2.3.5.p. Procedure: Southeastern Technical College SACSCOC Substantive Change Notification

Introduction

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits an entire institution and its programs and services wherever they are located or however they are delivered.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an agency whose accreditation enables its member institutions to seek eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. To maintain its recognition with the U.S. Department of Education, the Commission on Colleges has incorporated federal requirements into its substantive change policy and procedures. An institution is expected to seek approval prior to the initiation of a substantive change so that the change can be included in the institution's scope of accreditation. SACSCOC serves as the point of contact for the U.S. Department of Education on accreditation matters and programs offered by Southeastern Technical College and must be notified of new programs, modifications, or terminations.

In order to maintain accreditation with SACSCOC, the College is required to demonstrate compliance with the Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement and to follow SACSCOC policies which are required courses of action to be followed by SACSCOC and its member institutions.

Southeastern Technical College notifies SACSCOC of changes in accordance with the SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy and, when required, seeks approval prior to the initiation of changes. SACSCOC is responsible for reviewing and when appropriate, approving all substantive changes that occur between the College's decennial reviews.

Sources:

U.S. Department of Education
Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

Responsibility:

Responsibility for monitoring and reporting the various types of substantive change at Southeastern Technical College (STC) is designated to individuals in their capacity to initiate, review, approve, and allocate resources to substantive changes.

Academic Deans are responsible for referring to the STC online Substantive Change System and notifying the Vice President for Academic Affairs immediately when program\curriculum\additions\changes are being considered.

        Distance Learning


Southeastern Technical College is approved to offer programs 50% or more via distance learning; therefore,any SACSCOC approved program for STC can be offered through distance learning without notification to SACSCOC.

The Dean of Business Technologies and Human Services is responsible for notifying the appropriate Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs immediately when the following type of substantive change is being considered:


• adding a distance education program that is not currently on the TCSG Approved Program List for the College and not SACSCOC approved for STC.


The Vice President for Academic Affairs consults with the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness\SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison to determine the specific type of change and compiles any needed documentation.

For new programs requested in the online Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Program Management System, a description of the accreditation process and the expected date of accreditation are required prior to submission to the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia for approval.

Programs approved for termination by the governing State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia or through the automatic TCSG Purge Process will also be submitted to the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness for SACSCOC notification.

Upon approval of the President, the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness\SACSCOC Accreditation Liaison follows the appropriate procedure to submit the notification and supporting documentation to the President of SACSCOC within the reporting time lines listed in the SACSCOC Substantive Change policy.

The Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for ensuring that substantive changes requiring approval prior to implementation are not initiated before SACSCOC approval is granted.

The President of Southeastern Technical College is ultimately responsible for ensuring this policy is implemented.

References
Exhibit: Program Development, Analysis, and Termination Plan

Adopted: April 19, 2011
Reviewed: August 16, 2017; August 20, 2018; August 19, 2019; August 16, 2021; August 22, 2022; August 23, 2023;
Revised: August 15, 2016;