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What to Submit in your Prospectus?

SACSCOC provides a detailed outline of required information for each type of prospectus to be submitted for approval. In this section, we will cover the information with is common to all prospectuses as well specific requirements based on the institutional or program change.

When completing a SACSCOC prospectus, it is imperative to utilize the outline provided verbatim. The SACSCOC reviewers are familiar with these outlines and it assists them with assuring the appropriate information is submitted as they are able to quickly identify where the information would be located.

All prospectuses have a 25 page limit. While this does not include appendices, it is encouraged to utilize these sparingly and only for information that is directly relevant to the prospectus being submitted.

 

Common Prospectus Content

  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Transmittal letter signed by the CEO or liaison briefly explaining the submission
  3. List of programs offered by the institution
  4. Abstract
    1. Briefly describe the proposal change to include the implementation date
    2. Provide projected number of students
    3. Indicate the projected life of the change
    4. Describe the primary target audience or market
    5. Describe the strengths of the institution to undertake the change
  5. Describe how the need for the change was determined and how the change was approved by the institution
  6. Describe how the change is consistent with the mission and goals of the institution
  7. Provide documentation of faculty involvement in the planning and approval of the change
  8. Provide evidence of legal authority for the change if approval is required by the governing board or state
  1. Provide a completed faculty roster form for faculty members scheduled to teach in the new program, site, or method of delivery
  2. For a new program, demonstrate the institution has at least one faculty member qualified in the discipline to develop the curriculum and teach in the program
  3. Provide narrative with supporting evidence that the number of full-time faculty members will be adequate to support the initiative and describe the impact on faculty workload of the new program, site or distance delivery
  4. For a graduate program, demonstrate scholarship and research capability of faculty members teaching in the program and if applicable document faculty experiences in directing student research or creative work.

Library and Learning Resources

  1. List and describe discipline-specific learning resources to support a new program
  2. Document discipline-specific refereed journals and primary source materials
  3. Describe how students enrolled in a new program at an off-campus instructional site or in a distance education program can access discipline-specific library and learning resources
  4. Describe how students are made aware of library and learning resources available to them, how they can learn how to access the resources and are instructed in the use of online resources, as well as on-site library resources
  5. Describe resources to support students in access to and use of library and learning resources

 

Student Support Services

  1. Describe specific program, services, and activities which will support students enrolled in the new program or off-campus site

 

Physical Resources

  1. Describe the financial resources available to support the proposed change, including a budget for the first year of the proposed change.
  2. Include in the budget resources going to institutions or organizations for contractual or support services for the program
  3. Include projected revenues and expenditures and cash flow for the proposed change
  4. Include a contingency plan in case expected revenues do not materialize
  1. Provide a brief description of institutional assessment processes.
  2. Describe how the institution will incorporate the proposed change into the institution-wide assessment infrastructure and processes

