Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 Pa.C.S.A. Education § 6503.1. Change of designation to university

(1) As of the date of the letter, the institution fulfills at least two of the three units necessary for an institution to be designated as a university, as defined in subsection (f).

(2) The institution's commitment to meet any additional unit or other requirement necessary to achieve full compliance with the definition contained in this section within a five-year period.

(3) If the institution cannot satisfy the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2), in lieu thereof, that the institution fulfills one of the three units necessary for the institution to be designated as a university as defined in subsection (f) and the institution provides a specialized medical educational program that would be enhanced by having the designation of “university.”

(4) That the institution has been in continuous operation in this Commonwealth for the ten years preceding the date of the letter.

(5) That, during the preceding ten years, the institution has maintained accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education or another regional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(6) That the accreditation status of the institution is in good standing and is in compliance with all standards imposed by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education or other regional accrediting body, including, but not limited to, periodic reviews and evaluations.

(7) The intended effective date of the change in designation.

(8) That the institution's board of trustees or similar governing body has approved the change in designation.

(1) The department shall review the letter from the president of the institution and complete its review within 60 days of receipt of the letter.

(2) If the letter complies with the requirements of this section, the department shall accept the letter and publish the acceptance as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The notice shall include the effective date of the change in designation.

(3) If the department fails to complete its review of the letter within the 60-day time period, the letter shall be deemed accepted, and the department shall publish the acceptance as a notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

(4) If the letter does not comply with the requirements of this section, the department shall reject the letter for noncompliance by returning the letter to the institution, together with any documentation submitted, and shall state the basis for the rejection.

(5) An institution which receives a rejection of its letter may submit a corrected or new letter for review and acceptance by the department at any time.

(1) Within 90 days of the effective date of the change in designation, the institution must submit to the department a five-year plan to fulfill any additional unit or other requirement needed for compliance with the definition of “university” in subsection (f).

(2) Failure of the institution to fulfill the plan within five years from the effective date of the change in designation shall result in the institution losing its university status. The department may extend the time allotted to the institution to fulfill the plan, provided that the institution demonstrates progress toward fulfillment of the plan.

(1) Consists of a minimum of three units, except as provided in subsection (a), as follows:

(2) Has a foundation in the arts and sciences which is instilled in the philosophy and implementation of the institution's education curriculum.

(3) Provides access to cultural facilities and opportunities to the community and utilizes similar assets of the community.