Substantive Change

As a member institution of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), KSU is required to notify the Commission of any proposed substantive changes in accordance with SACSCOC policy and, when necessary, obtain approval prior to the initiation of the changes.  SACSCOC defines substantive change as a significant modification or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited institution.

The types of substantive change and the procedures for addressing them can be found in the SACSCOC Policy Statement for Substantive Change for SACSCOC Accredited Institutions.  

All SACSCOC member institutions are required to have a policy and procedure to ensure that all substantive changes are reported to the Commission in a timely fashion.  KSU’s Substantive Change Policy which is published on the KSU Policy Portal .

The first step is to determine if a change falls into the SACSCOC Substantive Change category and if so, identify the appropriate type of approval needed to implement the change.  The KSU Curriculum Office collaborates with the SACSCOC Liaison who receives an alert for possible SACSCOC substantive changes using the following cheat sheet.

  • Type
    Details
    Notification Format 
    Notification Time
  • New Program

    50% or more new content = Significant Departure

    25% - 100% of new content from existing programs

    25-49% of new content = Significant Departure

    Approval

     

     

     

     

    Notification

    Prior to Implementation
  • Method of Delivery Change

    50% or more of program is delivered by distance education, competency-based education or face-to-face.

    Notification

    Prior to Implementation
  • Program Closure

    When admission is stopped

    Approval

    As soon as possible after decision to stop admitting.
  • Program Length

    Increase or decrease credit hours by 25%

    Expected time to completion increases or decreases by more than one semester.

    Approval

    Prior to Implementation
  • Program Re-Open

    May re-open within five years of the closure date (date of admission closure)

    Notification

    Prior to Implementation
  • Off Campus Instructional Sites

    Instructional site that is geographically apart from an institution’s main campus where instruction is delivered.

    Notification

    Prior to Implementation
  • Competency-Based Education by Direct Assessment

    25-49% of the program may be earned through direct-assessment approach.

    50% or more of a program may be earned through direct-assessment approach

    Notification

     

     

    Approval

    Prior to Implementation
  • Cooperative Academic Arrangements

    Arrangement with another entity to deliver 50% or more of program content in which the credit is recorded on KSU’s transcript and which KSU could not deliver the program without the arrangement.

    Notification or Approval

    Prior to Implementation

Based on the March 2023 SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy

Please contact Dr. Leigh Funk, Assistant Vice President for Academic Excellence & SACSCOC Liaison, early in the process to discuss any matters you think might constitute a substantive change notification.   

Office Telephone:  470-578-3315
Email: lfunk@kennesaw.edu

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