Institutional Changes Prospectus Content

  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Describe the current measure and the proposed measure of student progress to completion
  3. Describe the rationale for the change
  4. Provide a narrative explanation or char illustrating the conversion equivalency between the current method and proposed method
  5. Demonstrate the proposed method will maintain compliance with Standard 9.2
  6. Provide evidence the proposed measure is published and accessible to all concerned parties in compliance with Standard 9.7
  7. Provide evidence the proposed measure is published in institutional policy and accurately reflects how the policy and procedures will be implemented in compliance with Standard 10.1
  8. Describe how the institution will determine the amount and level of credit awarded for its courses under the proposed measure regardless of the method of delivery.
  9. Describe how the institution will provide oversight of the policy in compliance with the SACSCOC Credit Hours policy and Standard 10.7
  1. Provide Common Content A
  2. Provide a description of the program or programs that will be taught via credit/course-based competency-based education methodology for the first time
  3. Describe the infrastructure to support credit/course-based competency-based education
  4. Describe how faculty members will be trained in credit/course-based competency-based education and how courses will be developed
  5. Describe technical support for students enrolled in courses delivered by credit/course-based competency-based education and technical support for faculty members
  6. Common Content B
  7. Common Content C
  8. Describe how effectiveness of programs offered via credit/course-based competency-based education will be assessed
  9. Common content D
  1. Common Content A
  2. Provide a description of the first program that will be taught 50% or more via distance education
  3. Describe the infrastructure to support distance delivery methods to include the learning management system and the administrative structure to support distance education
  4. Describe how faculty members will be trained in distance delivery methodology and how courses will be developed
  5. Describe technical support for students enrolled in courses delivered by distance methods and technical support for faculty members
  6. Document compliance with Standard 10.6
  7. Document the institution’s approval in any state where distance education students may be
  8. Common Content B
  9. Common Content C
  10. Describe how effectiveness of programs offered via distance delivery will be assessed
  11. Common Content D
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Current physical address and proposed physical address
  3. Planned implementation date or effective date of relocation
  4. Describe the rationale and need for the relocation
  5. Provide evidence the relocation has been approved by the institution’s governing board
  6. Describe the planned process for the relocation
  7. Provide projected number of students to be impacted
  8. Describe the instructional methods of delivery to be used at the proposed location and if they differ from the current location
  9. Describe the educational programs offered at the current location and programs to be offered at the proposed location
  10. Provide narrative with supporting evidence that full-time faculty members at the new location will be adequate
  11. Describe the impact of relocation on library and learning resources
  12. Describe the impact of relocation on student support services
  13. Describe the physical facilities of the proposed locate and how they are adequate to appropriately serve the needs of the institutions educational programs
  14. Describe how the institution will provide a healthy, safe and secure environment
  15. Describe financial resources available for the relocation, include a three year budget
  16. Provide a contingency plan in the event required resources to fund the relocation do not materialize
  17. Describe the impact of relocation on assessment of student learning outcomes
  18. Describe the impact of the relocation on the assessment of academic and student services
  1. Substantive Change Cover Letter
  2. Provide the current mission statement
  3. Provide the proposed mission statement
  4. Provide the planned implementation date
  5. Provide evidence of the institution’s governing board approval
  6. Describe the impetus and rationale for the change
  7. Assess the impact on the number and mix of programs in the institution’s portfolio
  8. Assess the impact on the number and composition of the faculty in the short and long term
  9. Assess the impact on staff members
  10. Describe the impact on non-academic operations of the institution
  11. Describe the current financial stability of the institution
  12. Assess the financial impact of the mission change
  13. Describe any expected forthcoming substantive change because of the mission change

