NUMBER: 4-1-1 APPROVED DATE: 03-08-2010

BASED ON POLICY NUMBER AND TITLE: SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE FOR ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON COLLEGES http://www.sacscoc.org/

Purpose:  To establish a process for adherence to the policies and guidelines of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) related to institutional change. In accordance with SACSCOC policies, TTC will notify the Commission of substantive changes and will seek approval prior to the initiation of changes when appropriate.

Definitions

The following are examples of types of institutional change that might be substantive change. For a complete list see the SACSCOC Web site:

1. Substantive changes that are likely to apply to TTC:

   Category	Sub-Category	Required College Action
   Initiating a certificate program	using existing approved courses.	No action required
   	at a new off-campus site (previously approved program).	Submit a modified prospectus prior to implementation
   	that is a significant departure from previously approved programs.	Submit a modified prospectus prior to implementation
   Expanding program offerings at previously approved off-campus sites	that are significantly different from current programs	Submit a letter of notification prior to implementation
   	that are NOT significantly different from current programs	No action required
   Initiating off-campus sites (including Dual Credit programs offered at the high school)	when a student can obtain 50 percent or more of the credits for a program.	Submit a prospectus 6 months in advance of implementation
   	when a student can obtain 25-49 percent of the credits for a program.	Submit a letter of notification prior to implementation
   	when a student can obtain 24 percent or less of the credits for a program.	No action required
   Expanding at current degree level (offering a new program that is significantly different from current programs)		Submit a prospectus 6 months in advance of implementation
   Initiating a branch campus		Submit a prospectus 6 months in advance of implementation

2. Substantive changes that are less likely to apply to TTC:
   • Initiating joint degrees with another institution
   • Initiating program/courses offered through contractual agreement or consortium
   • Relocating an off-campus instructional site
   • Altering significantly the length of a program
3. Substantive changes that are unlikely to apply to TTC:
   • Initiating coursework or programs at a more advanced level than currently approved
   • Altering significantly the educational mission of the institution
   • Initiating a merger/consolidation with another institution
   • Relocating a main or branch campus
   • Changing governance, ownership, control, or legal status of an institution
   • Closing an institution

Persons Responsible

President, vice presidents, and academic leaders (deans and directors) - report institutional changes to the institutional liaison. Institutional liaison - monitors all institutional changes reported and provides training on substantive change as needed.

Process

• The institutional liaison will monitor course offerings at existing sites and ensure the President, vice presidents and appropriate personnel are aware of those locations nearing the next threshold for notification.
• The President, vice presidents or their designees will notify the institutional liaison of planned changes in the college's educational offerings that may require substantive change notification or approval.
• For each change identified as substantive, the supervising vice president will assign responsibility to appropriate divisional personnel to work with the institutional liaison to complete the required materials for submission (e.g., prospectus and letters).
• The President will send completed substantive change documents to SACSCOC.

Updated: 05-02-2016

Reviewed: 02-01-2021