Policy Number: I-27
Last Reviewed: April 3, 2019
Last Updated: April 3, 2019
Responsible Dept.: Institutional Effectiveness
A signed copy of this policy is available in the President’s Office.
Purpose
To ensure proper substantive change notifications to and approvals from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Policy
All substantive changes at Virginia Western Community College will be approved by proper authorities and reported to SACSCOC according to the Commission’s Substantive Change policy. (This policy is available on the SACSCOC Substantive Change website at http://sacscoc.org/accrediting-standards/substantive-changes/.) In addition, SACSCOC will be notified of any new program at Virginia Western in order for the College to receive the required documentation needed for reporting to the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.
For the purpose of this policy, substantive changes are grouped into six major categories:
- Starting a new program
- Starting an off-campus site
- Starting programs or courses offered through contractual agreement or consortium
- Closing a program
- Closing an off-campus site
- Other types of substantive change
Reporting Responsibilities
The Accreditation Liaison is responsible for reporting substantive changes to SACSCOC.
The College President and the Vice President of Academic & Workforce Solutions are responsible for notifying the Accreditation Liaison of any substantive changes that need to be reported to SACSCOC. The Vice President of Academic & Workforce Solutions is responsible for notifying any other agencies, including programmatic accreditors, of substantive changes as appropriate.
