Enterprise Information Management - Kennesaw State University

Eight out of ten new freshmen at KSU had a HOPE scholarship, but less than two in ten of the seniors were eligible for HOPE in Fall 2006.

Substantive Change Reports

The Commission on Colleges (COC) of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accredits an entire institution and its programs and services, wherever they are located or however they are delivered. SACS-COC is responsible for reviewing all substantive changes that occur between an institution’s decennial reviews to determine whether or not the change has affected the quality of the total institution and to assure the public that all aspects of the institution continue to meet defined standards. The U.S. Department of Education expects KSU to seek approval from SACS-COC prior to the initiation of substantive changes. Failure to do so can result in the loss of federal financial aid for students enrolled in those new programs or sites.

Substantive change is defined as a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. KSU is expected to provide SACS-COC with written notification, at least six months prior to implementation, of: 1) proposals for new degree programs, 2) new off-campus sites for instructional delivery, and 3) new offerings of degree programs through distance learning. SACS also requires submission of a detailed prospectus for many of those reported substantive changes at least three months prior to the program’s or site’s implementation to permit amble time for the required review and approval of the proposed substantive change by Commission staff. A link to the report outline for a substantive change prospectus is provided below. Substantive changes also sometimes require an on-site committee review, normally within six months of implementation. The President of the Commission is authorized to appoint a Substantive Change Committee to review an institution for any change that requires a more in-depth evaluation beyond the prospectus submitted by the institution.

All communication between KSU and the Commission about substantive change is expected to be funneled through KSU’s President (Dr. Papp) and/or KSU’s Accreditation Liaison (Dr. Rugg). Other KSU faculty, staff, or administrators should not communicate directly with SACS-COC about substantive change reporting.