The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) requires colleges to report and/or acquire approval for “any significant modification or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited institution.” A substantive change includes:
- adding new curriculum programs
- adding locations where WCC holds curriculum courses
- expanding a program from one campus to an additional location
- changing the method of delivering instruction to students, including adding distance education options
- forming collaborative arrangements with other colleges or schools
- moving or closing a location where WCC holds curriculum classes
Substantive changes generally require notification of the change to be submitted to SACS six months prior to the implementation and a prospectus be submitted at least three months prior to the implementation.
General Guidelines
*Always confirm requirements with the most recent documentation on the SACSCOC website: http://sacscoc.org/accrediting-standards/substantive-changes/
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Program
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SACS Requirement
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| Approved Program |
- If not significantly different from program offerings at that site: No Letter
- If significantly different from program offerings at that site: Letter Only
- If significantly different from program offerings at that site: Letter Only
- If student can earn more than 50% of credits for a credential: Prospectus*
- If student can earn 25-‐49% of credits for a credential: Letter Only
- If student can less than 25% of credits for a credential: No Notification
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| New Program |
- If new program repackages existing coursework: No Letter
- If it is a “significant departure” from existing program offerings: Prospectus
- If new program adds courses that are not significant departure
- If similar to programs at the site: No Letter
- If different from programs at the site: Letter Only
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| New Certificate |
- If new certificate repackages existing coursework: No Letter
- If it is a “significant departure” from existing courses: Modified Prospectus
- If new certificate adds courses that are not significant departure
- If similar to programs at the site: No Letter
- If different from programs at the site: Letter only
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| Approved Certificate |
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| New Program |
- Separate Prospectus for the program and the site
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| Ending Program |
- If WCC teaches out the students
- Notify immediately
- Letter with teachout plan and prior approval
- If other institution teaches out the students
- Notify immediately
- Letter with teachout agreement and prior approval
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| Adding programs or
sites through teachout |
- By accepting a program/site through teachout agreement from another institution: Prospectus
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