(a) In addition to any other acts or conditions provided by law, the director may refuse to reauthorize, reinstate or restore, or may deny, revoke, suspend, or condition in any manner, including but not limited to placement on probation, any authorization for any one or more of the following acts or conditions on the part of the institution or applicant:

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-11

  • Accredited: means holding an institutional accreditation by name to offer post-secondary education as a United States-based institution from a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Authorization: means the authorization granted to a private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution as provided in this chapter and any applicable rules and policies. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Department: means the department of commerce and consumer affairs. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Director: means the director of commerce and consumer affairs. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Private college or university: means a nonpublic post-secondary education institution having a physical presence in the State that offers associate, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees or diplomas. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • religious training institution: means a bona fide religious post-secondary educational institution that has a physical presence in the State, that is exempt from property taxation under the laws of the State, and that offers associate, baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees or diplomas. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 305J-2
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
(1) Failure to meet or maintain the conditions and requirements necessary to qualify for or maintain an authorization;
(2) Failure to maintain accreditation as required by this chapter;
(3) Engaging in false, fraudulent, or deceptive advertising, or making untruthful or improbable statements;
(4) Procuring an authorization, reauthorization, or certification through fraud, misrepresentation, material omission, or deceit;
(5) Misconduct, incompetence, gross negligence, or manifest incapacity in the operation of the institution;
(6) Revocation, suspension, deauthorization, or other disciplinary action by another state or federal agency against an institution or applicant for any reason provided by this chapter or rules adopted hereunder;
(7) Criminal conviction, whether by nolo contendere or otherwise, of a penal crime directly related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of the institution or applicant in any jurisdiction in which the institution operates;
(8) Failure to report in writing to the department any disciplinary decision issued against the institution or the applicant in another jurisdiction within thirty days of the disciplinary decision;
(9) Failure to report in writing to the department any change in accreditation status by any accrediting agency;
(10) Failure to demonstrate or maintain a record of financial integrity; or
(11) Violating any provision of this chapter or rules adopted hereunder.
(b) It shall be a violation of this chapter for a private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution or its agent to:

(1) Make or cause to be made any statement or representation, oral, written, or visual, in connection with the offering of educational services if the private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution or its agent knows or reasonably should have known the statement or representation to be false, inaccurate, or materially misleading;
(2) Falsely represent or deceptively conceal, directly or by implication, through the use of a trade or business name, the fact that the institution is a private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution;
(3) Adopt a name, trade name, or trademark that represents falsely, directly or by implication, the quality, scope, nature, size, or integrity of the private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution or its educational services;
(4) Intentionally and materially represent falsely, directly or by implication, that students who successfully complete a course or program of instruction may transfer the credits earned to any institution of higher education;
(5) Intentionally and materially represent falsely, directly or by implication, in its promotional materials or in any other manner:

(A) Its size, location, facilities, or equipment;
(B) The number, educational experience, or qualifications of its faculty;
(C) The extent or nature of any approval received from any state agency; or
(D) The extent or nature of any accreditation received from any accrediting agency, body, or association;
(6) Provide prospective students with testimonials, endorsements, or other information that has the tendency to mislead or deceive prospective students or the public regarding its current practices;
(7) Designate or refer to its sales representatives by titles that imply that the sales representatives have training in academic counseling or advising if they do not; and
(8) Represent, directly or by implication, that it is authorized by the State or approved or accredited by an accrediting agency or body when it has not been authorized, approved, or accredited.
(c) Any private college or university, seminary, or religious training institution or its agent that violates this chapter may be subject to one or more of the following sanctions:

(1) A fine equal to a sum of not less than $500 or more than $10,000 for each violation. The penalties provided in this subsection are cumulative to the remedies or penalties available under all other laws of this State. Each day that a violation occurs shall be considered a separate violation;
(2) An order directing corrective action on the part of the institution;
(3) An order of restitution to one or more affected students;
(4) Revocation, suspension, probation, or conditions on the institution’s authorization;
(5) An order relating to cessation of operations or alternate enrollment; or
(6) The payment of costs of investigation and legal action, irrespective of the outcome.