Substantive Change Request
Instructions
Additional Location/Branch Campus
Use this form for:
- new additional location or branch campus (domestic or international)
- reclassification of an existing site
- relocation of existing additional location or branch campus
Overview
Context
Accreditation or the reaffirmation of accreditation is granted to cover an institution as it exists at
the time of evaluation. MSCHE requires that substantive changes (defined in the Substantive
Change Policy Statement) be presented to the Commission for prior review and approval in order
for them to be included within the scope of an institution’s accreditation.
Terms
Additional Location - a facility that is geographically apart from the main campus of an
institution, where a student can take at least 50% of one or more programs. Middle States policy
requires site visits at the first three locations (and the first international location if it is not part of
the first three) that are opened by a member institution.
Branch Campus - a location that is geographically apart and independent from the main campus
of an institution. The branch campus is considered independent if it is permanent; offers courses
in programs leading to a degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential; has its
own faculty and administrative or supervisory organization; and has its own budgetary and hiring
authority. Middle States policy requires a site visit to all new branch campuses.
Reclassification – when the offerings at an existing approved site (other instructional site,
additional location or branch campus) change enough to move the site into a new category. This
move between categories requires the submission of a substantive change request.
Relocation – when an existing approved additional location or branch campus moves its
physical location while the programs, faculty, students and services remain the same. This move
requires a substantive change request that includes the full address of the new site.
Contractual Agreement – contracts that are for the provision of less than 25% of any
educational programs or related services at the site should be included with this request.
Contracts for the provision of 25% or more of any educational programs or related services at the
site must be submitted as a separate substantive change request and will be reviewed
concurrently.
Key Questions
Requests for approval of substantive change must contain sufficient evidence to assure peer
reviewers of the institution’s continuing compliance with all relevant Commission Standards.
Specifically, peer reviewers evaluate the following:
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What is the institution’s rationale for this substantive change?
How does the proposed substantive change align with institutional mission and goals?
What are the intended constituencies for this change and will they be served effectively?
Does the institution demonstrate the capacity to manage and operate following this
substantive change?
Are the necessary resources – in terms of budget, facilities, faculty, and student services –
in place for this change?
How is student achievement assessed for the programs proposed as part of this change?
If a new degree level or an academic program that is a significant departure from those
already offered by the institution is intended for this new facility, the degree level or
academic program must be separately approved through the Substantive Change process.
Submission Procedures
The purpose of this document is to facilitate submission of a request that contains all of the
information necessary for peer review and Commission action. Requests should be succinct and
analytical, not only presenting information but explaining how that information demonstrates
that the institution, including the proposed substantive change, will continue to comply with all
relevant Commission Standards. Attachments should be included only if they are referenced
within the text of the request. The ideal request provides all necessary information without
overwhelming volunteer peer reviewers. It is possible that a single new initiative by an
institution may require multiple submissions as there may be different types of substantive
change involved (for example, a new additional location that involves a contractual agreement
for 25% or more of any educational program or related service). Please consult with Middle
States staff if you are unsure as to how to proceed.
To be considered by the Commission, a request must be submitted on time, must be complete,
must be signed, and must include all of the following components:
 Cover Sheet
 Institutional Accreditation Overview
 Approvals
 Overview of Institution’s Approved Additional Locations and Branch Campuses
 Completed Request Form
Once the request is completed, you may delete the two pages of instructions and save the request
as a new file. Please include your institution’s name in the new filename. A request must be
submitted as an electronic file attachment in an e-mail addressed to sc@msche.org. File
attachments may be in MSWord, Excel, or PDF format.
Submission deadlines are as follows:
Submit request by:
January 1
March 1
May 1
July 1
September 1
November 1
for final approval by:
February 28
April 30
June 30
August 31
October 31
December 31
Substantive Change Request
Additional Location/Branch Campus
Cover Sheet
Please note that the shaded boxes will expand when text is entered.
Date of Submission:
Institution:
Name of person completing this request:
Title:
Phone:
E-mail:
Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) name and contact information (if different from above):
Name:
Title:
Phone:
E-mail:
Address of Institution:
For questions regarding this request, please contact (check the appropriate box):
The person submitting it
The institution’s ALO
Please identify the specific type of substantive change requested:
New Additional Location
Relocated Additional Location
New Branch Campus
Relocated Branch Campus
Reclassification of an existing instructional site to:
additional location or
branch campus
Reclassification of an existing approved additional location to:
instructional site* or
branch campus
Reclassification of an existing approved branch campus to an additional location*
* please note that this change may require a teach-out plan. Please refer to the Substantive
Change Policy for more information.
Full street address of the proposed additional location/branch campus:
City:
State:
Zip:
Anticipated start date of operations at the site:
Start date must be at least three months after the submission of this request. Approval is not guaranteed so please
plan accordingly. If this is the reclassification of an existing active instructional site, additional location or branch
campus, the start date will be the date of final Commission approval and this field should remain blank.
If this request is to relocate an existing site, please provide the address of the current site:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Please sign by typing the names of the individuals identified in the space provided.
By signing and submitting this cover sheet, the individuals below indicate that they are
aware of this Substantive Change request in its entirety and agree to its review by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Signature of person submitting the request:
Signature of ALO (if different from above):
Signature of President or Chief Academic Officer:
Substantive Change Request
Additional Location/Branch Campus
Institutional Accreditation Overview
What is the date for the next regularly scheduled accreditation review
(self study or PRR) by MSCHE?
Is it a self study?
Or a PRR?
Is the institution currently on warning, probation or show cause by MSCHE?
