1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notification 2. Policy on Change of Mission, Goals, and Objectives 3. Policy on Change of Ownership/Control/Legal Status 4. Policy on Change of Location or New Administrative Site 5. Policy on Course/Program Approval
6. Policy on Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs
7. Policy on Approval of New Combination Distance Study-Resident Programs or Training Sites
8. Policy on Bankruptcy 9. Policy on Degree Programs 10. Policy on Financial Statements
11. Policy on Change of Marketing Approach 12. Policy on a Readiness Assessment
13. Policy on Reaccreditation Review
14. Policy on Student Achievement and Satisfaction
15. Policy on Institutions Participating in Title IV Programs 16. Policy on Special Visits
17. Policy on International Activities 18. Policy on Annual Reports
19. Policy on Non-Private Institutions 20. Policy on Complaints
21. Policy on Required Institutional Documents
22. Policy on Information Provided to the U.S. Department of Education 23. Policy on Credit Hours
24. Policy on Non-U.S. Institutions 25. Policy on Change of Name 26. Policy on Pilot Programs 27. Policy on Teach-Out Plans 28. Policy on Petitions and Waivers
29. Policy on Contracting for Educational Delivery
30. Policy on High School Programs
Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, 1601 18th Street, NW, Suite 2, Washington, DC 20009
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Policy Index
Circumstance Policy
Adding or Revising Degree Program(s) C.5.
Adding or Revising Vocational Program(s) C.5.
Adding or Revising High School Program C.5.
Annual Reports C.18.
Bankruptcy C.8.
Change in Location C.4.
Change of Management C.1.
Change in Marketing C.11.
Changing Method of Delivery C.5.
Change in Mission, Goals and Objectives C.2.
Change in Name C.25.
Change of Ownership/Control/Legal Status C.3.
Combination Program (Distance Study-Resident) C.6. & C.7.
Complaints C.20.
Contracting for Educational Delivery C.29.
Contracting with Non-U.S. Institutions C.17.
Credit Hours C.23.
Degree Programs C.5. & C.9.
Doctoral Degrees C.5, C.9
Financial Statements C.10.
First Professional Degrees C.5. & C.9.
High Schools C.30
Information Provided to U.S. Department of Education C.22.
Initial Visit C.5.
International Activities C.17.
New Combination Program C.7.
New or Revised Courses/Programs C.5.
New Training site C.7.
Revising courses or programs C.5.
Special Visits C.16.
Substantive Changes and Notifications C.1.
Teach-Out Plans C.27
Title IV C.15.
Waivers C.28.
1. Policy on Substantive Change and Notifications
It is the duty of DETC Accrediting Commission to make certain that any substantive change undertaken by an accredited institution does not adversely affect its capacity to continue to meet DETC’s Accreditation Standards. All
“substantive changes” must be reported to the Commission. An institution must obtain the Commission’s approval before the change in the institution’s scope of accreditation will be granted. The Commission will consider approving requests based on evidence that the proposed change does not adversely affect the capacity of the institution to continue to meet the DETC’s standards, policies, and procedures.
The individual policy (as indicated in parentheses) provides detailed information on the actions required by the institution to properly notify the Commission.
The Accrediting Commission’s definition of “substantive change” includes the following types of changes:
1. Any significant change in the established mission, goals, and objectives of the institution; (C.2.) 2. Any change in the legal status, form of control, or ownership of the institution; (C.3.)
3. Any change in location or new administrative site(s); (C.4.)
4. The addition of courses or programs that represent a significant departure from existing offerings of educational programs from those that were offered when the institution was last evaluated; (C.5.)
5. The addition of courses or programs of study at a degree or credential level different from that which the institution was offering when it was accredited or reaccredited; (C.5.)
6. A change or variation of credit hours; (C.5.)
7. Change in method of delivery since the last evaluation of the institution; (C.5.)
8. An increase or decrease in the number of credit hours awarded for successful completion of a course or program;
(C.5. see under “Revisions”)
9. Any additional location (training site) geographically apart from the institution’s main facility; (C.7.)
10. The acquisition of a hybrid distance study resident training site at which the institution is conducting a teach-out for students of another institution that has ceased operating; (C.7.)
