Ind. Code ch. 21-18-9

Ind. Code ch. 21-18-9
in effect

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-1 Powers of commission; budget review; recommendations

Sec. 1. The commission shall: (1) review the legislative request budgets of all state educational institutions preceding each session of the general assembly; (2) make recommendations concerning appropriations and bonding authorizations to state educational institutions, including public funds for financial aid to students by any state agency; and (3) present to the budget committee in even-numbered years at the same time as budget hearings are held under IC 4-12-1-8, a summary of the legislative requests of all state educational institutions and the commission's recommendations concerning: (A) operating; (B) capital, including: (i) repair and rehabilitation; (ii) preventive maintenance; and (iii) capital projects, including new construction, substantial renovation, or substantial rehabilitation funding; and (C) financial aid. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(4) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259. Amended by P.L.66-2022, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-2 Powers of commission; program review; recommendations

Sec. 2. The commission may: (1) review all programs of any state educational institution, regardless of the source of funding; and (2) make recommendations to the board of trustees of the state educational institution, the governor, and the general assembly concerning the funding and the disposition of the programs. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(4) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259. Amended by P.L.141-2016, SEC.5; P.L.11-2023, SEC.74.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-3 Request for receipts and expenditures

Sec. 3. In making a review under section 1 or 2 of this chapter, the commission may request and shall receive, in the form reasonably required by the commission, from all state educational institutions, complete information concerning all receipts and all expenditures. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(4) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-4 Powers of commission; studies; recommendations

Sec. 4. The commission may: (1) make, or cause to be made, studies of the needs for various types of postsecondary education; and (2) make recommendations to the general assembly and the governor concerning the organization of these programs. [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(6) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-5 Powers of commission; approval or disapproval of branches, degrees, and programs

Sec. 5. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the commission shall approve or disapprove the: (1) establishment of any new branches, regional or other campuses, or extension centers; (2) establishment of any new college or school; or (3) offering of any proposed or existing: (A) associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree; or (B) program leading to a certificate or other indication of accomplishment. (b) Before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program under subsection (a)(3), a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, the following with regard to the degree or program: (1) The proposed curriculum. (2) The labor market supply and demand. (3) The current or projected: (A) enrollment; (B) completion and completion rate; (C) program cost; (D) total student debt and average monthly student debt; (E) job placement rate; (F) job placement rate related to a student's education or training; (G) graduate retention rate; and (H) estimated: (i) starting compensation; (ii) compensation three (3) years after graduation; (iii) compensation five (5) years after graduation; and (iv) compensation ten (10) years after graduation. (4) The opportunity for embedded, stackable degrees and credentials. (5) An experiential or work based learning requirement. (6) Options for veterans to receive credit for military service. (7) Options for credit for prior workforce experience with Indiana based employers. (8) Options for accelerated degree delivery. (9) Defined pathways for high school, returning, and adult students. (10) The opportunity to: (A) advise students on career exploration and planning; (B) provide students with timely information about the labor market and career pathways; and (C) connect students with employment opportunities. (c) In addition to considering the information under subsection (b), before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, the commission shall consider the information reported under IC 21-14-15-1 with regard to the degree or program. (d) A state educational institution shall provide the information described in subsection (b) in the manner and form prescribed by the commission. (e) The commission, or a committee established by the commission, shall take official action on the approval or disapproval of a degree or program under subsection (a)(3) within ninety (90) days of the state educational institution providing the commission with the full and complete information described in subsections (b) and (c). [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-0.5-8(7) part.] As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.259. Amended by P.L.169-2011, SEC.21; P.L.101-2012, SEC.1; P.L.138-2025, SEC.5.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-5.5 Degree and program review; commission duties

Sec. 5.5. (a) For a degree or program approved under section 5 of this chapter before July 1, 2025, the commission shall review the degree or program for approval or disapproval not later than July 1, 2035. (b) After the review under subsection (a) for degrees and programs described in subsection (a) and for any degree or program approved under section 5 of this chapter after June 30, 2025, the commission shall review each degree and program for approval or disapproval at least one (1) time every ten (10) years. (c) The commission shall do the following: (1) Outline a process for degree or program monitoring, improvement, suspension, and closure. (2) Publish quantitative information on a dashboard that is available to the public to ensure accountability and transparency. (3) Publish a credit for prior learning inventory, including information provided under section 5(b)(6) and 5(b)(7) of this chapter. As added by P.L.138-2025, SEC.6.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-7 Common course numbering system

