Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 5545.04
April 7, 2011
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Policy on the Congressional Reporting Process for Military Educational
Institutions Seeking to Establish, Modify, or Redesignate Degrees
References: (a) DoD Directive 5124.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness (USD(P&R)),” June 23, 2008
(b) Sections 2161, 2163, 4314, 4321, 7048, 7101, 7102, 9314, and 9317 of title
10, United States Code
(c) Letter from Director, Bureau of the Budget, to Secretary, Health, Education,
and Welfare, “Federal Policy Governing the Granting of Academic Degrees
by Federal Agencies and Institutions,” December 23, 1954
(d) Section 1011c of title 20, United States Code
1. PURPOSE
. In accordance with the authority in References (a) and (b), this Instruction
establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures for the Congressional
reporting process for specified military educational institutions as they establish, modify, or
redesignate degree(s). Throughout this Instruction, the use of the term “degree” shall refer to a
graduate or undergraduate degree from these institutions.
2. APPLICABILITY
. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of
the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the
Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD
Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the DoD (hereinafter referred to
collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS
. See Glossary.
4. POLICY
. It is DoD policy that the military educational institutions covered by this
Instruction, and as defined in the Glossary, are encouraged to establish and revise curricula and
disciplines as required to meet the needs of the Military Services and shall only establish,
modify, or redesignate degrees after the Secretary of Education has recommended approval of
the degree program, the institution is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting
