Office of the Provost: Academic Programs - Program Revisions: Off-Campus Locations

Program Revisions: Off-Campus Locations An academic program delivered at a location other than on the geographic site of the offering campus is considered “off-campus” if 50% or more of the program takes place at the remote location. If this location is out of state or outside the United States, additional approvals by appropriate authorities at the off-campus location will be required. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) requires the University to maintain documentation of these institutional and in some instances governmental approvals on file.

Because the traditional techniques for monitoring student performance and tracking contact hours do not always apply in academic programs offered at an off-campus location, campus/college/school officers responsible for academic affairs must uphold standards to ensure that the quality of instruction remains equivalent to traditionally offered programs.

The University is required to keep SACS updated in advance about all programs that can be offered 25% or more off-campus. The Commission on Higher Education (CHE) requires notification about all programs that can be offered 50% or more off-campus.

For programs offered 25-49% off-campus, approval procedures begin with completion of the Academic Program Action (APA) form. Subsequent approvals are required at the department, campus/college/ school, and university levels, before notification is forwarded to SACS by the Provost’s Office. The process may take up to nine months until SACS acknowledgement.

For programs offered 50% or more off-campus, approval procedures begin with completion of the Academic Program Action (APA) form. Subsequent approvals are required at the department, campus/college/ school, and university levels, before notification is forwarded to CHE and SACS by the Provost’s Office. The process may take up to eighteen months until CHE and SACS acknowledgements are received.

General Approval Timeframe:
For 25-49% off-campus programs, nine months from submission to Dean’s Office to admission of first students. For 50% or more off-campus programs, eighteen months from submission to Dean’s Office to admission of first students.