Louisiana State University and A&M College

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  2. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
  3. PART 1. Signatures Attesting to Compliance
  4. PART 2. List of Substantive Changes Approved Since the Last Reaffirmation
  5. PART 3. Institutional Assessment of Compliance
    1. Section 2: Core Requirements
      1. 2.1 Degree-granting Authority
      2. 2.2 Governing Board
      3. 2.3 Chief Executive Officer
      4. 2.4 Institutional Mission
      5. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 2.5 Institutional Effectiveness (Continued)
      6. 2.6 Continuous Operation
      7. 2.7.1 Program Length
        1. 2.7.1 Program Length (Continued)
      8. 2.7.2 Program Content
      9. 2.7.3 General Education
      10. 2.7.4 Course work for Degrees
      11. 2.8 Faculty
      12. 2.9 Learning Resources and Services
      13. 2.10 Student Support Services
        1. 2.10 Student Support Services (Continued)
      14. 2.11.1 Financial Resources
      15. 2.11.2 Physical Resources
    2. Section 3: Comprehensive Standards
      1. 3.1.1 Mission
      2. 3.2.1 CEO evaluation/selection
      3. 3.2.2 Governing board control
      4. 3.2.3 Board conflict of interest
      5. 3.2.4 External Influence
      6. 3.2.5 Board dismissal
      7. 3.2.6 Board/administration distinction
      8. 3.2.7 Organizational structure
      9. 3.2.8 Qualified administrative/academic officers
      10. 3.2.9 Personnel appointment
      11. 3.2.10 Administrative staff evaluations
      12. 3.2.11 Control of intercollegiate athletics
      13. 3.2.12 Fund-raising activities
      14. 3.2.13 Institution-related entities
      15. 3.2.14 Intellectual property rights
      16. 3.3.1 Institutional Effectiveness
        1. 3.3.1.1
          1. 3.3.1.1 (Continued)
        2. 3.3.1.2
        3. 3.3.1.3
          1. 3.3.1.3 (Continued)
        4. 3.3.1.4
          1. 3.3.1.4 (Continued)
        5. 3.3.1.5
          1. 3.3.1.5 (Continued)
      17. 3.4.1 Academic program approval
      18. 3.4.2 Continuing education/service programs
      19. 3.4.3 Admissions policies
      20. 3.4.4 Acceptance of academic credit
      21. 3.4.5 Academic policies
      22. 3.4.6 Practices for awarding credit
      23. 3.4.7 Consortial relationships/contractual agreements
      24. 3.4.8 Noncredit to credit
      25. 3.4.9 Academic support services
        1. 3.4.9 (Continued)
        2. 3.4.9 (Continued - 2)
      26. 3.4.10 Responsibility for curriculum
      27. 3.4.11 Academic program coordination
      28. 3.4.12 Technology use
      29. 3.5.1 General education competencies
      30. 3.5.2 Institutional credits for a degree
      31. 3.5.3 Undergraduate program requirements
      32. 3.5.4 Terminal degrees of faculty
      33. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor
        1. 3.6.1 Post-baccalaureate program rigor (Continued)
      34. 3.6.2 Graduate curriculum
      35. 3.6.3 Institutional credits for a graduate degree
      36. 3.6.4 Post-baccalaureate program requirements
      37. 3.7.1 Faculty competence
      38. 3.7.2 Faculty evaluation
      39. 3.7.3 Faculty development
      40. 3.7.4 Academic freedom
      41. 3.7.5 Faculty role in governance
      42. 3.8.1 Learning/information resources
      43. 3.8.2 Instruction of library use
      44. 3.8.3 Qualified staff
      45. 3.9.1 Student rights
      46. 3.9.2 Student records
      47. 3.9.3 Qualified staff
      48. 3.10.1 Financial Stability
      49. 3.10.2 Financial aid audits
      50. 3.10.3 Control of finances
      51. 3.10.4 Control of sponsored research/external funds
      52. 3.11.1 Control of physical resources
      53. 3.11.2 Institutional environment
      54. 3.11.3 Physical facilities
      55. 3.12.1 Substantive change
      56. 3.13 Policy compliance
        1. 3.13.1 "Accrediting Decisions of Other Agencies"
        2. 3.13.2. "Collaborative Academic Arrangements: Policy and Procedures"
        3. 3.13.3. "Complaint Procedures Against the Commission or Its Accredited Institutions"
        4. 3.13.4. "Reaffirmation of Accreditation and Subsequent Reports"
          1. 3.13.4.a.
          2. 3.13.4.b.
      57. 3.14.1 Publication of accreditation status
      58. 3.13.5. "Separate Accreditation for Units of a Member Institution"
        1. 3.13.5.a.
        2. 3.13.5.b.
    3. Section 4: Federal Requirements
      1. 4.1 Student Achievement
      2. 4.2 Program curriculum
        1. 4.2 Program curriculum (Continued)
      3. 4.3 Publication of policies
      4. 4.4 Program length
        1. 4.4 Program length (Continued)
      5. 4.5 Student complaints
      6. 4.6 Recruitment materials
      7. 4.7 Title IV program responsibilities
      8. 4.8 Distance and correspondence education
        1. 4.8.1
        2. 4.8.2
        3. 4.8.3
      9. 4.9 Definition of credit hours
  6. PART 4. Institutional Summary Form Prepared for Commission Reviews
  7. FOCUSED REPORT
  8. QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN (QEP)

