(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall:

(a) Authorize approved schools to offer academic degree programs;

(b) Authorize approved degree-granting schools to offer nondegree programs leading to a certificate or diploma;

(c) Validate claims of degree possession;

(d) Terminate substandard or fraudulent degree activities;

(e) Terminate activities, including the enrollment of Oregon students, of diploma mills operating in or from Oregon;

(f) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, terminate the operation in or from Oregon of post-secondary accrediting organizations that do not qualify as post-secondary accrediting agencies; and

(g) Review proposed new publicly funded post-secondary programs and locations.

(2) The commission, by rule, may impose a fee on any school or person requesting information from the commission. The amount of the fee shall be established to recover designated expenses incurred by the commission in carrying out the administration of ORS § 348.594 to 348.615. Any fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the Degree Authorization Account established under ORS § 348.601.

(3) Subsection (1)(f) of this section does not apply to an organization the role of which is to accredit schools that offer only associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees leading to occupations in theology or religious occupations or, if the schools also offer doctoral degrees, offer doctoral degrees only in theology or religious occupations that have been approved by a post-secondary accrediting agency. [1997 c.652 § 10; 2001 c.454 § 2; 2003 c.674 § 1; 2007 c.325 § 2; 2009 c.328 § 3; 2011 c.637 § 180; 2013 c.288 § 2; 2013 c.658 § 1; 2023 c.557 § 10]