{"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":"2026-07-26T22:47:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T03:47:29","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\">The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires its member institutions have a written policy and procedure to ensure that all substantive changes are reported to the Commission in a timely fashion. 乐播传媒入口 adheres to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/SubstantiveChange.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Commission&#8217;s Substantive Change Policies and Procedures<\/a>. See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/p050\/\">MTSU&#8217;s Policy 50 Timely Reporting of a Substantive Change for Accredited Institutions of the SACSCOC<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SACSCOC and MTSU substantive change policies and procedures assure the public that the University and its academic programs continuously meet the standards outlined in the SACSCOC&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sacscoc.org\/app\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2018PrinciplesOfAcreditation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Principles of Accreditation: Foundations for Quality Enhancement<\/a>. Specialized accreditation agencies have additional substantive change policies and procedures for specific academic programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information, please contact MTSU accreditation liaison Jeff Gibson at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Jeff.Gibson@mtsu.edu\">Jeff.Gibson@mtsu.edu<\/a>, (615) 898-5806, or Cope Administration Building Room 110.<\/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. Changes with <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Institutional Changes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Change Type<\/th><th>Requires<\/th><th>Site Visit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Acquisition<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Change in measure of student progress to completion<\/td><td>Approval by Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Competency-based education by course\/credit approach institution level<\/td><td>Approval by Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Distance education institution level<\/td><td>Approval by Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Governance change<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institution closure\/teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Institutional contingency teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Level authorization addition<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Level change to higher level<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Merger\/consolidation<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mission change<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ownership, form of control, or legal status change<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prison education program &#8211; best interest review*<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prison education program &#8211; institutional-level approval*<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/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><thead><tr><th>Change Type<\/th><th>Requires<\/th><th>Site Visit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Competency-based education by direct assessment (each program)<\/td><td>Approval by Full Board<\/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>Method of delivery*<\/td><td>Notification by Institution<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>New program*<\/td><td>Approval by Senior Staff<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Program closure\/teach-out plan<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Program length change*<\/td><td>Approval by 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><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 Full Board<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Off-campus instructional site closure<\/td><td>Approval by Executive Council<\/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 or by 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><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>The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requires its member institutions have a written policy and procedure to ensure that all substantive changes are reported to the Commission in a timely fashion. 乐播传媒入口 adheres to the\u00a0Commission&#8217;s Substantive Change Policies and Procedures. See\u00a0MTSU&#8217;s Policy 50 Timely Reporting of a [&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":849,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/sacscoc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60\/revisions\/849"}],"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}]}}