Final Question

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Developing and Dissolving Academic Programs

In several lessons, we discussed the importance of developing new academic programs to providing a new student enrollment source. Also, remember that the faculty is responsible for curriculum, but the Board has ultimate authority. Within this process, the accrediting group must be notified of all new programs. For most new programs, just notification is needed. However, in some cases, a new program may be considered substantive and require additional information. In this case, SACSCOC requires a prospectus addressing the principles and standards. SACSCOC may also require a team visit.

Mississippi College established a procedure to use when initiating a new degree program.

New Degree Program Approval Process

Step 1. Interest and Support The departmental faculty, administration, or Strategic Planning Steering Committee can consider the potential degree program concept and demonstrate interest and support to study the possibilities.

Step 2. Departmental Support Research Data Does the degree program fit the mission? The department visits websites of sufficient number of schools agreed to by the dean to answer these basic questions: 1) What universities have the proposed degree program? 2) What is the enrollment in the proposed degree program in these universities? 3) What are preliminary costs/benefits to the university? Determine if SACS approval (a substantive change) will be needed. Data are compiled in Notebook* form.

Step 3. Executive Summary Prepared to Inform Academic Leadership & President A two-page Executive Summary is prepared and submitted to the Dean(s), Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President of the University for approval.

Step 4. Letter of Intent and Support Data Presented to SPSC The appropriate dean submits Letter of Intent and support data to the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. SPSC renders an opinion as to whether to proceed to the next step. NOTE: If this is a substantive change, a prospectus should be written and sent to SACSCOC by the end of the 8-step process.

Step 5. Approval of the Degree Program by the Graduate or Academic Council

Step 6. Approval of the Program by the General Faculty

Step 7. Approval of the Program by the Board of Trustees

Step 8. Appropriate of the Program by SACSCOC

Inform SACSCOC that a new degree program has been added. If the program represents a substantive change, it must have SACSCOC approval before implementation.

*A notebook should be prepared with information identified above.

By publishing this process, faculty feels empowered to begin new programs—the lifeblood of ambitious universities.

Mississippi College established a procedure to close a degree program. This is more difficult to do, but in some cases necessary.

Academic Program Closure Process

In the event that bona fide reasons lead to consideration of closing a program, the President will appoint an ad hoc committee to study this issue and make recommendations to the President. If a decision is made to close a program, all affected tenured faculty will be considered for reassignment within MC. All currently enrolled students in the affected program will be given notification of the alternatives available to them.

What constitutes a program?

An operational definition of a program is any activity or collection of activities of the institution that consumes resources (dollars, people, space, equipment time).

Bona fide Reasons Leading to Consideration of Closure of a Program

· a decrease in the number of degrees awarded but not as a result of temporary, cyclical trends or resource allocation;

· a continuing decrease in qualified applicants/majors in the program;

· a pattern or history of low and/or declining scores on standardized/national examining instruments;

· a conclusion based on the program review process or self-study process;

· an inability to meet standards for obtaining credentials and/or accreditation (SACSCOC, etc.);

· prioritizing of the current academic objectives of the various schools or colleges;

· no qualified faculty to teach in the program; or

· no longer a market demand for the graduates of the program.

Step 1. If, Faculty or Deans or Administrators determine there is a bona fide reason leading to the consideration of closure of a program, then the following steps may be followed:

Step 2. The President will appoint an ad hoc committee composed of faculty and administrative personnel to review the situation in depth and make recommendations to the President. The ad hoc committee should be made up of one or more members representing the affected program.

Step 3. The ad hoc committee will make recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) regarding whether any academic program(s) should be closed including the rationale for such recommendations.

The report to the VPAA will include, but not be limited to, the following:

· an examination of the course offerings, degree programs, supporting degree programs, teaching specialties, and semester hour production;

· reasoning behind the proposed closure;

· history of the program including what actions have been taken over the preceding five years that were supportive or non-supportive of the program;

· academic evaluations of the program by both internal and external evaluators;

· all financial data relevant to the program and related programs including estimated costs for upgrading and retaining the program at a quality consistent with accreditation standards or other relevant standards and the impact such expenditures would have on other programs in the university.

The ad hoc committee should also allow and encourage other appropriate members of the university community to provide further information and opinions both orally or in writing.

Step 4. Tenured faculty in a program being considered for closure will be notified and given an opportunity to contribute to the review process and have their contributions fairly considered.

Step 5. The VPAA will review the ad hoc committee's report and make further recommendations to the President.

Step 6. The President makes the decision relative to program closure and forwards the request for approval with supporting documentation to the Board of Trustees.

Step 7. The Board of Trustees approves or denies the request. The date for closing or phasing out a program will be taken into consideration the time required for anticipated completion by students currently enrolled or for facilitation of their placement in acceptable alternative programs.

Process for Affected Faculty Members

Tenured faculty If an academic program is to be closed, tenured faculty in the program will be notified and asked to inform the President or the President's designee in writing of the faculty member's request for reassignment to other academic program(s) or another unit of the university and to provide details of the faculty member's qualifications.

The President or President's designee will then offer the opportunity to meet individually with tenured faculty who respond to discuss possible employment alternatives to termination. If the decision is made not to retain the tenured faculty member, the President or President's designee will send a written response to the individual stating reasons for not retaining the tenured faculty member. If retention of a tenured faculty member results in displacement of a tenured faculty member in another area, the displaced faculty member is entitled to make a written request for reassignment to other academic programs and to meet individually with the President or President=s designee to discuss employment alternatives.

Nontenured faculty Nontenured, tenure-track faculty affected by the decision will be notified of the date for termination of their employment.

The procedure was written with several things in mind including what SACSCOC says about closing programs. For more information on this, please see the resource referring to closing a program.