Petition for Expanding an Approved Extension Site

Institution’s name and address:
Name, title, email address, and phone number of person completing petition:

This petition is to be used whenever a school desires to expand an already approved extension site: (1) from less than half a degree to at least half a degree or to a complete degree, or (2) from at least half a degree to a complete degree, or (3) by adding a complete new degree to a site approved for different degree(s). Since the Commission Policies and Procedures require a site visit for any location that begins to offer more than half a degree program, the school needs to petition the Board of Commissioners for approval for any expansion beyond half a degree. Upon approval, the Board will authorize a focused visit to that site within six months of the time that at least half a degree could be earned at that site, unless the school documents in this petition that it meets the four exemption criteria for site visits (per Policy Manual, III.A.1.e). However, under scenario (2) or (3) above, if the expansion involves a degree category already approved for that site (see four categories described in the Educational Standard, sections ES.1.2–5), a focused evaluation visit is not required but may be authorized (see Policy Manual, section III.A.1.d).

If the expansion also involves a new degree program not approved for the school, then a separate petition for that substantive change must also be submitted. Schools should respond succinctly but sufficiently to all areas listed below, resulting in a petition of 5–10 pages, plus 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.  Location
List the location of the existing extension site (give specific street and mailing addresses), and indicate whether this site is part of any other entity (e.g., church or college).
NOTE: If this expanded site will be in a new location, rather than remain in the already-approved site, the school must submit the Petition for Relocating an Extension Site, not this one.
2.  Prior approval
Describe what portion(s) of what degree(s) or degree category has(have) previously been approved for this site (e.g., less than half of an MA in Christian Education, more than half of any professional MA degree, a complete MDiv.
3.  Planned expansion
Please respond to the following questions regarding this expansion.
NOTE: Since an evaluation visit to this site must be conducted within six months of the time at which the site begins to offer at least half of a degree program and since that visit must be authorized by Board action, a school must indicate below the date at which that 50 percent threshold will be crossed. That anticipated date cannot be earlier than at least 90 days after the petition submission deadlines of November 1 and April 1. That will allow enough time for the Board to consider the petition and authorize a focused visit within the required six-month window. A school may also request an exemption to the required site visit by responding appropriately to these four exemption criteria below (listed in Policy Manual, III.A.1.e).

Please indicate what type of site expansion is involved:

☐ Expanding from less than half a degree to at least half a degree or to a complete degree

☐ Expanding from at least half a degree to a complete degree

☐ Adding a complete new degree to a site approved for different degree(s)

What degree program(s) will this expansion involve and under what Commission Degree Program Standard(s) will it (they) fall?

Will this expansion involve offering a complete degree? Yes ☐ No ☐

What is the beginning date of the term or session in which you anticipate offering enough courses that at least half of a degree program could be completed at this expanded site?

Are you requesting an exemption to the required site visit (required only if at least half a degree is offered and permissible only if the three criteria below are met)?
Yes ☐ No ☐ Not Applicable ☐

If yes, please respond to the following:

Has your institution been accredited by the ATS Commission on Accrediting for at least 10years? Yes ☐ No ☐

Do you have at least three approved extension sites offering at least half a degree?
Yes ☐ No ☐

Has your institution operated for the past 5 years without the imposition of a notation or probation? Yes ☐ No ☐

4.  Purpose and need
Describe the purpose of the proposed expansion of this already-approved extension site and how it fits the school’s mission and constituency needs. Include results of the school’s needs analysis (e.g., market survey, church/college invitation, constituency conversations, etc.)
5.  Educational resources
List additional educational resources (faculty, library, technology, student services, etc.) that will be available to support this expanded extension program. Include an appendix listing the proposed faculty and their credentials, identifying which ones are main campus-based and which ones are extension-based. If any of the needed educational resources (e.g., library or technology) are to be supplied by another entity, append a copy of the formal agreement(s) to that effect.
6.  Facility resources
Describe what facility resources will be used for the proposed extension program/site. Even if you did so in the original petition, please again describe with some specificity the facilities at this expanded extension site (e.g., two classrooms that seat 20 each with data projectors and wireless capability, as well as a student lounge, a private office for advising students, ADA access, ample parking, and an onsite library of 2,500 selected volumes with remote access to the campus library). If this extension site is part of another entity, please append a copy of the formal agreement with that entity.
7.  Financial resources
Describe what financial resources are projected for this expanded extension program/site. Append to this petition a proposed three-year budget showing projected revenues (e.g., how many students in how many classes at what tuition) and expenses (e.g., instruction, marketing, facility, etc.).
8.  Impact
State the impact the proposed expansion of this extension site will have on existing degrees and resources of the institution. For example, will this program create significant teaching overloads for faculty or reduce enrollment in other degree programs or locations?
9.  Standards
Describe how the proposed expansion of this extension site will meet the Standards for the individual degree program(s) toward which credit can be applied. If a complete degree is to be offered at the extension site, describe here the availability of all the educational and formational opportunities necessary to achieve the goals identified in the Standard for the degree program.
10.  Authorization
Please provide documentation that the institution has the necessary and appropriate authorization (internal and external) to operate this extension site. Append a copy of any documents providing such authorization (e.g., state license, regional accreditation action, board/faculty approval).
11.  Assessment
Indicate how the institution will evaluate the effectiveness of the expanded extension site. Describe how the school will assess the student learning outcomes associated with the degree(s) involved and how that assessment will be incorporated into the school’s overall assessment plan.
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.

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