Section 11.01. Principles.

 

(1)  The board acknowledges that distance learning, especially via the Internet, presents a materially new context for the state's responsibility to protect consumers by regulating private, postsecondary schools.

(2)  The board believes the following principles should guide its regulation of private, postsecondary schools offering programs primarily through distance learning:

(a) The board's regulatory process ought to encourage schools offering programs through distance learning to become approved since the board's consumer protection role works best when schools are approved.

(b) The board's regulatory process must be rigorous and standards-based so only quality schools are approved to provide options to Wisconsin residents.

(c) While the board's regulatory process must be rigorous and consistent with the basic school approval process, it should also be user-friendly to schools using distance learning and honor other rigorous state approval processes so schools do not have to duplicate effort and incur unreasonable costs.

(d) The board's regulatory process should include a fee structure that pays for itself, is fair to the other approved schools, and is not cost prohibitive to schools using distance learning.