4.__Degree mill.__"Degree mill" means a school or institution of higher education without accreditation that meets any one of the following conditions:

A.__Issues degrees without requiring any student academic work;

B.__Issues degrees based solely on the student's life experience or portfolio without requiring any college-level work submitted to and evaluated by faculty with appropriate academic degrees from standard accredited institutions; or

C.__Issues degrees basing more than 50% of required credits on the student's life experience.

5.__Duly authorized institution of higher learning.__"Duly authorized institution of higher learning" means an institution that:

A.__Has accreditation recognized by the United States Secretary of Education or has the foreign equivalent of such accreditation;

B.__Has an authorization to operate under the laws of this State; or

C.__Does not operate in this State and is:

(1)__Licensed by the appropriate agency of another state; and

(2)__An active applicant for accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

6.__False academic degree.__"False academic degree" means a document such as a degree or certification of completion of a degree, course work or academic credit, including a transcript, that provides evidence or demonstrates completion of a course of instruction or course work that results in the issuance of an associate or more advanced degree by an institution that is not a duly authorized institution of higher learning.

7.__Substandard school or institution of higher education.__ "Substandard school or institution of higher education" means an entity without accreditation that offers credentials purported to