Substantive Change Process Understanding Expectations for the Self-Study from the HEOA 11/11/2010 Substantive Change Process Barbara Samuel Loftus – Vice President Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Overview Definition of Substantive Change Approval prior to implementation required for changes Relationship between regional accreditors + USED Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Review Process Substantive Change Committee Committee reviewers Role of Commission VP liaison Conference call format Committee recommendations to Executive Committee of Commission for approval Committee meeting schedule (February, April, June, August, October, December) Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Reviews Type of change Relationship to institutional mission Readiness for review (are all supporting documents included – budget, impact analysis, resources?) Evidence of sufficient resources, student learning outcomes assessment plans, appropriate oversight, appropriate planning + realistic projections Impact on institution Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Proposal Summary Executive summary (one-page) Statement of nature/purpose of activity + relevance to mission Financial impact of proposed change Analysis of impact on rest of institution Legal authorization to conduct program/activity Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Proposal Details Basic Planning Documents Budget and financing for the projected activities Resources (faculty, administrators, library, facilities) Intended constituency Governance + administrative organization Plans for student learning outcomes assessment Institutional approval procedures Copies of contractual arrangements Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Proposal for a Branch Campus Description of educational program(s) to be offered Projected revenues + expenditures at branch campus Operation, management + physical resources at the Branch campus Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Proposal for New Degree or Program Level Constituency to be served Resources: faculty, student, educational Expected budget Student learning outcomes assessment plans Degree approvals Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Proposal for Distance Education Technology support Access to campus resources, including library Student learning outcomes assessment plans Student identity verification process/fees Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Substantive Change Policy & HEOA 2008 Resources US Dept of Education http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/policy.html http://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/Government/index.asp#FedUpdate Middle States Commission on Higher Education http://www.msche.org/ Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Questions? Middle States Commission on Higher Education