If yes, please review the Commission’s Substantive Change policy
as it pertains to institutions on warning, probation or show cause.
Has the institution been asked to submit any follow-up reports (monitoring,
progress) to the Commission in the last three years?
If yes, please specify in the area at the end of this section the due date
and the topics/Standards that were or will be covered in the report(s).
NO
YES
NO
YES
Has any other regional, national or disciplinary/professional accrediting agency indicated concerns about
the institution or any of its branch campuses, additional locations or other sites
within the last three years?
NO
YES
Is the institution being monitored or reviewed by the US Department
of Education or other state or federal agency for any reason?
NO
YES
If the answer to any of the above questions is “Yes,” please explain fully below in the context of this
substantive change request. These factors will be considered in the review and decision making process.
Approvals
Please indicate any approvals required for the institution to operate this additional location and the dates
approval was received or is expected.
Institutional (e.g., faculty, Board)
Date(s):
System approvals
Date:
State approval
Date:
Other (please specify:
)
Date:
Attach all approvals to the request as Appendix O.
Substantive Change Request
Additional Location/Branch Campus
Overview of Institution’s Approved Additional Locations/Branch Campuses
Does the institution currently operate any approved additional locations?
NO
YES
If YES, please answer the following questions:
How many additional locations are currently open?
Domestic
International
How many of these have opened in the last 12 months? Domestic
International
Does the institution currently operate any approved branch campuses?
NO
YES
If YES, please answer the following questions:
How many branch campuses are currently open?
Domestic
International
How many of these have opened in the last 12 months? Domestic
International
Have you submitted multiple Substantive Change requests for
additional locations/branch campuses at the same time that this
request was submitted?
If yes, how many?
NO
Does the institution plan to open more additional locations/branch campuses
within the next 12 months?
NO
If yes, how many and where are they located (a specific address
is not necessary at this time)?
YES
YES
Substantive Change Request Form
Additional Location/Branch Campus
Please provide succinct and analytical answers to the following questions in the space below
each question. Your answers should not only present information but explain how that
information demonstrates that the institution, including the proposed substantive change, will
continue to comply with all relevant Commission Standards. If any question does not apply to
this request, please indicate “N/A.” If it is necessary to attach documentation, please label each
attachment with the letter that matches the corresponding question. For example, the first
attachment for question B should be labeled “Attachment B1” (even if Attachment A does not
exist); the second attachment for question B should be labeled “Attachment B2,” and so forth.
Please limit attachments to documents that are directly referenced in the text of the request. It is
acceptable to include attachments that are excerpts from existing documents as long as the
information provided fully addresses the question asked.
If the substantive change is the establishment of a branch campus, please ensure that the
answers to the questions below address the issue of the branch’s independence from the main
campus.
A.
What academic program(s) will be offered? Include a summary of the required
program length in credit hours and calendar and curricular sequence. Please note that
any program that is at a new degree level or is a significant departure from those
programs already offered by the institution will require a separate Substantive
Change request.
B.
Provide evidence documenting and explaining the need for the proposed substantive
change and how it aligns with the institution’s mission and goals.
C.
Describe the student population that will be served by the proposed substantive
change. Attach three-year enrollment projections (labeled “Attachment C1,”
“Attachment C2,” etc.).
D.
Provide a financial plan, based on realistic, justifiable assumptions, as well as an
analysis of the impact of the proposed substantive change on the finances of the
institution. Attach three-year financial projections with sufficient detail so the
reviewers can evaluate projected revenue sources and uses of expended resources.
E.
To ensure academic quality, describe faculty needs (including number of full- and
part-time faculty and credentials they must hold) for the program(s) to be offered.
How will the institution ensure that faculty will be qualified to teach their assigned
courses within the curriculum? If any faculty members have already been identified,
attach a list that includes their credentials to teach the courses they will be assigned.
F.
Describe the facilities including classrooms, technology, library, faculty and/or
administrative offices, and student space. Describe how these facilities are
appropriate to the successful operation of the site.
G.
How will the institution provide oversight of the proposed site? What are the
titles/qualifications/credentials of the person(s) assigned by the institution to be
responsible for providing administrative oversight and how will the person(s)
communicate with and be supported by the administration of the institution? Where
do these positions fit in the institution’s organizational structure?
H.
For each academic program to be offered, specify the institutional and program-level
student learning outcomes that will be assessed. If an equivalent academic program is
already being offered by the institution (at the main campus or another site), attach a
summary of the evidence that these learning outcomes are being assessed, and that
assessment results are being used to improve teaching and learning.
I.
If the academic program includes general education requirements, what are the
general education curriculum’s key learning goals and how will they be assessed?
Describe how such plans are equivalent to the assessment of general education at the
main campus.
J.
Describe how students will receive services that are comparable to those offered at
the main campus of the institution. Examples include academic advising and support,
course registration, financial aid, library access, technology support, bookstore,
counseling and health services, career services, parking, accessibility, safety and
developmental education.
K.
Describe how faculty and staff will receive support and training and how they will be
appropriately involved in the institutional governance structure.
L.
If this request involves a contractual agreement for the provision of less than 25% of
any educational program or related service with another organization, please include
the executed agreement as an attachment. If this request involves a contract for the
provision of 25% or more of any educational program or related service, a separate
Substantive Change request must be submitted for that contract.
M.
For international locations, provide or describe any additional issues related to the
site’s location including but not limited to emergency plans, local laws related to
creating and operating the site, language differences, and helping students adjust to a
new culture.
N.
Is there any additional information that will assist the peer reviewers and the
Commission in thoroughly evaluating this request? If so, please specify: