than July first, and annually thereafter, (i) until June 30, 2024, a list and brief description of any new programs of higher learning introduced by the institution in the preceding academic year and any existing programs of higher learning discontinued by the institution in the preceding academic year, (ii) the institution’s current program approval process and all actions of the governing board concerning approval of any new program of higher learning, and (iii) the institution’s financial responsibility composite score, as determined by the United States Department of Education, for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available.