Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
Encyclopedia
The Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) is a unit of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission
with responsibilities related to maintaining high standards in private higher education
institutions in Oregon. ODA administers laws and provides oversight of private colleges and universities offering degree
programs in the state, validates individual claims of degrees, enforces the closure of substandard or fraudulent higher education programs in the state, and enforces policy for publicly funded postsecondary programs and locations.
ODA has three main functions under statute:
1 - Authorization of institutions offering academic degree
s in Oregon
or to Oregon students from outside the state.
Any school that is not a part of the public postsecondary system of Oregon must be approved or determined "exempt" by ODA before offering courses leading to a degree in Oregon. ODA evaluates college degree programs, authorizes each degree program for a fixed term, and provides oversight of the programs duringt the authorization period.
2 - Validation of degrees (for individuals, employers, and licensing boards) and investigation of fraudulent higher education programs
ODA collaborates with higher education agencies in other states and countries to determine equivalency of degrees, to enforce closure of illegal diploma mill
s and degree mills in Oregon, and to share information and assist with enforcement around the world.
3 - Mediation of adverse impact cases when public funds have been used to compete with existing private college programs
ODA acts as a facilitator in the mediation process, working with community colleges, the Oregon University system, and private and independent colleges and universities to resolve adverse impact cases, when the interested parties have not been able to resolve the case on through their own processes.
ODA collaborates with the Oregon University System
, Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, Oregon Independent Colleges Association, and the Private Career Schools office of the Oregon Department of Education. ODA is responsible for 26 private colleges and universities offering Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degree programs, as well as for more than 100 institutions outside of Oregon that offer full or partial degree programs to Oregon residents via online or distance learning. ODA also determines exemption of colleges and universities that meet specific criteria, and currently has approved five colleges under a special religious exemption to offer limited-title degrees in theology
and religious occupations for use only within their religious organization.
ODA maintains a website on which it provides current information about our approval and authorization processes, educational accreditation
, suspected diploma mills, and unaccredited schools approved to offer degrees in Oregon.
Oregon Student Assistance Commission
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission , established by the Oregon Legislature in 1959, is primarily charged with administering student financial aid programs, and through its Office of Degree Authorization, authorizing and regulating the granting of degrees by institutions within the U.S. state...
with responsibilities related to maintaining high standards in private higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
institutions in Oregon. ODA administers laws and provides oversight of private colleges and universities offering degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
programs in the state, validates individual claims of degrees, enforces the closure of substandard or fraudulent higher education programs in the state, and enforces policy for publicly funded postsecondary programs and locations.
ODA has three main functions under statute:
1 - Authorization of institutions offering academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
or to Oregon students from outside the state.
Any school that is not a part of the public postsecondary system of Oregon must be approved or determined "exempt" by ODA before offering courses leading to a degree in Oregon. ODA evaluates college degree programs, authorizes each degree program for a fixed term, and provides oversight of the programs duringt the authorization period.
2 - Validation of degrees (for individuals, employers, and licensing boards) and investigation of fraudulent higher education programs
ODA collaborates with higher education agencies in other states and countries to determine equivalency of degrees, to enforce closure of illegal diploma mill
Diploma mill
A diploma mill is an organization that awards academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study and without recognition by official educational accrediting bodies. The purchaser can then claim to hold an academic degree, and the organization is motivated by making a profit...
s and degree mills in Oregon, and to share information and assist with enforcement around the world.
3 - Mediation of adverse impact cases when public funds have been used to compete with existing private college programs
ODA acts as a facilitator in the mediation process, working with community colleges, the Oregon University system, and private and independent colleges and universities to resolve adverse impact cases, when the interested parties have not been able to resolve the case on through their own processes.
ODA collaborates with the Oregon University System
Oregon University System
The Oregon University System consists of seven public, four-year universities in the State of Oregon administered by the Chancellor of the OUS, who is appointed by the Oregon State Board of Higher Education...
, Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, Oregon Independent Colleges Association, and the Private Career Schools office of the Oregon Department of Education. ODA is responsible for 26 private colleges and universities offering Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degree programs, as well as for more than 100 institutions outside of Oregon that offer full or partial degree programs to Oregon residents via online or distance learning. ODA also determines exemption of colleges and universities that meet specific criteria, and currently has approved five colleges under a special religious exemption to offer limited-title degrees in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and religious occupations for use only within their religious organization.
ODA maintains a website on which it provides current information about our approval and authorization processes, educational accreditation
Educational accreditation
Educational accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of educational institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met...
, suspected diploma mills, and unaccredited schools approved to offer degrees in Oregon.