{"id":60,"date":"2025-02-13T18:01:51","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T18:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/?page_id=60"},"modified":"2026-09-20T03:48:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T08:48:54","slug":"substantivechange","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/substantivechange\/","title":{"rendered":"Substantive Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When planning a new academic program or changing an existing program, please be aware that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/SubstantiveChange.pdf\"><u>SACSCOC<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and MTSU\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/governance-and-compliance\/050.php\"><u>policy<\/u><\/a>\u00a0may require us to notify or obtain SACSCOC approval. This webpage includes information about the common types of substantive change, including adding or closing a program\u2019s method of delivery, creating a new academic program, closing an academic program, and opening or closing an off-campus instructional site. You can see a full list of substantive change types\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/SubstantiveChange.pdf\"><u>here<\/u><\/a>. Depending on the change you are planning, we may submit a letter of notification, a prospectus for approval, or have no need to make a report. Note that the SACSCOC timelines for approval and implementation described below are very different from MTSU and THEC academic program timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you contact Layne Bryant (<a href=\"mailto:Layne.Bryant@mtsu.edu\">Layne.Bryant@mtsu.edu<\/a>; 615-898-5426) or Jeff Gibson (<a href=\"mailto:Jeff.Gibson@mtsu.edu\">Jeff.Gibson@mtsu.edu<\/a>; 615-898-5806) at the beginning of your planning process, we can navigate the reporting process for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">*Programmatic or specialized accreditors have their own policies and procedures for\u00a0reporting\u00a0and approving\u00a0substantive\u00a0change. Please contact\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:jeff.gibson@mtsu.edu\"><u>Jeff Gibson<\/u><\/a>\u00a0as you prepare those documents and prior to submission.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-block accordion expandable-group expandable-group-lightblock\" id=\"mainexpand\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingreporting-the-various-types-of-substantive-change\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandreporting-the-various-types-of-substantive-change\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandreporting-the-various-types-of-substantive-change\">Reporting the Various Types of Substantive Change<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandreporting-the-various-types-of-substantive-change\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingreporting-the-various-types-of-substantive-change\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SACSCOC defines substantive change as a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Substantive changes are organized in to three categories: institutional changes, program changes, and off-campus instructional site changes. The tables below summarizes types of changes in each category, as well as the requirements for institutions <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> on substantive change restriction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Institutional Changes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Change Type<\/th><th>Requires<\/th><th>Site Visit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Acquisition<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Change in measure of student progress to completion<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Competency-based education by course\/credit approach institution level<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Distance education institution level<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Governance change<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institution closure\/teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institutional contingency teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Level authorization addition<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Level change to higher level<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Merger\/consolidation<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mission change<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ownership, form of control, or legal status change<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prison education program &#8211; best interest review*<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prison education program &#8211; institutional-level approval*<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Program Changes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Change Type<\/th><th>Requires<\/th><th>Site Visit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Adding a method of delivery*<\/td><td>Notification by Institution<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Competency-based education by direct assessment (each program)<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Cooperative academic arrangement with non-Title IV entities*<\/td><td>Notification by Institution<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Closing a program\/closing a method of delivery and teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>New program*<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Program length change*<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Off-Campus Instructional Site Changes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Change Type<\/th><th>Requires<\/th><th>Site Visit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Off-campus instructional site by