Program Changes Prospectus Content

  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Name of the program
  3. Credential of the program
  4. Instructional level of the program
  5. Effective date of the change
  6. Description of the conversion
  7. Explain the motivation and rationale for the change
  8. Demonstrate the equivalency between the current measure and the proposed measure and formula utilized for the conversion
  9. Demonstrate that this will not negatively impact student learning outcomes
  10. Demonstrate that this will not negatively impact time to completion
  11. Asses the change relative to the SACSCOC Credit Hours policy
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Program or programs for which the entity/entities will provide academic content
  3. Rationale for entering into the agreement
  4. Description of the expected benefits to the students and institution
  5. Name and contact information for at least one person at the institution and participation entity
  6. Demonstrate the institution's determination that the entity or entities in the agreement are non-title IV entities for the purpose of substantive change as provided in the Cooperative Academic Arrangements Definitions and Guidelines section of this policy. 
  7. A statement of the institution's intent for students enrolled in the program (s) covered under the agreement to be eligible to receive title IV federal financial aid including the portion of each program or programs that will be eligible
    1. if the intent is for the students to receive title IV aid 
      • demonstrate the institution has assessed and reached a good-faith conclusion of the program (s) title IV eligibility under the terms of the agreement and
      • if any portion of any program or programs will not be eligible for title IV aid, demonstrate the institution's plan to communicate this information 
    2. if the intent is students will not receive title IV aid, demonstrate the institution's plan to communicate this information to the affected students
  8. Common Content B
  9. Copy of a signed, dated, and written agreement amongst all parties
    1. Roles and responsibilities
    2. Description of the regularly scheduled evaluation process to validate quality and integrity content
    3. Description of the regularly scheduled review and approval by all parties of course content and program curricula
    4. Common Content B
    5. Assessment of student learning outcomes and acceptable thresholds of demonstrated student learning
    6. Boilerplate language that SACSCOC accreditation does not extend to the non-SACSCOC entity and stipulate the institution is responsible for ensuring compliance by the participating entity
    7. Provisions for the regular review of the agreement including renewal and termination
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. For each partnering institution provide:
    1. Name, address and web address
    2. Institutional accreditor
    3. If accreditor is a U.S. Department of Education recognized institutional accreditor
  3. Provide the name and contact information for the primary responsible party
  4. Copy of a dated and signed agreement between or amongst all participating institutions
  5. For each partnering institution accredited by USDE recognized institutional accreditor, document each institution is not on public sanction by the accreditor
  6. Describe the program curriculum and graduation requirements
  7. Document how the institution meets provisions of Standard 10.9
  8. Document how the institution considers and awards transfer credit from another institution
  9. Describe the institution’s plan to monitor and ensure that the quality of contributions made by the partner institutions meet SACSCOC expectations
  10. Plan and process produced by the SACSCOC accredited institution ensuring that the agreement does not seem to result in appearance that SACSCOC accreditation extended to the partner institutions
  11. Describe how courses and other program requirements will be transcripted and which institution will maintain official academic transcripts
  12. Describe the institutions plan to award a single credential or diploma bearing the imprints and signatures of the officer of each participating institution
  13. Demonstrate that written agreement includes boilerplate language that SACSCOC accreditation does not extend to non-SACSCOC entities
  14. A description of
    1. Any external governmental or accrediting agency approval for the institution or program involved in the agreement
    2. Process of quality assurance used by the agency granting this approval
    3. Any required legal or licensing approvals
  15. Documentation that faculty involved in the collaboration are qualified to teach assigned components or courses and a description of the means by SACSCOC accredited institutions will monitor these qualifications
  16. Documentation of the physical resources and learning resources by the institutions not accredited by a USDE recognized accreditor
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Name of the program
  3. Credential to be awarded
  4. Instructional level
  5. Method of deliver to be added
  6. Implementation date
  7. Assessment of the impact of the addition of a method of delivery
  8. Demonstrate the addition of a method of delivery will not negatively impact student learning outcomes, student support services, library and learning resources, or institutional financial security
  1. Common Content A
  2. Curriculum for the program
  3. Projected schedule of course offerings for the program
  4. Provide program specific goals and specific student learning outcomes for the program
  5. Describe how the student learning outcomes will be assessed
  6. Provide course descriptions for all courses
  7. Describe admissions and graduation requirements for the program
  8. Demonstrate compliance with Standard 10.7
  9. Describe administrative oversight to ensure the quality of the program
  10. If program is offered in a compressed time frame, describe the methodology for determining that levels of knowledge and competences comparable to those in traditional format
  11. Common Content B
  12. Common Content C
  13. Common Content D
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Name of the program
  3. Credential to be awarded
  4. Program’s instructional level
  5. Implementation date
  6. Description of the prior learning required as condition of admission
  7. Description of how the institution:
    1. Will assess prior learning
    2. Award credit for prior learning
    3. Establish the validity of its prior learning assessment