Sec. 7. In collaboration with the state educational institutions, the commission shall develop, implement, and maintain a common course numbering system to be used by the state educational institutions for all courses in the core transfer library (as defined in IC 21-42-1-3). The commission shall create a state course numbering system into which each state educational institution shall map the state educational institution's unique course numbers. As added by P.L.88-2012, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-8 Undergraduate degree programs; number of credit hours

Sec. 8. (a) Each state educational institution shall review each undergraduate degree program offered by the state educational institution to determine the number of credit hours required for the degree and report the results to the commission. If a degree program requires more than: (1) sixty (60) credit hours for an associate degree; or (2) one hundred twenty (120) credit hours for a baccalaureate degree; the state educational institution must provide justification to the commission in the report for the additional credit hours required. (b) In providing justification under subsection (a): (1) if the state educational institution documents that the additional credit hours are required by: (A) specific program standards established by external accreditation bodies; or (B) occupational certification or licensure; the commission shall accept the justification; and (2) if the state educational institution documents that the additional credit hours are related to: (A) employer requirements; or (B) enhanced program quality and content; the commission may accept the justification. (c) The commission shall require a review and report of the credit hours required for degree programs under this section at least every three (3) years. (d) A proposal submitted to the commission under section 5 of this chapter must provide justification for a degree that requires more than: (1) sixty (60) credit hours for an associate degree; or (2) one hundred twenty (120) credit hours for a baccalaureate degree. As added by P.L.101-2012, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-10.5 Ivy Tech community college; review of some programs

Sec. 10.5. (a) The commission shall review the programs offered by Ivy Tech Community College that have low graduation rates. (b) Based on the results of the review under subsection (a) and except as provided under section 10.7 of this chapter, the commission may do any of the following regarding such a program: (1) Require the restructuring of the program, based on information from other programs that are successful. (2) Eliminate the program. (3) Take no action concerning the program. As added by P.L.213-2015, SEC.234. Amended by P.L.213-2025, SEC.247.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-10.7 Required approval to continue certain degree programs; elimination

Note: This version of section amended by P.L.120-2026, SEC.9, effective 7-1-2026. See also following version of this section amended by P.L.150-2026, SEC.7, effective 7-1-2027. Sec. 10.7. (a) For each state educational institution degree program, if: (1) the: (A) average number of students who graduate over the immediately preceding three (3) years is fewer than: (i) ten (10) students for a particular associate degree program; (ii) fifteen (15) students for a particular bachelor's degree program; (iii) seven (7) students for a particular master's degree program; (iv) three (3) students for a particular education specialist program; or (v) three (3) students for a particular doctorate degree program; or (B) degree program meets the definition of a low earning outcome program under the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1087d); and (2) the state educational institution would like to continue a degree program described in subdivision (1); the state educational institution must request approval from the commission to continue the degree program. (b) If the commission does not grant approval under subsection (a), the state educational institution must eliminate: (1) the degree program; and (2) any costs associated with the degree program. As added by P.L.213-2025, SEC.248. Amended by P.L.120-2026, SEC.9.

Ind. Code § 21-18-9-10.7 Required approval to continue certain degree programs; elimination; report

Note: This version of section amended by P.L.150-2026, SEC.7, effective 7-1-2027. See also preceding version of this section amended by P.L.120-2026, SEC.9, effective 7-1-2026. Sec. 10.7. (a) For each state educational institution degree program, if the: (1) average number of students who graduate over the immediately preceding three (3) years is fewer than: (A) ten (10) students for a particular associate degree program; (B) fifteen (15) students for a particular bachelor's degree program; (C) seven (7) students for a particular master's degree program; (D) three (3) students for a particular education specialist program; or (E) three (3) students for a particular doctorate degree program; and (2) state educational institution would like to continue a degree program described in subdivision (1); the state educational institution must request approval from the commission to continue the degree program. (b) Subject to subsection (c), if the commission does not grant approval under subsection (a), the state educational institution must eliminate: (1) the degree program; and (2) any costs associated with the degree program. (c) A state educational institution that has been denied approval under subsection (a) may: (1) permit students to enroll in the degree program until June 1 of the year following the commission's denial; and (2) provide students enrolled in the degree program with the opportunity to finish their degree prior to the degree program's closure under subsection (b). (d) The commission shall prepare an annual report concerning the number of degree programs that were denied approval under subsection (a). The report described in this subsection must be submitted, in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6, to the general assembly not later than December 1 of each year. As added by P.L.213-2025, SEC.248. Amended by P.L.150-2026, SEC.7.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/21Fetched: 10/17/2026

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