extensive review (first two sites<br>approved after January 2021)*<\/td><td>Approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Off-campus instructional site closure<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council of SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Off-campus instructional site (all sites after first two approved)<\/td><td>Notification by Institution<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">* Change has different and\/or additional requirements for institutions on substantive change restriction<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingtimeline-for-completion-of-substantive-change-procedures\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandtimeline-for-completion-of-substantive-change-procedures\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandtimeline-for-completion-of-substantive-change-procedures\">Timeline for Completion of Substantive Change Procedures<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandtimeline-for-completion-of-substantive-change-procedures\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingtimeline-for-completion-of-substantive-change-procedures\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MTSU must notify and\/or receive approval from SACSCOC before implementing a substantive change.&nbsp;The Office of the University Provost&nbsp;prepares and&nbsp;submits&nbsp;all&nbsp;notifications and prospectuses for approval.&nbsp;See \u201cReporting the Various Types of Substantive Change\u201d above for a full list of the types of substantive changes and their respective requirements. Deans, department chairs and directors of schools, and administrative officers must inform the University\u2019s accreditation liaison in writing of any planned substantive change by the deadlines shown in the tables below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"deadlines\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changes requiring approval by the Executive Council of the SACSCOC Board of Trustees or by SACSCOC Senior Staff<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>For implementation in<\/th><th>Inform Liaison by<\/th><th>SACSCOC deadline is<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>January-June<\/td><td>May 1 of preceding year<\/td><td>August 1 of preceding year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>July-December<\/td><td>November 1 of preceding year<\/td><td>February 1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changes requiring approval by SACSCOC Board of Trustees<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>For implementation in<\/th><th>Inform Liaison by<\/th><th>SACSCOC deadline is<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>January-June<\/td><td>June 1 of preceding year<\/td><td>September 1 of preceding year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>July-December<\/td><td>January 1<\/td><td>March 15<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changes requiring notification by the institution<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>For Implementation In<\/th><th>Inform Liaison By<\/th><th>Liaison Notifies SACSOC By<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>January-April<\/td><td>November 1 of preceding year<\/td><td>December 1 of preceding year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>May-July<\/td><td>March 1<\/td><td>April 1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>August-December<\/td><td>June 1<\/td><td>July 1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingconsequences-for-substantive-change-non-compliance\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandconsequences-for-substantive-change-non-compliance\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandconsequences-for-substantive-change-non-compliance\">Consequences for Substantive Change Non-compliance<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandconsequences-for-substantive-change-non-compliance\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingconsequences-for-substantive-change-non-compliance\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If&nbsp;an&nbsp;institution&nbsp;is&nbsp;non-compliant&nbsp;with&nbsp;<em>Substantive&nbsp;Change&nbsp;Policies&nbsp;and&nbsp;Procedures&nbsp;<\/em>or&nbsp;Standard <em>14.2&nbsp;<\/em>(Substantive&nbsp;change),&nbsp;its&nbsp;accreditation&nbsp;may&nbsp;be&nbsp;in&nbsp;jeopardy.&nbsp;An&nbsp;unreported&nbsp;substantive&nbsp;change may require a review of the institution\u2019s substantive change policy and procedures document by the SACSCOC&nbsp;Board&nbsp;of&nbsp;Trustees.&nbsp;Non-compliance&nbsp;subjects&nbsp;the&nbsp;institution&nbsp;to&nbsp;monitoring,&nbsp;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. For additional information, refer to&nbsp;<em>Unreported Substantive&nbsp;Change&nbsp;<\/em>in&nbsp;the procedures&nbsp;section&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em>Substantive&nbsp;Change&nbsp;Policies&nbsp;and&nbsp;Procedures.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingsacscoc-principles-policies-and-guidelines-related-to-substantive-change\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandsacscoc-principles-policies-and-guidelines-related-to-substantive-change\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandsacscoc-principles-policies-and-guidelines-related-to-substantive-change\">SACSCOC Principles, Policies, and Guidelines Related to Substantive Change<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandsacscoc-principles-policies-and-guidelines-related-to-substantive-change\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingsacscoc-principles-policies-and-guidelines-related-to-substantive-change\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/07\/advertising.pdf\">Advertising&nbsp;and&nbsp;Student&nbsp;Recruitment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a style=\"font-family: inherit;font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size)\" href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Credit-Hours.pdf\">Credit&nbsp;Hours<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a style=\"font-family: inherit;font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size)\" href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/DirectAssessmentCompetencyBased.pdf\">Direct&nbsp;Assessment&nbsp;Competency-based&nbsp;Educational&nbsp;Programs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a style=\"font-family: inherit;font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size)\" href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DistanceCorrespondenceEducation.pdf\">Distance&nbsp;and&nbsp;Correspondence&nbsp;Education<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a style=\"font-family: inherit;font-size: var(--bs-body-font-size)\" href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Dual-Enrollment.pdf\">Dual&nbsp;Enrollment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2024\/01\/2024PrinciplesOfAccreditation.pdf\">Principles of Accreditation: Foundation for Quality Enhancement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Reduced-Credit-Undergraduate-Degree.pdf\">Reduced Credit Hour Degrees<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Requests-for-a-period-of-noncompliance-1.pdf\">Request&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;Period&nbsp;of&nbsp;Noncompliance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingsubstantive-change-resources\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandsubstantive-change-resources\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandsubstantive-change-resources\">Substantive Change Resources<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandsubstantive-change-resources\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingsubstantive-change-resources\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/SubstantiveChange.pdf\">SACSCOC Substantive Change Policies and Procedures<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/p050\/\">MTSU Policy 50 Timely Reporting of Substantive Change<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/accrediting-standards\/substantive-changes\/substantive-change-faqs\/\">SACSCOC Substantive Change FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mtsu-blocks-expandable-item accordion-item expandable-heading expandable-heading-lightblock\"><h2 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"headingmtsu-off-campus-instructional-sites-ocis\"><button class=\"accordion-button collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapsemainexpandmtsu-off-campus-instructional-sites-ocis\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapsemainexpandmtsu-off-campus-instructional-sites-ocis\">MTSU Off-Campus Instructional Sites (OCIS)<\/button><\/h2><div id=\"collapsemainexpandmtsu-off-campus-instructional-sites-ocis\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse expandable-content expandable-content-lightblock\" aria-labelledby=\"headingmtsu-off-campus-instructional-sites-ocis\" data-bs-parent=\"#mainexpand\"><div class=\"accordion-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MTSU&#8217;s open off-campus instructional sites, including those for which the university submitted a notification and those that SACSCOC has approved, are outlined in the table below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>OCIS Name<\/th><th>Address<\/th><th>Program<\/th><th>OCIS Type<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Blackman High School<\/td><td>3956 Blaze Drive<br>Murfreesboro, TN 37128<br>United States<\/td><td>Dual Enrollment Courses<\/td><td>25-49%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Page High School<\/td><td>6281 Arno Road<br>Franklin, TN 37064<br>United States<\/td><td><span style=\"font-size: medium;white-space: normal\">Dual Enrollment Courses<\/span><\/td><td><span style=\"font-size: medium;white-space: normal\">25-49%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Riverdale High School<\/td><td>802 Warrior Drive<br>Murfreesboro, TN 37128<br>United States<\/td><td>Dual Enrollment Courses<\/td><td><span style=\"font-size: medium;white-space: normal\">25-49%<\/span><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Rockvale High School<\/td><td>6545 State Highway 99<br>Rockvale, TN 37153<br>United States<\/td><td><span style=\"font-size: medium;white-space: normal\">Dual Enrollment Courses<\/span><\/td><td>25-49%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Siegel High School<\/td><td>3300 Siegel Road<br>Murfreesboro, TN 37129<br>United States<\/td><td><span style=\"font-size: medium;white-space: normal\">Dual Enrollment Courses<\/span><\/td><td>25-49%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SACSCOC OCIS Types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>25-49% of a program offered at the site: requires notification to SACSCOC prior to implementation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>50-100% of a program offered at the site: requires approval by SACSCOC if the institution has not had two OCIS approved by extensive review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When planning a new academic program or changing an existing program, please be aware that\u00a0SACSCOC\u00a0and MTSU\u00a0policy\u00a0may require us to notify or obtain SACSCOC approval. This webpage includes information about the common types of substantive change, including adding or closing a program\u2019s method of delivery, creating a new academic program, closing an academic program, and opening [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-bannernosidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-60","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":879,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions\/879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}