Commission on Colleges

Name of the Institution:

Full Name of New Degree(s):

Dates of the Review:

SACSCOC Staff Member:

Chair of the Committee (name, title, institution, city and state):

Directions to Committee Chair for Part I: Typically the overview can be copied and pasted from the institution’s Documentation for the Substantive Change Committee form and then edited as appropriate. This section is intended to capture an overview of and rationale for the change, as well as the institution’s capacity for implementing the change. Delete these directions and all other directions (blue font) prior to printing the final report.

Directions to the Institution for Part 1: Describe the initial implementation of the level change. Include the location, initial date of implementation, current and projected number of students, primary target audience, projected life of the program (single cohort or ongoing), and instructional delivery methods. Provide specific outcomes and learning objectives for each new program, a schedule of course offerings for the first year, and copies of syllabi for new courses.

Discuss the rationale for the change, including assessment of need. List currently offered certificate and/or degree programs at other degree levels that are related to the level change. Provide evidence of the legal authority for the change. List institutional strengths that facilitate implementing the change. Include a completed “Institutional Summary Form Prepared for Commission Reviews.”

Directions to Committee for Part II: If the Committee determines that an institution is out of compliance with a standard or requirement, write a recommendation. Because a recommendation requires an institution to take corrective action, specific evidence of non-compliance must be included in the narrative. See Appendix I of the Handbook for Review Committees for guidelines for writing a recommendation. Number recommendations consecutively throughout the report and provide a summary list in Appendix B.

If the Committee determines that an institution is in compliance with a standard or requirement and a recommendation is not necessary, develop a comment in accordance with “Guidelines for Writing Comments for Committee Reports,” which is available in Appendix H of the Handbook for Review Committees. Delete these directions prior to printing the final report.

Directions to the Institution for Part II: Provide narrative and documentation to support compliance with each standard, emphasizing the impact of the program expansion at a new degree level on that aspect of the institution. Only address the program expansion except where institution-wide information is needed to establish compliance for the program expansion at the new level. If the new program(s) will be delivered via distance or correspondence education or offered at an off-site location, address the impact of delivery mode or location, as appropriate, when addressing compliance. See the Commission policy “Distance and Correspondence Education” if appropriate.

Section 1: THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRITY

1.1 The institution operates with integrity in all matters. (Integrity)

Comment:

Section 2: CORE REQUIREMENTS

2.4 The institution has a clearly defined, comprehensive, and published mission statement that is specific to the institution and appropriate for higher education. The mission addresses teaching and learning and, where applicable, research and public service. (Institutional mission)

Directions to the Institution: [As part of the response, clarify that the mission statement is inclusive of the expansion to a new program at a higher degree level.]

Comment:

2.7.1 The institution offers one or more degree programs based on at least 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the associate level; at least 120 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the baccalaureate level; or at least 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the post-baccalaureate, graduate, or professional level. If an institution uses a unit other than semester credit hours, it provides an explanation for the equivalency. The institution also provides a justification for all degrees that include fewer than the required number of semester credit hours or its equivalent unit. (Program length)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

2.7.2 The institution offers degree programs that embody a coherent course of study that is compatible with its stated mission and is based upon fields of study appropriate to higher education. (Program content)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

2.8 The number of full-time faculty members is adequate to support the mission of the institution and to ensure the quality and integrity of each of its academic programs. (Faculty)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the impact of the program expansion (new programs and affected existing programs – e.g., include information on the impact of staffing at the lower degree level(s) in related fields of study). As part of the response, include a discussion of the impact of the program expansion on faculty workload. Identify new faculty hired to support this initiative.]

Comment:

2.9 The institution, through ownership or formal arrangements or agreements, provides and supports student and faculty access and user privileges to adequate library collections and services and to other learning/information resources consistent with the degrees offered. Collections, resources, and services are sufficient to support all its educational, research, and public service programs. (Learning resources and services)

Comment:

2.10 The institution provides student support programs, services, and activities consistent with its mission that are intended to promote student learning and enhance the development of its students. (Student support services)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should address the appropriateness of student support services available to students at the new degree level.]

Comment:

Section 3: COMPREHENSIVE STANDARDS

3.2 Governance and Administration

3.2.8 The institution has qualified administrative and academic officers with the experience and competence to lead the institution. (Qualified administrative/academic officers)

Comment:

3.3 Institutional Effectiveness

3.3.1 The institution identifies expected outcomes, assesses the extent to which it achieves these outcomes, and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of the results in each of the following areas: (Institutional effectiveness)

3.3.1.1 educational programs, to include student learning outcomes

Directions to the Institution: [As part of the response, include a description of how the institution is monitoring the quality of the new program(s). Summarize current procedures for the assessment of learning outcomes and achievement, and how results are being or will be used to improve the new programs. Include relevant information about existing related programs that may serve as indicators of the institutional effectiveness process that apply to the new program(s).]

