Applies to:	Original Policy Date:	Date of Last Review:	Approved by:
Faculty and employees	2013	March 2024	Mark Archambault

Policy Owner: SACSCOC Accreditation Liason

Policy Purpose

The Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) substantive change policy and procedures assure the public that all aspects of an institution continue to meet standards. It helps ensure substantive changes, if approved, do not hinder an institution’s ability to continue meeting the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation.

A substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Substantive change includes high-impact, high-risk changes and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services. SACSCOC accredits an entire institution. Accreditation extends to all programs and services of an institution wherever located and however delivered.

SACSCOC does not accredit individual programs, locations, or portions of an institution. However, some new programs, locations, and other institutional changes are subject to notification and/or approval as defined in Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

Policy Scope

This policy applies to substantive changes as defined below.

Policy Statement

Florida Institute of Technology is responsible for complying with the substantive change policy set forth by its accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) available at Substantive Change Policy and Procedures. All member institutions are responsible for following the policy by informing SACSCOC of changes in accord with the stated procedures and, when required, seeking approval prior to initiating that change.

Florida Institute of Technology requires that all university employees report potential substantive changes to the university Accreditation Liaison for determination and submission to SACSCOC as notification or for approval as outlined in the Substantive Change Policy and Procedure document. University employees may not implement a substantive change prior to receiving approval when appropriate from SACSCOC via the university’s accreditation liaison.

Procedures/Guidelines

A. Procedure for Approval and Notification of Academic and Non-Academic Substantive Changes

Responsible administrators, faculty members, chairs, department heads, and deans must report substantive changes to the university appointed accreditation liaison. Failure to report in a timely manner and according to SACSCOC policy will results in the delay of an offering. Requirements and timelines for SACSCOC reporting and implementation are included in the SACSCOC policy document specific to each substantive change.

1. Change originators must notify President or Provost as appropriate and the accreditation liaison of the intent to enter into a substantive change.
2. The Office of the President or Office of the Provost will review the change and consult with the appropriate members of the campus community such as the effected academic department/college, appropriate curriculum committee, CFO, Financial Aid office, etc. as appropriate. The President or Provost will document the feedback and any recommendations from these consultations. Should the President or Provost approve moving forward with the substantive change, he or she will coordinate with the Accreditation Liaison who will coordinate the submission of notifications and other required material to SACSCOC.
3. The Accreditation Liaison will notify the President and the Provost of the submission of the substantive change notifications, prospectuses and other documentations to SACSCOC.
4. The Accreditation Liaison will be responsible for disseminating SACSCOC substantive change approvals and facilitate the submission of subsequent documentations requested by SACSCOC. The Accreditation Liaison will also keep all substantive change submissions on file.

B. Timelines

Per the SACSCOC Policy, "For a substantive change requiring approval by the full Board of Trustees (which meets biannually), to be implemented after the date of the Board meeting, the submission deadlines are

• March 15 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in June of the same calendar year, and
• September 1 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in December of the same calendar year.

For a substantive change requiring approval by the Executive Council of the Board of Trustees (which meets year-round) — OR — for a substantive change requiring notification only, the submission deadlines are

• January 1 for changes to be implemented July 1 through December 31 of the same calendar year, and
• July 1 for changes to be implemented January 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year.”

C. Late Notification

If an implemented, but unreported, change should occur that is determined to be substantive to the university, the appropriate Vice President (any level), Dean (or Associate), or Director must notify the President or Provost and the university-appointed Accreditation Liaison immediately. The Accreditation Liaison must then notify SACSCOC according to the policy.

