In order to apply for and maintain an exemption from the requirements for degree authorization, an institution must comply with the following:

(1) The chief academic officer of the institution shall contact council staff and arrange for a preliminary conference to discuss the exemption criteria and procedures pertaining to the request for exemption.

(2) Any institution granted exemption from the requirements for degree authorization may be subject to periodic review by the council to ensure that all criteria for the exemption continue to be met. The institution is to provide all information requested by the council to assist in making this determination.

(3) The institution shall inform the council immediately of any proposed changes within the institution and/or its offerings that may affect the exemption granted.

(4) The council may suspend or withdraw the exemption granted to an institution that fails to maintain the conditions under which the exemption was granted; engages in false advertising; or allows misleading representations to be made on its behalf. Suspension shall allow the institution a prescribed period of time to address the issues that may have brought the suspension. Withdrawal shall require the institution to cease all degree-granting activities immediately.

(5) In the case of religious exemption, a religious institution shall be required to place the following statement in a prominent position within any catalog, general bulletins, websites, and course schedules: "The Washington student achievement council has determined that (name of institution) qualifies for religious exempt status from the Degree-Granting Institutions Act for the following programs: (List). The council makes no evaluation of the administration, faculty, business practices, financial condition or quality of the offerings by this institution. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov."

(6) An exempt institution is required to notify the council of any adverse action within thirty days of the action being taken.

(7) In the event an exempt institution plans to discontinue operations in Washington, it is subject to closure procedures as outlined in WAC 250-61-160.