Faculty Handbook
State of Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education-Regulations for Licensure and Accreditation of Institutions and programs of Higher Learning
EXCERPTS*
Policies and Procedures
Introduction
(a) Purpose. The Board of Governors for Higher Education is responsible for initial and continuing review and approval of all institutions and programs of higher learning operating in the State of Connecticut…and,
(b) Intent. It is the intent of the Board to ensure acceptable standards of quality among the institutions and programs of higher learning,…and where possible, to promote the highest standards of quality. No such institution or program shall receive initial or continuing approval from the Board unless and until the Board is satisfied that the institution or program is in substantial compliance with the Board’s approval standards.
Definitions
The definitions set forth in this section are intended to supplement the definitions in Section 10a-34 of the General Statutes and shall apply throughout…[these regulations].
(a) Board means the Board of Governors for Higher Education.
(b) Commissioner means the Commissioner of Higher Education or the Commissioner’s designee.
(c) Advisory Committee on Accreditation means a committee composed of representatives of accredited public and independent institutions and of the public at large, appointed by the Board to advise the Board and the Commissioner on matters relating to licensure and accreditation.
(d) Licensure means approval by the Board to operate an institution or program of higher learning at a specific location(s) for a specified period. Licensure does not provide authority to confer degrees.
(e) Accreditation means approval by the Board to operate an institution or program of higher learning at a specific location(s) for a specified period and to confer specified degrees.
(f) Approval means a formal action by the Board to grant either licensure or accreditation or\both.
(g) Institution or institution of higher learning means any organization, school, board, association or corporation which is licensed or accredited to offer one or more programs of higher learning leading to one or more degrees.
(h) Accredited institution means an institution of higher learning that is accredited by the Board.
(i) Evaluation means a review of an institution or program by competent educators approved by the Commissioner or the Board, for purposes of verifying compliance with the standards…[of these regulations].
*Complete document is available from the Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, including the questionnaire for licensure, progress report, and accreditation application.
(j) New program means any degree program, major, specialization or concentration not previously approved by the Board.
(k) “Non-substantive change” means (1) an undergraduate certificate program of no more than 30 semester credit hours which fall within an approved program, (2) a new baccalaureate minor of no more than 18 semester credit hours, (3) a new undergraduate option or certificate program of no more than 15 semester credit hours, or (4) a new graduate option or certificate program of no more than 12 semester credit hours.
(l) “Program modification” means a programmatic change that does not clearly qualify as a new program or a non-substantive change, including but not limited to a new program consisting primarily of course work from a previously approved program; an approved program to be offered at an off-campus location; a change in the title of a degree; and a change in the title of a program. Review procedures for program modifications are outlined in subsection (c) of Section 10a-34-3.
(m) “Off-campus program” means any program offered by an accredited institution in which students may complete more than 50 percent of the requirements for a degree through resident instruction at a location other than the primary campus of the institution offering the program, or through distance education.
(n) “Regional accreditation” means full accreditation by a commission of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in accordance with approval standards for accreditation of degree granting institutions, provided that such commission and standards are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
(o) “National accreditation” means full accreditation of a program at an accredited Connecticut institution by an accrediting association in the United States in accordance with approval standards for programs of higher education, according to a listing of associations recognized by the Commissioner as having standards comparable to those of the Board of Governors, provided that such associations are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
(p) “Resident Instruction” means direct contact instruction which involves the physical presence of both the learner and the instructor at the same regularly scheduled location. Resident instruction also may involve independent study and clinical activities with characteristics similar to distance education.
(q) “Distance Education” means media-related instruction, which does not require the physical presence of both the learner and the instructor at the same regularly scheduled location.
Procedures – General
(a) New institutions and programs. The procedures for licensure of new institutions and programs are specified in Section 10a-34-4 of these regulations.
(b) Non-substantive changes. Programmatic changes that qualify as non-substantive changes shall not require prior review and approval by the Board. However, all credit instruction in Connecticut is subject to the standards specified in …[these regulations]. All new options and certificate programs that qualify as non-substantive changes shall be reported to the Department of Higher Education for informational purposes.
(c) Program modifications. An institution proposing a program modification shall submit a prospectus, in a format developed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall review the proposal and request any additional information needed. If the Commissioner determines that the proposed change represents a new program, the Commissioner shall request a full application for licensure. If the Commissioner determines that the proposed change is non-substantive, the Commissioner shall so notify the institution and no further action shall be required. If the Commissioner determines that the proposed change is a substantive change but not a new program, the Commissioner shall make a recommendation for approval or disapproval to the Board. The institution shall be notified of the Commissioner’s determination within 45 days of receipt of the prospectus.
(d) Discontinued programs. Institutions shall notify the Commissioner within 60 days of any programs which are being phased out or to which new students have not been admitted for a period of 12 months. At the request of the institution, a program will be classified as being phased out for a period of two years, after which it will be removed from the inventory of approved programs, unless the institution requests an extension. The Commissioner may grant an extension for a maximum of two years.
(e) Accreditation. The procedures for institutional and program accreditation are specified in…[these regulations].
(f) Applications pending. Completed institutional and program applications received in the Board Office prior to the effective date of these regulations shall be subject to…the regulations of state agencies in effect at the time of receipt of such application, except that the Advisory Committee on Accreditation shall assume the responsibilities of the Standing Committee on Accreditation immediately.
Licensure
(a) Purpose. The purpose of the licensure process is (1) to ensure that proposed institutions and programs comply substantially or have the potential to comply with the quality standards specified in regulations, and (2) to ensure that non-accredited institutions and programs continue to comply with these standards.
(b) Applications. An application for licensure or re-licensure of an institution or program shall be filed in a format developed by the Commissioner. Applications for licensure of a new institution or degree program should be filed at least nine months in advance of the date on which the institution or program is to begin operating or the date that current licensure expires.
(c) Circulation. A summary of each new institutional and program proposal shall be circulated to all institutions of higher learning in Connecticut and to other interested parties for review and comment regarding the need for the institution or program. The applicant institution shall be given an opportunity to respond to all comments. Circulation shall not be required for undergraduate certificate and associate degree programs that are judged by the Commissioner to be closely related to existing approved programs.
(d) Completeness. The Commissioner shall be responsible for determining within 25 working days of receipt whether an application is complete and for requesting from the applicant institution additional information required, so that the assessment can continue.
