1. Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, a school or other entity that grants a degree shall not conduct any portion of a course of instruction or any aspect of its operations or otherwise establish a presence in this state if, with the exception of a school that qualifies for an exemption under section 261B.11, subsection 1, paragraph “h”, the school or other entity is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States department of education.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 261B.13

  • Course of instruction: means a postsecondary educational program that a school offers through in-person instruction, distance delivery, correspondence study methods, or any combination thereof. See Iowa Code 261B.2
  • Degree: means a postsecondary credential conferring on the recipient the title of associate, bachelor, master, or doctor, or an equivalent title, signifying educational attainment based on study which may be supplemented by experience or achievement testing. See Iowa Code 261B.2
  • Presence: means a location in Iowa at which a student participates in any structured activity related to a school's distance education course of instruction, with the exception of proctored examinations. See Iowa Code 261B.2
  • School: means an agency of the state or political subdivision of the state, individual, partnership, company, firm, society, trust, association, corporation, or any combination which meets any of the following criteria:
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. A school registered under this chapter or otherwise authorized to operate under the laws of this state shall not enter into an agreement to conduct a course of instruction, confer a degree, or conduct any other aspect of its operation with another school that is in violation of this section.
 3. This section shall not apply to a foreign medical school that is accredited by a foreign entity recognized by the national committee on foreign medical education and accreditation.