As used in this act:

  (a) “Accredited” means approved by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

  (b) “Authorization” means either of the following:

  (i) An authorization from the department under section 4(1) to participate in a reciprocal agreement.

  (ii) An authorization from the department under section 4(3) to provide distance education to residents of this state issued to a college or university that is located in another state and is not a party to a reciprocal agreement.

  (c) “College or university” means a degree or certificate granting public or private college or university, junior college, or community college.

  (d) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

  (e) “Distance education” means education that uses 1 or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor, and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously. As used in this subdivision, “technologies” may include any of the following:

  (i) The Internet.

  (ii) One-way and 2-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices.

  (iii) Audio conferencing.

  (iv) Video cassettes, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassettes, DVDs, or CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with any of the technologies described in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii).

  (f) “Participating college” means a college or university that is located in this state; elects to participate in a reciprocal agreement under this act; and meets the requirements of section 4.

  (g) “Reciprocal agreement” means an agreement between this state and a higher education compact or 1 or more other states that allows participating colleges to provide distance education to residents of this state and other member states under this act.