(Degree must be currently approved at an affiliated school)
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
To be submitted for Commission approval prior to the implementation of a new degree program currently approved at affiliated institution(s). Please note that an incomplete application will not be considered by the Commission until all required information is received. In addition, please note: A related degree program is defined as related to the approved degree program(s) currently offered by each school listed below.
School # / School Name / Type / City / State / Degree GrantingMain: / ☐ / Yes: / ☐
Branch: / ☐ / No: / ☐
Contact Person / Phone / Email
Program Title
(e.g. Business Administration) / Type of Program
(Check One) / Degree Type
(Check One) / Length of Program
(in Months) / Full Credential & Abbreviation / Proposed Start Date
☐ / Related / ☐ / Academic / Associate of Arts (AA)
☐ / Unrelated / ☐ / Occupational
Course Distribution
(Must match the Outline of a Degree Program form) / Standards
Semester/Quarter Credit Hour Requirements / Credit Hours / Externship Information (Externship hours as listed on the Outline of a Degree Program; may include multiple courses)
Semester Credit Hours / Quarter Credit Hours
Technical/Occupational / 30/45 or 45/67.5 / Total Externship Clock Hours:
General Education / 15/22.5 or 9/13.5
Other / 0/0 / Total Externship Credit Hours:
Total / 60/90
I certify that the information herein and attached hereto is correct and that this degree program has not been described in the catalog, advertised or offered to students.
Name / Signature / Title / DateELECTRONIC SUBMISSION FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:
1. Electronic Submissions may not be transmitted to the Commission via e-mail.
2. The school’s response must be prepared in accordance with ACCSC’s Instructions for Electronic Submission (e.g., prepared as one Portable Document Format (“PDF”) file that has been prepared using Adobe Acrobat software (version 8.0 or higher) and which has a .pdf extension as part of the file name). The school will receive an e-mail confirmation that the file has been received within 24 hours of the submission.
3. ACCSC has issued the Blueprints for Success Series: Organizing an Effective Electronic Submission. ACCSC encourages the school to review this module prior to submitting this application.More information is available under the Resources section at www.accsc.org.
REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
1. Processing fee: Please mail a check directly to ACCSC for processing and include a statement identifying the corresponding applications(s).
· 1st School: $1,500
· Each Affiliated School (applications must submitted at the same time): $750
2. Please submit a copy of the affiliated school’s ACCSC approval letter, Outline of a Degree Program, and course descriptions for the program. If the program has been modified since the original approval, please submit the ACCSC approval for the program modification(s) and a revised Outline of a Degree Program.
3. If the proposed program’s curriculum is not standardized for all affiliated schools, please submit an explanation and documentation appropriate to the specific institutional variation.
4. Provide program approval from the state (or applicable regulatory agency) with the title and credit hours. If the school requires Commission approval prior to state approval, please provide documentation demonstrating the school is currently recognized by the state.
5. Is programmatic accreditation (Section II (A)(1), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation) is necessary for graduates to seek licensure in the specific field (check one):
☐ / YES☐ / NO
If the school checked “YES” - programmatic accreditation is necessary, provide the following:
a. A narrative regarding the school's intent/plans for seeking such accreditation;
b. A timeline for obtaining accreditation;
c. Any specific hiring criteria for program chairs and/or faculty; and
d. The programmatic accreditor’s standards and requirements relative to licensure, if applicable
6. A related degree program is defined as related to the approved degree program(s) currently offered the school. If the proposed program is a related program, provide the following:
a. Explain the relationship of the proposed related program to the programs currently offered at the school in the following areas: curricula, educational and occupational outcomes, Program Advisory Committee, faculty, facilities, and resources; and
b. Submit a comprehensive side-by-side comparison between the proposed program and the school’s related program(s) to include the number of clock hours and credit hours in each course.
