Revised: October 1, 2012; October 1, 2022 

Changes that may be implemented at the local level will be proposed in writing by the program coordinator to the appropriate department chair for change approval prior to submitting to the Director of Curriculum Operations.  The written proposal should contain the educational rationale for the change. The Director of Curriculum Operations will review the proposal for validity and will share qualified proposals with the Dean of Planning and Research, the Vice President of Instruction and the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs to determine whether the change is substantive in nature and requires notification of external stakeholders such as state or federal departments and regional or program accreditors.  During a fall meeting of the Department Chairs and Program Coordinators, the Vice President of Instruction will share the proposal with all department chairs, program and general education coordinators and the faculty assembly president who will be provided with the opportunity to discuss the proposal with their constituents. 

After receiving comments from the chairs and Faculty Assembly President, the Vice President of Instruction will provide a recommendation to the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and will provide a copy to the SACSCOC Liaison. Upon approval, the proposed change will be implemented the next fall semester. 

Substantive change, which is defined by SACSCOC, requires, in part, that the Liaison review changes to programs of study in curriculum courses. To ensure that the Liaison is aware of potential substantive changes, the Liaison serves as a member of a three-person team that reviews any Program of Study Change forms submitted by academic program coordinators or department chairs who formally initiate requests for changes to an assigned program. 

Once the proposed change is validated by the Vice President of Instruction, the request is vetted also by the SACSCOC Liaison and the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs who determine whether the request rises to the level of a substantive change. When the Liaison, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Vice President of Instruction determine that a program or institutional change rises to the level of substantive change, the SACSCOC Liaison will contact SACSCOC to provide appropriate documentation. As appropriate, the Liaison will work with the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President of Instruction, and the appropriate department chair to gather and submit substantive change documentation for the Commission. 

Refer to Procedure 1.12.3 for specific details related to academic substantive changes. 

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