Programs
If you are involved with an academic program, please answer the following questions to determine if you should might have a substantive change:
- Does this involve development of a new degree program?
- Does this new degree or certificate program involve a contract, MOU, grant, or consortium for the development or construction of all or part of the program?
- Does this involve instruction of courses delivered by UM instructors/employees at an off-campus location?
- Does this involve the deactivation of a program or change in modality for a program (including the elimination of a modality)?
If you answered yes to one or more of the self-assessment questions above, please contact the SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison.
Administration
If you are involved with an administrative department, please answer the following questions to determine if you should contact the SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison regarding a potential substantive change:
- Does this include initiating a contract, MOU, grant, or consortium regarding outsourcing instruction or regarding UM’s provision of instruction for another organization or company?
- Does this potential substantive change include buying new property for UM?
- Does this potential substantive change include opening a new university-owned branch campus or center?
- Does this potential substantive change involve a new off-campus instructional site?
- Does this potential substantive change include the relocation of an off-campus instructional site? (For example, UM offers some nursing courses at the XYZ Building at a specific street address provided to SACSCOC. If XYZ Building wants UM to move the instruction to another street address, then this could be considered a substantive change.)
If you answered yes to one or more of the self-assessment questions above, please contact the SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison.
Helpful Points:
What is a Cooperative Academic Arrangement?
A Cooperative Academic Arrangement is an agreement between a SACSCOC accredited institution and another entity to deliver program content recorded on the SACSCOC institutions transcript as its own.
Notification of initiating program/courses delivered through contractual agreement or a consortium does not apply to articulation agreements with other institutions, clinical agreements, or internship agreements.
What is a significant departure?
A program that is not closely related to previously approved programs at the institution or site or for the mode of delivery in question. To determine whether a new program is a “significant departure”, it is helpful to consider the following questions:
- What previously approved program(s) does the institution offer that is closely related to the new program and how are they related?
- Will significant additional equipment or facilities be needed?
- Will significant additional financial resources be needed?
- Will a significant number of new courses be added to the curriculum?
- Will a significant number of new faculty members be required?Will significant additional library/learning resources be needed?
What should I consider a substantive change in my program modification?
A good rule of thumb is increasing or decreasing the number of credit hours/clock hours by 25% or more and increasing the time to degree completion. It’s also important to determine if any of the above questions regarding “significant departure” are relevant, such as if 25% of the courses are being replaced, additional equipment, new faculty, or additional library, facilities or financial resources.
What is a Dual Academic Award?
A Dual Academic Award is an award in which the student receives instruction at two (or more) institutions in prescribed curricula leading to each institution granting academic awards at the same credential level.
What is a Joint Academic Award?
A Joint Academic Award is an award in which the student receives instruction at two (or more) institutions in prescribed curricula leading to the institutions granting a single academic award bearing the names, seals, and officials’ signatures of each participating institution.
