Governance & internal regulations

The system behind the Standard.

The Aptra Standard is only as credible as the system that administers it. These internal regulations define who decides what inside Aptra — and the safeguards that keep every decision impartial, documented, and appealable.

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Separation of functions

Those who audit do not decide.

Certification decisions, audit findings, and appeals are handled by separate bodies under these regulations. No institution is certified, sanctioned, or reinstated by the same people who audited it.

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Accountability

Every decision is documented and appealable.

Certified institutions receive written findings, defined remediation timelines, and a formal right of appeal before an independent panel — and students are protected if an institution loses its certification.

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Document status

These internal regulations govern the operation of the Aptra program, owned and operated by Sino LLC, registered in the State of Texas, USA. They are adopted by Sino LLC, reviewed annually, and published here in summary form. The complete regulations are provided to certified institutions and partner universities as part of their agreements. Degrees are conferred by partner US universities.

The regulations

Internal regulations of the Aptra program

Nine articles define how Aptra is governed: the bodies that act in its name, the rules they act under, and the safeguards that protect institutions, universities, and students from arbitrary decisions.

Article 1 — Purpose and scope

These regulations govern every function performed under the Aptra name.

They apply to the maintenance of the Aptra Standard, the certification of institutions, the certification of student transfer readiness, and all audits and sanctions
They bind every person acting on behalf of the Aptra program, whether staff, contractor, or appointed reviewer
Where an agreement with a certified institution or partner university sets stricter terms, the stricter terms prevail

Article 2 — Governance bodies

Four bodies exercise Aptra's functions, each with a defined mandate.

The Standards Council — maintains the Aptra Standard, approves each annual edition, and rules on questions of interpretation
The Certification Committee — decides the certification, suspension, and decertification of institutions
The Audit & Quality Office — conducts readiness and annual audits and issues written findings
The Appeals Panel — hears appeals against certification and sanction decisions; its members take no part in the decisions they review

Article 3 — The Standard: editions and interpretation

One published edition of the Standard is in force at any time.

The Standards Council reviews the Standard annually and approves each new edition with a defined effective date
Certified institutions are audited against the edition in force, with a published transition period for material changes
Interpretations issued by the Standards Council are recorded and applied uniformly to all certified institutions

Article 4 — Certification decisions and impartiality

Certification is decided on documented evidence, by people independent of the audit.

The Certification Committee decides on the basis of the Audit & Quality Office's written findings and the institution's file
No member participates in a decision concerning an institution they audited, advised, or hold any interest in
Every decision is issued in writing, with reasons, to the institution concerned
Certification is granted to institutions, and transfer-readiness certification to students, only against the published criteria of the Standard

Article 5 — Annual audit and remediation

Every certified institution is audited every year, without exception.

The annual audit covers admissions, instruction, assessment integrity, student records, and student outcomes
Findings are issued to the institution in writing, graded by severity, with defined remediation timelines
Remediation is verified by the Audit & Quality Office before a finding is closed
Partner universities may review audit findings for institutions in their pipeline under their partnership agreements

Article 6 — Sanctions, suspension, and decertification

Non-compliance is met with a graduated, documented response.

Escalation proceeds from written observation, to a corrective action plan, to suspension of new enrollments, to decertification
Serious breaches — including assessment fraud or falsified records — may lead directly to suspension or decertification
A sanctioned institution is informed in writing of the grounds, the evidence, and its right of appeal
If an institution is decertified, students already enrolled complete their current stage under Aptra supervision or are assisted in transferring to another certified institution; their verified records remain valid and accessible

Article 7 — Appeals

Every adverse decision can be challenged before people who did not make it.

An institution may appeal a certification refusal, sanction, or decertification within a defined period after written notice
Appeals are heard by the Appeals Panel, whose members were not involved in the original decision or audit
The Panel may confirm, vary, or overturn the decision; its ruling is issued in writing and is final within the Aptra system
Filing an appeal does not suspend measures protecting students or assessment integrity

Article 8 — Conflicts of interest, records, and confidentiality

Interests are declared, records are kept, and information is protected.

Every person acting for Aptra declares actual or potential conflicts of interest annually and before each assignment, and is recused where a conflict exists
Student records are maintained in the uniform registry, retained under a published schedule, and disclosed only to the student, the certified institution, and receiving universities as the transfer process requires
Institutional audit files are confidential, subject to the review rights of partner universities under their agreements
No person acting for Aptra may accept any benefit from an institution they review

Article 9 — Amendments

These regulations are reviewed on the same annual cycle as the Standard.

Amendments are adopted by Sino LLC on the recommendation of the Standards Council
Material amendments are notified in writing to certified institutions and partner universities before they take effect
The published summary on this page is updated with each adopted amendment

Request the complete regulations

The complete internal regulations are provided to institutional and university leadership together with the full Aptra Standard, under a review agreement.

Request the documents Read the Standard overview