Comment:

3.4 All Educational Programs

3.4.1 The institution demonstrates that each educational program for which academic credit is awarded is approved by the faculty and administration. (Academic program approval)

Directions to the Institution: [ [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

3.4.3 The institution publishes admissions policies consistent with its mission. (Admissions policies)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

3.4.4 The institution publishes policies that include criteria for evaluating, awarding, and accepting credit for transfer, experiential learning, credit by examination, advanced placement, and professional certificates that is consistent with its mission and ensures that course work and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to the institution’s own degree programs. The institution assumes responsibility for the academic quality of any course work or credit recorded on the institution’s transcript. (See the Commission policy “Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards.”) Acceptance of academic credit)

Directions to the Institution: [Emphasize aspects of this standard that may have special relevance to the program expansion at the new degree level. See also the Commission policy on “The Quality and Integrity of Undergraduate Degrees” If appropriate.]

Comment:

3.4.9 The institution provides appropriate academic support services. (Academic support services)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

3.4.10 The institution places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of the curriculum with its faculty. (Responsibility for curriculum)

Comment:

3.4.11 For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration. (Academic program coordination)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

3.5 Educational Programs: Undergraduate Programs

Directions to the Institution: [Address 3.5 only if the institution has moved from level I to level II]

3.5.2 At least 25 percent of the credit hours required for the degree are earned through instruction offered by the institution awarding the degree. (See the Commission policy “Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards: Policy and Procedures.”) (Institutional credits for a degree).

Comment:

3.5.3 The institution publishes requirements for its undergraduate programs, including its general education components. These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree programs. (See the Commission policy “The Quality and Integrity of Undergraduate Degrees.”) (Undergraduate program requirements)

Comment:

3.6 Educational Programs: Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Professional Programs

Directions to the Institution: [Address 3.6 only if the level change involves programs at the graduate-level.]

3.6.1 The institution’s post-baccalaureate professional degree programs, master’s and doctoral degree programs, are progressively more advanced in academic content than its undergraduate programs. (Post-baccalaureate program rigor)

Comment:

3.6.2 The institution structures its graduate curricula (1) to include knowledge of the literature of the discipline and (2) to ensure ongoing student engagement in research and/or appropriate professional practice and training experiences. (Graduate curriculum)

Comment:

3.6.3 At least one-third of credits toward a graduate or a post-baccalaureate professional degree are earned through instruction offered by the institution awarding the degree. (See the Commission policy “Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards: Policy and Procedures.”) (Institutional credits for a degree)

Comment:

3.6.4 The institution defines and publishes requirements for its graduate and post-baccalaureate professional programs. These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree programs. (Post-baccalaureate program requirements)

Comment:

3.7 Faculty

3.7.1 The institution employs competent faculty members qualified to accomplish the mission and goals of the institution. When determining acceptable qualifications of its faculty, an institution gives primary consideration to the highest earned degree in the discipline. The institution also considers competence, effectiveness, and capacity, including, as appropriate, undergraduate and graduate degrees, related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, or other demonstrated competencies and achievements that contribute to effective teaching and student learning outcomes. For all cases, the institution is responsible for justifying and documenting the qualifications of its faculty. (See the Commission guidelines “Faculty Credentials.”) (Faculty competence)

Directions to the Institution: [Display faculty qualifications on the Commission’s “Faculty Roster Form.” Limit entries to those faculty members assigned to the new programs(s). For graduate programs, include documentation of the scholarship and research capability of faculty. For doctoral programs, include documentation of faculty experience in directing dissertation research.]

Comment:

3.8 Library and Other Learning Resources

3.8.2 The institution ensures that users have access to regular and timely instruction in the use of the library and other learning/information resources. (Instruction of library use)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

3.11 Physical Resources

3.11.3 The institution operates and maintains physical facilities, both on and off campus, that appropriately serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, and other mission-related activities. (Physical facilities)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should emphasize facilities relevant to the new program(s).]

Comment:

3.14 Representation of status with the Commission

3.14.1 A member or candidate institution represents its accredited status accurately and publishes the name, address, and telephone number of the Commission in accordance with Commission requirements and federal policy. (Publication of accreditation status)

Directions to the Institution: [Clarify that representation of status is inclusive of the expansion to a new program at a higher degree level.]

Comment:

Section 4: FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

4.4 Program length is appropriate for each of the institution’s educational programs. (Program length)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

4.5 The institution has adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints and is responsible for demonstrating that it follows those procedures when resolving student complaints. (See the Commission policy “Complaint Procedures against the Commission or its Accredited Institutions.”) (Student complaints)

Comment:

4.6 Recruitment materials and presentations accurately represent the institution’s practices and policies. (Recruitment materials)

Directions to the Institution: [The narrative should only address the new programs.]

Comment:

4.9 The institution has policies and procedures for determining the credit hours awarded for courses and programs that conform to commonly accepted practices in higher education and to Commission policy. (See the Commission policy “Credit Hours.”) (Definition of credit hours)

Comment: