Jodi Pettazzoni, PhD March 20 & 26, 2018 SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE WORKSHOP Office of Assessment & Accreditation and Academic Program Planning (OAAOAAAPP) Jodi Pettazzoni, PhD March 20 & 26, 2018

Objectives of this workshop Increase awareness of academic program policies & procedures: SACSCOC UNC System Clarify: Curriculum review process Deadlines, timelines, & effective dates Discuss updates and changes SARA & Professional Licensure (Jana Walser-Smith) Coming Attractions

ASK QUESTIONS ANYTIME

SACSCOC Reporting 10 Year Reaffirmation (December 2014) 5th Year Report (Due March 2020) Annual Institutional Profiles Substantive Change Reporting (as required)

Substantive Change for SACSCOC Accredited Institutions Policy Statement 30 pages! http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/SubstantiveChange.pdf

Policy: Institutional Obligations Required to notify SACSCOC of changes in accordance with the substantive change policy When required, seek approval prior to the initiation of changes Required to have a policy and procedure to support efforts to report all substantive changes to the Commission in a timely fashion

UNCG’S Substantive Change Compliance Policy Revised! UNCG’S Substantive Change Compliance Policy

UNCG Substantive Change Compliance Policy 1 2 3

The Four Steps to Substantive Change Compliance Understand when a change is substantive Our office will help you with this Follow UNCG and UNC System procedures Allow adequate time If a substantive change requires approval prior to implementation you MUST wait for the approval letter from SACSCOC before implementing.

Definition of Substantive Change “A significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution.” US Department of Education Defines (in most cases) and SACSCOC Enforces

2 Kinds of Substantive Changes Those that are not so common… Change in legal status, ownership, objectives or established mission of institution, acquiring another institution… and those you might initiate…

Such as… “Addition of courses or programs that represent a significant departure, either in content or method of delivery, from those that were offered when the institution was last evaluated.” “Expanding at the institution’s current level (significant departure from current programs)”

WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE?

Significant Departure Not closely related to previously approved programs Not offered at UNCG or one of our approved off-campus sites Not a mode of delivery that we are approved for (ex: a new technology) UNCG is approved by SACSCOC to offer any program online UNC System still requires approval for both online and off- campus offerings

Significant Departure Questions to ask for new programs: What program is closely related? How? New equipment? A computer vs a laboratory New facilities? New courses? Guidance: over 25% needs a closer look New faculty? New library/learning resources?

Which of the following could be a significant departure for UNCG? Developing a new general education program Creating a Pharmacy School Adding a PhD in Gerontology All of the above

Which of the following could be a significant departure for UNCG? Developing a new general education program Creating a Pharmacy School Adding a PhD in Gerontology All of the above

Another Substantive Change “The addition of courses or programs of study at a degree or credential level different from that which is included in the institution’s current accreditation or reaffirmation.” Does this one still apply to UNCG?

Altering Significantly: … and another “A substantial increase in the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program” SACSCOC: “Altering significantly the length of a program” Altering Significantly: Length Δ = +/- 25%

This One Gets a Lot of Attention “The establishment of an additional location geographically apart from the main campus at which the institution offers at least 50% of an education program” Notification 25-49%, approval at 50% Requires UNC System Approval Requires adding to UNCG’s Participation Agreement (financial aid) Requires SEVIS Reporting / Homeland Security Off-campus information now included in Banner 9 NEW!

TRUE OR FALSE? Notifying SACSCOC about off-campus locations only applies to degree programs and not certificates. True False

TRUE OR FALSE? Notifying SACSCOC about off-campus locations only applies to degree programs and not certificates. True False Courses offered at an off-campus location used towards any program applies! 25% of 12 credit certificate = 1 course 50% of 12 credit certificate = 2 courses

UNCG’s Most Common Substantive Change “Closing a program, off-campus site, branch campus or institution” POLICY REQUIRES: Notification and a teach-out plan should be submitted prior to the closure of a program, which is considered to be the date when the institution no longer admits students to the program

Teach Out Plan: Date of closure = when no new students are admitted How students, faculty, and staff will be informed of closure How students will be helped to complete their program with minimal disruption Will students incur additional expenses / how will they be notified How faculty/staff will be redeployed or helped Signed teach out agreements with other institutions, if any

What about consolidation of degree majors? How about a change in delivery mode? online  campus  off-campus  online

Ending a Program is Important! Must follow UNCG’s normal curriculum review process (includes low productivity discontinuations) Degree Majors: UNC Board of Governor’s approval is used as the closure date, effective the following fall (unless specified otherwise) Need both START and END dates for Banner 9

Becoming More Common “Entering into a collaborative academic arrangement” (joint or dual credential with another institution) Includes certificates!

“Initiating degree completion programs” A close call for us….. “Initiating degree completion programs” Have you ever received different guidance from two knowledgeable experts? We have!

Not yet…..but maybe someday? “Initiating a direct assessment competency-based program”

Any unreported substantive change that is discovered must be reported.

Consequences of Substantive Change Non-Compliance From SACSCOC Policy: could lose Title IV funding could be required to reimburse US Dept. of Ed. could have a sanction imposed could be monitored could deny other substantive change requests could be removed from SACSCOC membership

QUESTIONS? Next up: Curriculum Review Process Deadlines, Timelines, & Effective Dates

Curriculum Review Process Faculty Initiates Discusses with Department Head Dean / Provost, depending on type of change Departmental Review College/School Curriculum Committee Review University Curriculum Committees (UCC/GSC) UNC System, if required SACSCOC, when required

UNC System Authorization The Board of Governors must approve: all new degree majors all degree program discontinuations UNC System staff approve: Add / modify mode of delivery (online and off-campus) CIP Code change requests Title change requests Degree change requests

SACSCOC Authorization 3 Different Kinds Substantive Changes Procedure 1: Approval required before implementing Procedure 2: Send notification (can start after sending) Procedure 3: Approves Teach Out Plans How to find out if your change is a substantive change? Complete Substantive Change Checklist (formerly known as APPQ-Academic Program Planning Questionnaire) Found with forms at curriculumguide.uncg.edu

One Deadline for almost all Changes… DECEMBER 1 …and one effective date: following fall NEW!

UNC System Approval and/or SACSCOC Approval Potential Exceptions Substantive changes (those requiring approval) New degree programs UNC System Approval and/or SACSCOC Approval

Plan Early for Changes Requiring External Authorization Estimate of time provided with Substantive Change Checklist Response

Catalog Timing Non-curricular edits: Last Friday in April Catalog Publishing Date: First business day in June Last date for external authorization: End of July Catalog Freezes August 1

Next up: Updates, Changes, QUESTIONS? Next up: Updates, Changes, & Other Information

SACSCOC 5th Year Report Information Report preparation in progress now Due: March 2020 Principles of Accreditation Reduced number of standards, clarified, and removed redundancy Revised!

SACSCOC’s Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure Policy Need your help with this one! “All forms of print and electronic communications officially representing the institution are consistent with catalogue content and accurately portray the conditions and opportunities available at the institution.” Please check your websites with Catalog to ensure they are both aligned and accurate

SACSCOC’s Institutional Obligations for Public Disclosure Policy Keep evidence of your claims “The institution has readily available valid documentation for any statements and promises regarding such matters as program excellence, learning outcomes, success in placement, and achievements of graduates or faculty.”

UNCG, SARA & Professional Licensure Jana Walser-Smith, Ed.S., EdDc State Authorization Compliance Officer UNCG Online: The Division of Online Learning March, 2018

UNC Greensboro & NC SARA UNCG is now a SARA participating institution!!

Four Regional Compacts: What is this SARA ? NC SARA = National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements SARA = State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement A voluntary agreement among member states, districts, and territories Establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs Facilitates students’ ability to take online courses offered by out-of-state postsecondary institutions Overseen by a national council (NC SARA) Administered by four regional higher education compacts: MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, and WICHE Four Regional Compacts: MHEC – Midwestern Higher Education Compact NEBHE – New England Board of Higher Education SREB – Southern Regional Education Board WICHE – Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

SARA & Professional Licensure SARA has no effect on state professional licensing requirements Current mandate: all SARA participating institutions must notify students as to whether the institution: Meets each state’s requirements, or If the institution cannot determine if it meets each state’s requirements, a waiver must be signed UNCG is currently managing this processing through IR reporting Proposed new legislation to take effect July 1, 2018: Institutions must now provide details on licensure in states with enrolled students and potential enrollees Potential solutions: North Carolina standard repository Each institution completes its own research Via State Authorization Compliance Office Via Departmental Liaisons

UNC SYSTEM (the entity formerly known as “GA”) Other than their name, very few changes this past year. 120 hours for undergraduate programs Currently looking into streamlining process for proposing a new program Reduce time to respond to campuses Letter of Intent to replace Request to Plan Remove redundant information Create a more user-friendly format

Changes CourseLeaf Curriculum Inventory Management System “CIM”, pronounced KIM Faculty committee has revised some of the approval levels for requests Eg., Course numbers and pre-requisite changes are now approved by Dept. and Unit, not University-wide committees Training will be required to ensure each committee understands its responsibilities Projected to be available in fall 2019

Changes & Information Banner 9 Courses are either campus, off-campus, or 100% online

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? End of Presentation jepettaz@uncg.edu