Substantive Change Request

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Substantive Change Request - Directions
Please review the NWCCU Substantive Change Policy and NWCCU Substantive Change Manual for detailed information regarding all requests for substantive change. NWCCU will confirm the category of your change before processing. Completing this form is the first required step to initiate a review of a Substantive Change.

Please Note: This form may "time out" if the entry process takes longer than 30 minutes. To avoid timing out during longer submissions, remember to save your progress as you go.

If you have difficulties, please contact NWCCU via telephone at 425-558-4224 or by email at change@nwccu.org.

Substantive Change Type Descriptions & Definitions

New Courses/Program Not Significant Departure

Adding courses or academic program(s) including Title IV-eligible certificate programs not related to existing degree program(s), that do not represent a significant departure (25% difference in program core) from program(s) previously approved. Includes addition of programs delivered using more than 50% online delivery to meet program requirements.


New Courses/Program Significant Departure

Adding courses or academic program(s) including Title IV-eligible certificate programs not related to existing degree program(s), that represent a significant departure (25% difference in program core) from program(s) previously approved


Combining Two Programs Previously Approved

Combining two programs to create a new program and where the two programs have been previously approved


New Degree Level or Credential

Adding the first academic program at a degree or credential level not previously included in the institution’s accreditation by NWCCU. (2nd and 3rd programs at the new degree level or credential are reviewed by Staff)


Suspending, Terminating, Moratorium on Existing Academic Program

Suspending, terminating, or placing into moratorium, existing academic program or major(s) of 30 semester or 45 quarter credits or more in length (within approved degree level)

 

Dual Degree Program: 25-50% by Consortial Agreement

Entering into a consortial agreement under which an institution accredited by an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education provides a significant portion of the academic program

a. 24% or less of the credits in a degree or certificate program delivered by the consortial partner(s)

b. 25-50% of one or more of the institution’s educational programs provided by the consortium or other accredited institution

 

Dual Degree Program: More than 50% by Consortial Agreement

More than 50% of one or more of the institution’s educational programs provided by the consortium or other accredited institution


Joint Program by Agreement with Non-Accredited Organization

Entering into a contract under which an institution or organization not certified to participate in Title IV offers more than 25 percent of one or more of an accredited Title IV-eligible institution’s educational programs


Substantially Increasing Credit or Clock Hours

Substantially increasing the number of clock or credit hours awarded for successful completion of a program (more than 25% of total program credits or clock hours)


New Distance Education Delivery of 50% of a Program

Initiating or expanding of distance education delivery where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using distance delivery (Authorization if less than three distance programs, then approval of all other new distance programs)

 

Competency-Based Education or Direct Assessment

Initiating or expanding Competency-Based Education (CBE) delivery where 50% or more of the courses or credits in an academic program are provided using competency-based (or direct assessment) learning. (First three programs: 1st program Panel Review; 2nd and 3rd programs Staff Review)

 

New Additional Location in Region with 50% of Program in Face-to-Face Delivery

Establishing an additional location where 50% or more of program requirements can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery


New Additional Location Outside of the Institution's Region or International

Establishing an additional location at either an international location or location outside the institution’s region where 50% or more of the program requirement can be earned via face-to-face instructional delivery  (First three locations only)

 

New Branch Campus including Teach-Out Arrangement

Establishing a new branch campus, including one established or acquired in order to provide for teach-out from another institution


Closing or Suspending an Additional Location or Branch Campus

Closing or suspending for more than 1 semester or 2 quarters of an existing additional location or a branch campus


Clock to Credit Hours / Credit to Clock Hours

Changing from clock to credit hours (or vice versa)


Change of Mission and Objectives

Substantially changing of institutional mission or objectives


Acquisition of an Institution or Merger

Acquiring or merging with another institution or any program or location of another institution


Change of Ownership / Change of Legal Status / Change in Form of Control

Changing legal status, form of control, or ownership

Substantive Change: Institution and Submitter Information
Complete the information requested below.
Note: Requests can only be submitted by the Accreditation Liaison Officer of the institution.
The change you identified requires notification only to NWCCU. Please complete the information below.
Note: Notifications can only be submitted by the Accreditation Liaison Officer of the institution.

Start typing, and then select the name of your institution from the list provided





Program Information


Number of credits required to complete the program


Number of credits required to complete the program


Number of credits required to complete the program
Program Information





Total credits required to complete the program (including general education).

Program Information


What is the CIP Code associated with this program? Enter in 6 digit format (e.g., 09.0210 or 41.1234).






Competency-Based Education, Direct Assessment

When a program is delivered using a competency-based education approach there are typically no seat-time requirements, and no course grades. Students can complete course modules at their own pace, and move to the next module as soon as they demonstrate competency in the current module.




Total credits required to complete the program (including general education).

You can supply more details about the program credits here


Site Information (Notification only)







Program Information


What is the CIP Code associated with this program? Enter in 6 digit format (e.g., 09.0210 or 41.1234).






Competency-Based Education, Direct Assessment

When a program is delivered using a competency-based education approach there are typically no seat-time requirements, and no course grades. Students can complete course modules at their own pace, and move to the next module as soon as they demonstrate competency in the current module.