11. Any change or addition of a training site; (C.7.)
12. Any significant changes in marketing activities, e.g., using sales representative for the first time; (C.11.)
13. An intention to seek to establish eligibility to participate in Federal student financial assistance programs; (C.15.) 14. Any contract where an institution certified to participate in Title IV enters into a contract with another institution
or organization not certified to participate in the Title IV programs wherein it offers more than 25 percent of one or more of the accredited institution’s educational program; (C.15.)
15. Any changes in international activities, including recruiting or partnerships with institutions undertaken outside the U.S. by an institution headquartered in the U.S. (C.17).
16. Any significant changes in the institution’s financial condition; (C.18.) 17. Any significant growth or decline in enrollments and/or programs; (C.18.)
Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, 1601 18th Street, NW, Suite 2, Washington, DC 20009
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18. Any change in the institution’s name; (C.25.) 19. A plan to close the institution. (C.27.) Action
Substantive changes in an institution that would cause an institution to be required to undergo a special visit (see C.16. Policy on Special Visits) or a new comprehensive accreditation review would include, but not be limited to, any proposed or actual change that the Commission judges to:
• diminish the capacity of the institution to comply with the Standards of Accreditation
• have a deteriorating impact on the quality of curriculum, services or faculty
• be a significant departure from the institution’s current mission and goals when it was last accredited
• be a significant negative impact on an institution’s financial stability
• negatively impact the reputation of the institution or the Commission
• represent a violation of state or federal laws
• result in a deleterious effect on students
• other likely impacts the Commission may judge serious enough to warrant a special visit or a new comprehensive review of the institution.
The Commission monitors an institution’s enrollment and program growth or decline through the use of the institution’s Annual Report (as described in C.18. Policy on Annual Reports). If an institution reports “significant growth or decline” in its enrollments and/or programs over the past year, it will be reported to the Commission. The Commission will take appropriate action to assess the institution’s ability to maintain compliance with any of the Standards for Accreditation.
Proposed changes to an institution may be so substantial that the Commission may consider that the institution to which it granted accreditation has effectively closed and a new institution is proposed to open. After affording the institution the opportunity to provide information about the changes and whether sufficient continuity of the
accredited institution will be maintained, the Commission may act to require a total re-evaluation of the institution or to withdraw the accreditation and require the institution to re-apply for accreditation.
The Commission will monitor changes that are proposed to be undertaken by institutions on a continuous basis.
When the Commission has ascertained that an institution has proposed to undertake a change, or an accumulation of changes that singly or in combination are seen to be so significant as to be transforming the institution, the
Commission will require a comprehensive re-evaluation of the institution. (6/12)
Examples of proposed changes that, singly or in combination, would be considered significantly transformative and thereby meriting a comprehensive review are these:
1. When there is an ownership change, with or without changes in top management, including a change from privately owned to publicly owned organization;
2. When there is a cluster of significant changes to curricula programs, including delivery methods
(correspondence to online) and student servicing (self-paced to instructor led) or going from a non-degree to degree awarding; and
3. Where there has been a significant change to an institution’s use of funding programs (becoming Title IV
eligible and/or using G.I. Bill and Military TA funding) that results in significant enrollment growth per C.18. Policy on Annual Reports.
When the Commission determines that any of the “substantive changes” listed above may diminish the capacity of the institution to comply with the Standards of Accreditation, the Commission will take appropriate action, including, but not limited to, requiring the institution to undergo a comprehensive evaluation.
Refer to the appropriate policies (as indicated in parentheses) as to the reporting requirements, timelines, visit requirements, and other notifications.
The Commission allows for due process as noted in the individual policies by providing reasonable time for
institutions to comply with its request for information and documentation. In all cases, the Commission will allow the institution sufficient time to respond to any findings before any final decision regarding the institution’s accredited status is made.
Notifications
Change of Chief Executive: When an institution makes a change in its Chief Executive, as defined as the replacement of the senior level executive of the institution, e.g., President or CEO, since the last accreditation examination, it must notify the Commission as soon as possible. The institution must submit a Letter of Notice to the Director of Accreditation. The letter must provide a full explanation as to when the change of Chief Executive is being made, why it is being made, and how the change will affect the institution’s capacity to continue to meet all of DETC Standards of Accreditation, specifically Standards VI.A. and VI. D.:
Standard VI.A. The Owners, Governing Board Members, Officials and Administrators: The Owners,