¹246.011  Purpose.--

(1)  The Legislature encourages privately supported higher education and intends to aid in protecting the integrity of degrees conferred by privately supported colleges. Sections 246.011-246.151 are intended to aid in protecting the health, education, and welfare of persons who receive educational services and degrees from nonpublic colleges in this state; to aid in protecting employers and others who depend upon people whose educational credentials are from nonpublic colleges in this state; and to aid in protecting nonpublic colleges that currently operate or intend to begin operating in this state. The Legislature finds that both individuals and colleges benefit from a state system that assures that all nonpublic colleges satisfactorily meet minimum educational standards. The Legislature further recognizes the role of regional accrediting associations in setting standards for colleges and universities and encourages the use of the standards of regional accrediting associations as general guidelines for the licensing of nonpublic colleges.

(2)  The Legislature recognizes that a degree serves several purposes. Employers rely upon a person's degree in judging that individual's qualifications for employment. Educators rely upon a person's degree to assess the adequacy of that individual's preparation for the pursuit of further education. Therefore, the Legislature intends that the provisions of ss. 246.011-246.151 aid in protecting the integrity of degrees offered by nonpublic colleges by providing for the evaluation of minimum educational requirements.

(3)  It is the intent of the Legislature that a nonpublic college which offers both degrees and vocational certificates or diplomas shall be subject to the rules of the State Board of Independent Colleges and Universities as provided by ss. 246.011-246.151 and the State Board of Nonpublic Career Education as provided by ss. 246.201-246.231.

(4)  It is the intent of the Legislature to prohibit the granting of false or misleading educational credentials and to prohibit misleading literature, advertising, solicitation, or representations by nonpublic colleges or their agents.

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-128; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 6, 10, 16, ch. 79-385; s. 7, ch. 80-378; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 2, 23, 24, ch. 82-203; s. 1, ch. 89-344; ss. 1, 19, 20, ch. 92-321; s. 28, ch. 98-421; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.