Total credits required to complete the program (including general education).

You can provide more detail about the program credits here.



Site Information







Details of Program(s) at the Site







Competency-Based Education, Direct Assessment

When a program is delivered using a competency-based education approach there are typically no seat-time requirements, and no course grades. Students can complete course modules at their own pace, and move to the next module as soon as they demonstrate competency in the current module.




Total credits required to complete the program (including general education).
Details of Program Changes






Competency-Based Education, Direct Assessment

When a program is delivered using a competency-based education approach there are typically no seat-time requirements, and no course grades. Students can complete course modules at their own pace, and move to the next module as soon as they demonstrate competency in the current module.





Distance Education Supplemental Questions
Please download the supplemental questions template here, provide your responses, and upload your the completed template below.

Supporting Documentation

You can download a Budget Worksheet template here. 

Note: If you are requesting approval to move an established face-to-face program to distance delivery, you can provide three years of program enrollment data instead of the budget worksheet.
Amount Due

NWCCU will add a processing fee of 3% for credit card transactions or a $1.00 fee for processing an e-check.
$
$
$
$
Credit card or eCheck details will be collected on the last page of this form, before you submit and confirm the change request.  
Additional Information


Contextual Information
Please answer the questions below. You may complete your responses in a separate document and copy and paste them into the relevant sections on the following pages. 

Insofar as institutions are in a continual process of change, the Commission continuously monitors institutions through its Substantive Change Policy.

Although the scope and depth of information to be provided in the change proposal will depend upon the nature of the proposed change, responses to the following are required:
a. Mission and Core Themes: Provide a clear statement of the nature and purposes of the change in the context of institutional mission and core themes.

b. Authorization: Provide evidence of the date of formal approval by the governing board and by the appropriate governmental agency to offer the proposed existing and/or new program(s) at the proposed site(s). If the institution is located in, or operates in, a state that has only minimal requirements for chartering, but also a higher level of authorization to grant degrees, date and evidence of approval at the higher level is required.
  • Date of governing board approval – upload minutes
  • Date of governmental agency approval (if applicable) – upload minutes
c. Educational Offerings:
  1. Provide descriptive information of the educational offering(s) including credits to completion, courses by title and assigned academic credit granted;
  2. Provide descriptive information regarding method of instructional delivery (i.e., type of delivery including percent of face‐to‐face, hybrid, distance delivery, and/or competency‐based);
  3. Provide a description of expected student learning outcomes;
  4. Provide a description of the assessment plan for student learning outcomes;
  5. Provide evidence of review by the appropriate academic policy body of the institution 
d. Planning:
  1. Plans and descriptive materials indicating evidence of need for the change and the student clientele to be served 
  2. Describe the procedures used in arriving at the decision to change.
  3. organizational arrangements required within the institution to accommodate the change including administrative, staff, and faculty hires, facilities, student services, library; and
  4. Describe the timetable for implementation.
e. Student Services: Describe capacity of student services to accommodate the change; and implications of the change for services to the rest of the student body;

f. Physical Facilities and Equipment: Describe the provision for physical facilities and equipment;

g. Library and Information Resources: Describe adequacy and availability of library and information resources;

h. Faculty: Provide an analysis of the faculty and staff needed which includes educational and professional experience qualifications of the faculty members relative to their individual teaching assignments; and anticipated sources or plans to secure qualified faculty and staff.
a. Mission and Core Themes: Provide a clear statement of the nature and purposes of the change in the context of institutional mission and core themes.

b. Authorization: Provide evidence of the date of formal approval by the governing board and by the appropriate governmental agency to offer the proposed existing and/or new program(s) at the proposed site(s). If the institution is located in, or operates in, a state that has only minimal requirements for chartering, but also a higher level of authorization to grant degrees, date and evidence of approval at the higher level is required.
  • Date of governing board approval – upload minutes
  • Date of governmental agency approval (if applicable) – upload minutes
c. Educational Offerings:
  1. Provide descriptive information of the educational offering(s) including credits to completion, courses by title and assigned academic credit granted;
  2. Provide descriptive information regarding method of instructional delivery (i.e., type of delivery including percent of face‐to‐face, hybrid, distance delivery, and/or competency‐based);
  3. Provide a description of expected student learning outcomes;
  4. Provide a description of the assessment plan for student learning outcomes;
  5. Provide evidence of review by the appropriate academic policy body of the institution 
d. Planning:
  1. Plans and descriptive materials indicating evidence of need for the change and the student clientele to be served 
  2. Describe the procedures used in arriving at the decision to change.
  3. organizational arrangements required within the institution to accommodate the change including administrative, staff, and faculty hires, facilities, student services, library; and
  4. Describe the timetable for implementation.
e. Student Services: Describe capacity of student services to accommodate the change; and implications of the change for services to the rest of the student body;

f. Physical Facilities and Equipment: Describe the provision for physical facilities and equipment;

g. Library and Information Resources: Describe adequacy and availability of library and information resources;

h. Faculty: Provide an analysis of the faculty and staff needed which includes educational and professional experience qualifications of the faculty members relative to their individual teaching assignments; and anticipated sources or plans to secure qualified faculty and staff.





















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