    4. How faculty are involved in the assessment of prior learning
    5. How faculty involved in the assessment of prior learning are qualified in the disciplines in which credit is being awarded
    6. How the institution, with faculty involvement, periodically assess third parties on which it relies for prior learning assessment
  8. Demonstrate compliance with Standard 10.7
  9. Provide specific programmatic goals and specific student learning outcomes
  10. Provide course descriptions for all courses in the proposed program
  11. Describe administrative oversight to ensure quality of the program
  12. For a program offered in compressed time frame, describe the methodology for determining that levels of knowledge and competencies comparable to those required in traditional formats have been achieved
  13. Common content B
  14. Common content C
  15. Common content D
  16. Assessment of the impact of addition of a program designed for program designed for prior learning relative to the reason the institution is on Substantive Change Restriction
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Description of the program
  3. Implementation date
  4. Describe the rationale for the increase or decrease in program length
  5. Describe how the change was approved by the institution
  6. Describe how the faculty was involved in the review and approval of the planned change
  7. Provide a before and after curriculum comparison
  8. Describe change in student learning outcomes because of the program length change
  9. Provide an analysis of the impact of the change in student learning outcomes
  10. For a decrease in program length, explain how program quality and integrity are maintained with fewer credit hours and/or shorter time to complete
  11. Provide an explanation of the impact on students’ time to completion
  12. Provide an explanation of the financial impact to students
  13. Provide an explanation of the impact on staffing and faculty workloads
  1. Completed Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Site name
  3. Physical Address or location of the site
  4. Implementation date
  5. Indicate if it will be a branch campus
  6. If it will be a branch campus:
    1. Site is geographically apart from the main campus
    2. Instruction is delivered at site
    3. Site is permanent
    4. Site offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, diploma, certificate or other credential
    5. Site has its own faculty and administrative organization
    6. Site has its own budgetary and hiring authority
  7. Institution must demonstrate at an institutional level the capacity to oversee and provide ongoing support for off-campus instructional sites by:
    1. Demonstrating how institution will have administrative oversight of off-campus side ensuring academic control of all sites
    2. Demonstrating how institution will have academic assessment and evaluation processes that include regular and robust assessment and evaluation of each off-campus site
    3. Demonstrating how institution will engage in ongoing and thorough long-range planning processed for expansion of instructional and other services to off-campus sites
    4. Demonstrating financial resources and financial stability by submitted for review the institutions two most recent financial statement audit and most recent financial aid statement
  8. Common content A
  9. Describe educational program to be offered
  10. Provide documentation of approval to operate in the state where a site is located if out of state
  11. Provide course schedule and course descriptions to be taught during the first year of operation
  12. Common Content B
  13. Common Content C
  14. Describe financial resources needed to initiate and provide ongoing support for the site and availability and source of the resources
  15. On year budget for the new site
  16. If it’s a branch campus a three year budget with revenue and expenses is required
  1. Completed Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Site name
  3. Physical Address or location of the site
  4. Implementation date
  5. Indicate if it will be a branch campus
  6. If it will be a branch campus:
    1. Site is geographically apart from the main campus
    2. Instruction is delivered at site
    3. Site is permanent
    4. Site offers courses in educational programs leading to a degree, diploma, certificate or other credential
    5. Site has its own faculty and administrative organization
    6. Site has its own budgetary and hiring authority
  7. Common content A
  8. Describe educational program to be offered
  9. Provide documentation of approval to operate in the state where a site is located if out of state
  10. Provide course schedule and course descriptions to be taught during the first year of operation
  11. Common Content B
  12. Common Content C
  13. Describe financial resources needed to initiate and provide ongoing support for the site and availability and source of the resources
  14. On year budget for the new site
  15. If it’s a branch campus a three year budget with revenue and expenses is required
  1. Substantive Change Cover Sheet
  2. Current physical address and proposed physical address
  3. Implementation date
  4. Describe the rationale and need for relocation
  5. Evidence the relocation has been approved by the institution’s governing board
  6. Describe the planned process for relocation
  7. Provide the number of students to be impacted
  8. Describe the instructional methods of deliver to be used at the location
  9. Describe the programs offered at the current location and what will be offered at the proposed location
  10. Narrative with supporting evidence that he number of full-time faculty member at new location is adequate to support the mission and goals of the institution
  11. Describe the impact of relocation on library and learning resources
  12. Describe the impact of relocation on student support services
  13. Describe the physical facilities of the proposed location and how they are adequate to serve the needs of the institution’s educational programs, support services, etc.
  14. Describe how the institution will provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of campus
  15. Describe financial resources available for relocation on assessment of student learning outcomes for each educational program
  16. Provide a contingency plan in the event required resources to fund the relocation do not materialize
  17. Describe the impact of the relocation on the assessment of student learning outcomes for each educational program
  18. Describe the impact of relocation on the assessment of academic and student services that support student success