Wisconsin Administrative Code Educational Approval Board
📌 What the Educational Approval Board Administrative Code Is
The Educational Approval Board (EAB) Administrative Code is a set of rules adopted by the Board under statutory authority to regulate the operation, approval, advertising, financial practices, student protections, and reporting requirements of certain educational institutions in Wisconsin. These rules implement and interpret the statutory framework governing educational program approval and consumer protection in the education marketplace.
The Administrative Code for the Educational Approval Board typically appears as chapter EAB, with numbered sub‑sections covering definitions, application requirements, institutional obligations, disclosures, financial standards, and enforcement.
📘 Key Chapters and Topics
EAB 1 — Authority and Definitions
This chapter:
Establishes the legal basis for the Board’s rulemaking authority under state law.
Defines key terms used throughout the EAB code, such as:
Board — the Educational Approval Board
Educational institution — facility or entity offering postsecondary programs subject to approval
Branch campus
Commissioner — the Board’s administrative officer
Program, distance education, noncredit course, and other operational terms
Sets out general interpretive rules for how terms are applied in later chapters.
EAB 2 — Application for Approval
This chapter sets out how an educational institution applies for approval to operate or to offer programs in Wisconsin:
Requirements for initial application and required documentation.
Information institutions must provide, including:
Institutional mission, governance, and ownership
Program descriptions and curriculum outlines
Faculty qualifications
Facilities and equipment
Financial documentation demonstrating ability to operate
Deadlines for submission and procedures for review by the Board.
EAB 3 — Standards for Approval
This chapter contains the standards the Board uses to evaluate whether an institution should be approved:
Criteria for educational quality, including curriculum, faculty credentials, and learning outcomes.
Financial stability standards, such as acceptable financial ratios, audits, and proof of fiscal responsibility.
Requirements relating to student services, facilities, and support.
Minimum standards for advertising, recruiting, and representations to prospective students.
Conditions under which approval may be denied, limited, or conditioned.
EAB 4 — Institutional Obligations
Approved institutions must comply with ongoing obligations including:
Periodic reporting of changes in ownership, accreditation, program offerings, or significant administrative changes.
Student recordkeeping requirements.
Timely submission of annual data on enrollment, completion rates, and employment outcomes (when required).
Maintenance of appropriate student complaint procedures.
EAB 5 — Student Protection and Disclosures
This chapter focuses on consumer protection and requires institutions to provide clear, accurate information to students. It includes:
Required disclosures prior to enrollment, such as:
Tuition, fees, and refund policies
Pre‑requisites for programs
Pass rates on licensure exams (if applicable)
Graduation and job placement statistics (when available)
Standards for fair and truthful advertising.
Rules on handling of student funds and billing.
Policies for student withdrawal and refunds.
EAB 6 — Financial Requirements and Security
This chapter addresses the financial safeguards institutions must maintain:
Financial reporting obligations (periodic statements, audits, etc.).
Requirements for surety bonds, letters of credit, or other forms of financial security to protect students’ prepaid tuition.
Criteria for determining adequacy of financial resources.
EAB 7 — Complaints and Compliance Enforcement
This chapter explains the Board’s enforcement authority and processes:
Procedures for filing and processing complaints from students or the public.
Investigative authority, including request for documents and on‑site reviews.
Grounds for disciplinary actions, including suspension or revocation of approval.
Sanctions and corrective action plans the Board may impose for violations.
Rights of institutions to hearings and appeals under administrative procedures.
🧠 How These Rules Function Together
The EAB Administrative Code serves as the rulebook that:
Implements statutory requirements for approving educational institutions and programs.
Defines standards for how schools must operate in areas of quality, finance, disclosure, and student protection.
Provides procedures for approval, monitoring, complaint resolution, and enforcement.
Ensures transparency and fairness for students enrolling in approved institutions.
🛠 Important Concepts
Board Authority
The Board adopts these rules under authority granted by state statute; the rules fill in the details the statute leaves to administrative discretion.
Approval vs. Accreditation
Board approval under the EAB code is distinct from accreditation — it focuses on basic educational, financial, and consumer protection standards, and does not replace specialized accreditation.
Consumer Protection
Much of the code emphasizes accurate disclosures, financial security, and safeguards for students who enroll in programs.
Ongoing Compliance
Approved institutions have continuing obligations; approval is not indefinite and may be renewed only if standards continue to be met.
📝 Summary
The Wisconsin Administrative Code — Educational Approval Board covers:
Definitions and legal authority
Application and approval standards
Institutional reporting and conduct requirements
Financial safeguards
Student protections and disclosures
Enforcement and discipline
Together, these rules guide how the Board approves and oversees private postsecondary educational providers in Wisconsin to promote quality, transparency, and consumer protection. If you need detailed text or summaries of specific rule sections (e.g., required disclosures or financial security requirements), I can provide that too.
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