Definitions

SACSCOC defines substantive change as "a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution." Under federal regulations, substantive changes include:

• Substantially changing the established mission or objectives of an institution or its programs.
• Changing the legal status, form of control, or ownership of an institution.
• Changing the governance of an institution.
• Merging / consolidating two or more institutions or entities.
• Acquiring another institution or any program or location of another institution.
• Relocating an institution or an off-campus instructional site of an institution (including a branch campus).
• Offering courses or programs at a higher or lower degree level than currently authorized.
• Adding graduate programs at an institution previously offering only undergraduate programs (including degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other for-credit credential).
• Changing the way an institution measures student progress, whether in clock hours or credit-hours; semesters, trimesters, or quarters; or time-based or non–time-based methods or measures.
• Adding a program that is a significant departure from the existing programs, or method of delivery, from those offered when the institution was last evaluated.
• Initiating programs by distance education or correspondence courses.
• Adding an additional method of delivery to a currently offered program.
• Entering into a cooperative academic arrangement.
• Entering into a written arrangement under 34 C.F.R. § 668.5 under which an institution or organization not certified to participate in the title IV Higher Education Act (HEA) programs offers less than 25% (notification) or 25-50% (approval) of one or more of the accredited institution's educational programs.
• Substantially increase or decreasing the number of clock hours or credit hours awarded or competencies demonstrated, or an increase in the level of credential awarded, for successful completion of one or more programs.
• Adding competency-based education programs.
• Adding each competency-based education program by direct assessment.
• Adding programs with completion pathways that recognize and accommodate a student’s prior or existing knowledge or competency.
• Awarding dual or joint academic awards.
• Re-opening a previously closed program or off-campus instructional site.
• Adding a new off-campus instructional site/additional location including a branch campus.
• Adding a permanent location at a site at which an institution is conducting a teach-out program for students of another institution that has ceased operating before all students have completed their program of study.
• Closing an institution, a program, a method of delivery, an off-campus instructional site, or a program at an off-campus instructional site.

Compliance Reference

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Substantive Change Policy and Procedureshttps://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/SubstantiveChange.pdf

Risk of Non-Compliance

Per SACSCOC, "If an institution is non-compliant with Substantive Change Policy and Procedures or Standard 14.2 (Substantive change), its accreditation may be in jeopardy. An unreported substantive change may require a review of the institution’s substantive change policy and procedures document by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. Non-compliance subjects the institution to monitoring, sanction, or removal from membership. Failure to secure approval, if required, of a substantive change involving programs or locations that qualify for title IV federal funding may place the institution in jeopardy with the U.S. Department of Education, including reimbursement of funds received related to an unreported substantive change."

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), The Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement, Section 14.2 https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/2018PrinciplesOfAcreditation.pdf

Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Resource Manual for the Principles of Accreditation https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/2018-POA-Resource-Manual.pdf

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of Vice Presidents (all levels), Deans (and Associates), and Directors:

Vice Presidents (all levels), Deans (and Associates), and Directors are responsible for

1. becoming familiar with policies and procedures in the SACSCOC substantive change document,
2. notifying the university-appointed Accreditation Liaison as early as possible about proposals or initiatives that may be considered substantive changes,
3. providing the Accreditation Liaison with the supporting data and documentation necessary for reporting such changes to the SACSCOC,
4. adhering to any timeline set forth by SACSCOC for purposes of review and prior approval of substantive changes.

Responsibilities of the university-appointed Accreditation Liaison

The university-appointed Accreditation Liaison is responsible for

1. providing the substantive change policy to all Vice Presidents (all levels), Deans (and Associates), and Directors on an annual basis,
2. maintaining a current copy of the SACSCOC policy on the university’s Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness website,
3. working with the Vice Presidents (all levels), Deans (and Associates), and Directors to determine whether a proposal is a substantive change and to generate the necessary letters, prospectus, and other documents for reporting to SACSCOC,
4. submitting the requested substantive change documents to SACSCOC, and
5. coordinating and necessary follow-up action.

The current university-appointed Accreditation Liaison is Jessica L. Ickes, Vice President for Compliance and Accreditation, phone: 321-674-7569, email: jickes@fit.edu.

Enforcement

Failure to report potential substantive changes to the university Accreditation Liaison for review or implementing a substantive change without approval may result in disciplinary action.