SECTION BH

LOCAL GOVERNANCE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE

Navarro College shall create detailed procedures for complying with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) policy for substantive change for accreditated institutions.

Navarro College procedures shall require notification in a timely manner and prior approval, when required, to SACSCOC of changes in accordance with SACSCOC’s Substantive Change Policy. Substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Substantive change includes high-impact, high-risk changes and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services.

Under federal regulations, substantive change includes:

  • Substantially changing the established mission or objectives of an institution or its programs.

  • Changing the legal status, form of control, or ownership of an institution.

  • Changing the governance of an institution.

  • Merging / consolidating two or more institutions or entities.

  • Acquiring another institution or any program or location of another institution.

  • Relocating an institution or an off-campus instructional site of an institution (including a branch campus).

  • Offering courses or programs at a higher or lower degree level than currently authorized.

  • Adding graduate programs at an institution previously offering only undergraduate programs (including degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other for-credit credential).

  • Changing the way an institution measures student progress, whether in clock hours or credit-hours; semesters, trimesters, or quarters; or time-based or non–time-based methods or measures.

  • Adding a program that is a significant departure from the existing programs, or method of delivery, from those offered when the institution was last evaluated.

  • Initiating programs by distance education or correspondence courses.

  • Adding an additional method of delivery to a currently offered program.

  • Entering into a cooperative academic arrangement.

  • Entering into a written arrangement under 34 C.F.R. § 668.5 under which an institution or organization not certified to participate in the title IV Higher Education Act (HEA) programs offers less than 25% (notification) or 25-50% (approval) of one or more of the accredited institution's educational programs. An agreement offering more than 50% of one or more of an institution’s programs is prohibited by federal regulation.

  • Substantially increase or decreasing the number of clock hours or credit hours awarded or competencies demonstrated, or an increase in the level of credential awarded, for successful completion of one or more programs.

  • Adding competency-based education programs.

  • Adding each competency-based education program by direct assessment.

  • Adding programs with completion pathways that recognize and accommodate a student’s prior or existing knowledge or competency.

  • Awarding dual or joint academic awards.

  • Re-opening a previously closed program or off-campus instructional site.

  • Adding a new off-campus instructional site/additional location including a branch campus.

  • Adding a permanent location at a site at which an institution is conducting a teach-out program for students of another institution that has ceased operating before all students have completed their program of study.

  • Closing an institution, a program, a method of delivery, an off-campus instructional site, or a program at an off-campus instructional site.

  • Participating in the federal Prison Education Program providing Pell Grant access to confined or incarcereated students.

and other substantive changes defined by SACSCOC in their Substantive Change Policy and Procedures found on the SACSCOC website.

 

NON-COMPLIANCE

If an institution is non-compliant with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures or Standard 14.2 (Substantive change), its accreditation may be in jeopardy. An unreported substantive change may require a review of the institution’s substantive change policy and procedures document by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. Non-compliance subjects the institution to monitoring, sanction, or removal from membership. Failure to secure approval, if required, of a substantive change involving programs or locations that qualify for title IV federal funding may place the institution in jeopardy with the U.S. Department of Education, including reimbursement of funds received related to an unreported substantive change. For additional information, refer to Unreported Substantive Change in the procedures section of the Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

 

 

Approved: 2015
Updated: 2021, 2024
Reviewed: 2020, 2022