Petition for Change of Ownership or Governing Control
(including mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, alliances, etc.)
List the accredited member’s current name and address (see question 4 below if the proposed change will result in a new name or address).
Name, title, email address, and phone number of person completing petition:
Whenever an accredited member school changes ownership or governing control (which may include mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, alliances, etc.), that is considered a substantive change for which approval must be sought from the ATS Board of Commissioners (see ATS Commission Policies and Procedures,VII.C.1.a). The approval process requires not only the submission of this petition, but the Board will also authorize a focused visit within six months of the official change in ownership or governing control.
Two central concerns are these: (1) that the educational needs of students impacted by the change are appropriately addressed, and (2) that the resulting entity continues to adhere to all applicable membership criteria, Standards, and procedures. Given the complexity of such changes, schools considering a change in ownership or governing control should consult with ATS Commission staff as soon as possible and as often as needed before submitting this petition. Schools are encouraged to begin their conversations with staff during the early stages of the school’s discussions, well before this petition is submitted.
Depending upon the nature of the proposed change, the Board may continue the accreditation of the member school (under the same or a different name, in the same or a different location), may require additional reports or impose certain conditions, may change the current period of accreditation, or may withdraw the accreditation of the member school. In the latter case, if the new controlling entity is not currently an accredited member of the ATS Commission on Accrediting and wishes to be so, it would need to follow the normal accreditation process for nonmembers. If accreditation of the current member school is withdrawn, it will be required to submit a teach-out plan (see Appendix 5 of the Board’s Policy Manual and question 10 below).
Schools should respond succinctly but sufficiently to all areas listed below, resulting in a petition of 8–10 pages, plus any required appendices.
In evaluating petitions, each one will be considered in light of that particular school’s larger context, including, but not limited to, these factors:
- Planning and evaluation capacity: Has this school demonstrated a capacity to evaluate itself well and use those results to plan effectively and strategically?
- Institutional vitality: Does this school have sufficient human, financial, physical, and technological resources?
- Accreditation status: Does this school’s current or recent accreditation status demonstrate ongoing concerns reflected in numerous reports, focused visits, and/or notations?
1.Nature of change
Please describe as clearly as possible the nature of the proposed change in ownership or governing control (e.g., merger or consolidation of two or more distinct entities into one new entity, acquisition of one or more entities by another existing entity that will remain, affiliation or alliance of two or more distinct entities that result in partial or total change of ownership or control, or some other type of change that will result in partial or total change of ownership or control).
2.Change in name and/or address for currently accredited member
If the proposed change will result in a new name and/or address for the currently accredited member school, please list that here.
3.Name, address, and accredited status of new controlling entity
If the proposed change will result in the currently accredited member becoming part of another institution, please list the other institution’s name, address, and accredited status (e.g., accredited by X since 19__ ).
4.History and rationale for the change
Please describe (here and/or in an appendix) the key steps or events that led to this change, including reasons for this change.
5.Impact on the school’s mission
Describe how this change will impact the school’s ongoing mission (e.g., will it enhance the existing mission in new ways, will it result in a new mission, or will it result in some other change).
6.Consultation with ATS Commission staff
Describe briefly the nature and extent of conversations the school has had with ATS Commission staff regarding the proposed change. List any issues that the staff has raised for the school to consider that are not otherwise addressed in this petition. Please note that ATS Commission staff cannot provide legal counsel or speak for other agencies that may be involved (see question 7 below).
7.Consultation with other appropriate parties
Describe what counsel the school has received from legal representation and/or from other appropriate agencies (e.g., another accrediting agency or denominational owner) that might be impacted by this change. Provide any pertinent official correspondence in an appendix.
8.Impact on the school’s constituencies
Describe how this change will impact the school’s current students, faculty, staff, administration, governing board, supporting churches or denomination, donors, and other key constituents. Include in this description how the school has involved various constituencies in this process.
NOTE: If this change will require students to relocate, the school must also complete thePetition for Campus Relocation.
9.Impact on the school’s educational effectiveness
Describe any changes anticipated in the school’s continued ability to offer its approved degree programs.For example, if this change will result in a change in faculty, or library resources, or in the degrees offered, describe those changes here. Please also verify that the new entity will offer only graduate, theological degrees, since accreditation from the ATS Commission is limited to those degrees.
10.Impact on the school’s financial and physical resources
Describe here or in an appendix how this proposed change will impact the school’s financial and physical resources—both short-term and long-term. If the change involves any transfer of assets (financial or physical), please specify the nature and amount of those asset transfers.
11.Impact on federal funding
If the school participates in Title IV funding through the US Department of Education, describe what steps the school has taken to communicate this change to that federal office and what the resulting response from that office has been.
NOTE: Failure to notify the US Department of Education in a timely manner about a proposed change in ownership or governing control could result in the loss of eligibility in Title IV funding.
12.Written agreements
If the proposed change will impact any written agreements that the school now has (e.g., consortial arrangements or shared services), please describe those and append any revised documents that will result from this change. Also append to this petition any revised bylaws or other legal documents authorizing this proposed change.
13.Anticipated time line
Describe here the time line that the school plans to follow in making this change, specifying the anticipated date upon which the change will officially occur.
Approval of any petition for change is effective with the date specified in the official action. Such approval expects the change will be implemented within a year of that approval date. If the change cannot be implemented within that time frame, the school must submit a satisfactory explanation for the delay and a modified time line for implementation. Absent implementation of the change or granting a request for additional time, the approval will expire one year after the initial grant date. In such cases, the school would need to submit a new petition seeking permission to implement the change after that one-year period. In addition, any contingency attached to an approved petition must be satisfied before the change can be implemented, typically within a year, unless the school provides a satisfactory explanation for the delay and additional time is granted.
7/12/17Page 1 of 4