7. Justification of the Proposed Degree Program (Section II (A)(2), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation):
a. Provide the school’s current mission statement.
b. Explain how the curriculum is consistent with mission of the institution and other institutional goals and objectives.
c. Provide the following justification to support the proposed program:
i. A detailed narrative supporting the reasons to offer the proposed program, which includes an assessment of the program’s viability (e.g., socioeconomic factors in the area that may affect the proposed program’s outcomes, etc.); and
ii. An analysis of the demand for graduates from the program’s area of study (e.g., employers, local employment outlook, earning potential for graduates, and the need for training).
iii. Provide a detailed justification as to how the completion of an associate degree program will be more beneficial to graduates than the completion of a diploma or certificate.
d. Did the school previously offer and discontinue the proposed program?
☐ / YES☐ / NO
If yes, explain the reasons for the previous discontinuation of the program and describe how the school determined the success of the program going forward.
8. For schools applying for their first associate degree program, provide the following:
a. Describe how the school enhanced its infrastructure to accommodate a degree program in each of the following areas: Student services, learning resource system, faculty qualifications, faculty/student interaction, Director of Education, admission requirements, administrative support staff and other areas that the school deems necessary.
b. Describe how the school will continue to assess and improve the activities that will support of the proposed associate degree.
9. Program Evaluation:
a. Describe each school’s systematic and evidence-based process to evaluate programmatic curriculum and course content (Section II (A)(4)(a), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
b. Describe with details and supporting documentation each school’s capacity to offer the proposed degree program in the following areas:
i. Future budget allocations: Provide proposed program budget showing the future allocation of financial resources to support the program including resources for faculty salaries, educational materials, learning resource materials, supplies/equipment, advertising and how this is sufficient to operate the new program.
ii. Facilities and equipment: Describe the specific facilities and equipment within the school that are to be used for the proposed program. How does the school plan to enhance the facilities and equipment to accommodate the offering of the proposed program?
iii. Does the school intend to expand existing facilities? If so, has the school submitted the appropriate and required report/application (e.g., Facility Expansion Report or Application for a Satellite Location)?
c. Provide a list of the local Program Advisory Committee members for each campus (Note: Program Advisory Committees must be comprised of appropriately qualified representatives external to the institution (i.e., non-school employees)) for each program or group of related programs, using the following chart.
School Name: / School Number:Program Name: / Credential:
PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Advisory Committee Member’s Name / Title
Company
Address
City, State / Telephone Number
Email Address / Review Responsibilities
(check as applicable)
Employer / Practitioner / Educator, Regulator, etc. / Master’s degree / Distance Education
10. Describe how the training/instructional aids for the proposed degree program are sufficiently comprehensive and reflect current occupational knowledge and practice and include the following: A list of textbooks (include publication year), supplies, equipment, and audio/visual aids that the school will utilize for the proposed degree program (Section II (A)(5), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
11. Learning Resource System:
a. Complete the following chart and demonstrate that the school has an individual qualified to oversee and supervise the learning resource system (Section II (A)(7)(c), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
School Name: / School Number:LRS SUPERVISOR
Staff Name / Position / Degree/Credential Earned (Year) / Description of Work Experience and/or Training for the Position / From (m/y) / To (m/y)
b. If this information is not available, submit the specific hiring criteria to be used for the selection of the LRS Supervisor and the timeline for when the position will be filled.
c. Describe how the school’s learning resource system supports the education experience with materials commensurate with the level of education provided and is sufficient in quantity and scope to meet the educational objectives of the program.
d. Describe how the school has enhanced its learning resource system to meet the objectives of the proposed program including elements such as relevant and current texts and periodicals; research journals and databases; standard works of reference; multi-media and/or electronic resources; electronic library resource technologies; and other resource materials necessary to adequately serve the student body(Section II (A)(7)(a), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
12. Technical Faculty Requirements:
a. Complete the following chart as applicable:
i. Occupational Associate Degree Program: List the faculty teaching technical and occupationally related courses and demonstrate that faculty teaching in the degree program have a minimum of three years of related practical work experience in the subject area(s) taught (Section III (B)(5), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation). (Note: Instructional experience does not qualify as practical work experience.) In addition, provide the course title(s)/course number(s) for each course that the faculty member will teach in the proposed program; and/or
ii. Academic Associate Degree Program: List the faculty teaching technical and occupationally related courses and demonstrate that faculty teaching in the degree program have four years of related practical work experience in the subject area(s) taught and possess a related degree at least at the same level of the course the faculty member is teaching (Section III (B)(7), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation). (Note: Instructional experience does not qualify as practical work experience.) In addition, provide the course title(s)/course number(s) for each course that the faculty member will teach in the proposed program.
School Name: / School Number:TECHNICAL/OCCUPATIONAL FACULTY
Instructor Name / Proposed Program Course
Title(s) / Number(s) / Degree Earned
Include: Subject, Credential, Year & Institution(s) / Practical Work Experience
(Note: Instructional experience does not qualify as practical work experience)
Job Title, Place of Employment, and Description of Work Experience / From (m/y) / To (m/y)
b. If faculty information is not available, submit the specific hiring criteria and timelines when faculty will be hired.
13. General Education Faculty Requirements:
a. As applicable, complete the following chart(s) as applicable, by listing the faculty teaching applied general education courses in the occupational associate degree program and demonstrate that each faculty member:
i. Has at a minimum a baccalaureate degree with appropriate coursework and preparation in the subject area(s) taught; or
School Name: / School Number:APPLIED GENERAL EDUCATION - FACULTY
Instructor Name / Proposed Program Course
Title(s) / Number(s) / Degree Earned
Include: Subject, Credential, Year & Institution(s) / Related Subject Matter Credits Earned
Course Number & Title / Credits / Type (U/G) / Year
ii. Eight years related practical work experience and college level coursework in the subject area(s) taught (Section III (B)(6), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
School Name: / School Number:APPLIED GENERAL EDUCATION - FACULTY
Instructor Name / Proposed Program Course
Title(s) / Number(s) / Related Practical Work Experience
(minimum of eight (8) years)
Company Name / Job Title & Description of Duties / Duration
(MM/YY to MM/YY)
b. As applicable, complete the following chart and list the faculty teaching academic general education courses in the occupational associate degree and demonstrate that they have, at minimum, a master’s degree with a minimum of 15 semester credit hours (or the equivalent) in related subject areas which support the curriculum content by completing the following chart (Section III (B)(8), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation). Provide the course title(s)/course number(s) for each course that the faculty member will teach in the proposed program.
School Name: / School Number:ACADEMIC GENERAL EDUCATION - FACULTY
Instructor Name / Proposed Program Course
Title(s) / Number(s) / Degree Earned
Include: Subject, Credential, Year & Institution(s) / Related Subject Matter Credits Earned
Course Number & Title / Credits / Type (U/G) / Year
c. If faculty information is not available, submit the specific hiring criteria and timelines when faculty will be hired.
14. Management and Administration:
a. Complete the following chart to demonstrate that the school has sufficient educational administration to support the proposed degree program specific to the Director of Education and the program head (e.g., lead faculty, department chair, dean, etc.) (Section III (A) (1), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
School Name: / School Number:MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL (Include Director of Education and Program Head)
Staff Name / Position / Degree Earned
Include: Subject, Credential, Year & Institution(s) / Description of Work Experience and/or Training for the Position / From (mm/yy) / To (mm/yy)
b. If information is not available for the Program Head and/or any other management personnel submit the specific hiring criteria to be used and the timeline for when the position(s) will be filled.
15. Externship:
a. Provide the faculty or staff member who will supervise or coordinate the externship on the chart below (Section II (A)(8)(c), Substantive Standards, Standards of Accreditation).
School Name: / School Number:EXTERNSHIP SUPERVISOR/COORDINATOR
Instructor Name / Proposed Program Course
Title(s) / Number(s) / Degree Earned
Include: Subject, Credential, Year & Institution(s) / Practical Work Experience
(Note: Instructional experience does not qualify as practical work experience)
Job Title, Place of Employment, and Description of Work Experience / From (m/y) / To (m/y)
c. If this information is not available, submit the specific hiring criteria to be used for the selection of the faculty or staff member and the timeline for when the position will be filled.
SUBMIT TO: Executive Director
Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
2101 Wilson Boulevard / Suite 302
Arlington, Virginia 22201
Page 7 of 7 Revised 07.01.17