3.12.1 Substantive change

The institution notifies the Commission of changes in accordance with the substantive change policy and, when required, seeks approval prior to the initiation of changes. (Substantive change)

Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) has notified the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) of all substantive changes in accordance with the substantive change policy. LSU established and implemented in September 2013 an internal substantive change policy that establishes the requirements and procedures to ensure that the university notifies SACSCOC of all substantive changes in a timely fashion and, when required, seeks approval from SACSCOC prior to the initiation of those changes [1].

As outlined in the policy and consistent with federal regulations, “substantive changes” are defined as the following:

  • any changes to the university’s mission or objectives;
  • change in legal status, form of control, or ownership of the institution; significant departures in content or method of delivery of courses or programs;
  • addition of courses or programs of study at a degree or credential level;
  • change from clock to credit hours; substantial increase in the number of clock or credit hours awarded for completion of a program;
  • establishment of an off-campus site that offers at least 50 percent of an educational program or of a branch campus;
  • closure of a program, off-campus site, branch campus, or institution;
  • entering into a collaborative academic arrangement (e.g., dual degree or joint degree programs); acquiring another institution or a program or location of another institution;
  • adding a permanent location at a site where the institution is conducting a teach-out program for a closed institution; and
  • entering into a contract by which an entity not eligible for Title IV funding offers 25% or more of one or more of the accredited institution’s programs.

A sample of communications between LSU and SACSCOC is provided to document that the institution fulfills the Commission policy “Substantive Change for Accredited Institutions of the Commission on Colleges.” Frequently, the communication provides status changes in programs as well as information that may or may not be considered substantive change. The table below illustrates recent LSU correspondence with SACSCOC.

TABLE 1. Substantive Change Notifications to SACSCOC and SACSCOC Responses

Date

Submitted to SACSCOC

Purpose of Communication

Response

Received from SACSCOC

Pending

Response to SACSCOC Request (4/8/13) for Additional Information on LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory

Pending

Pending

Dual Degree Programs between LSU A&M and LSU Law School

Pending

June 19, 2013 [2]

Effective Date for Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System and Chancellor of LSU A&M

June 25, 2013 [3]

June 18, 2013 [4]

Dual Degree Program with China

Pending

April 2, 2013 [5]

Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System and Chancellor of LSU A&M

April 2013 [6]

February 13, 2013 [7]

Response to SACSCOC Request (2/5/2012) for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3

February 20, 2013 [8]

January 18, 2013 [9]

Response to SACSCOC Request (12/19/2012) for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3

February 5, 2013 [10]

December 19, 2012 [11]

Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery

June 25, 2013 [12]

December 19, 2012 [13]

LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory

April 8, 2013 [14]

November 28, 2012 [15]

Response to SACSCOC (10/29/2012) Request for Information on Core Requirement 2.3

December 19, 2012 [16]

October 29, 2012 [17]

Departure of Chancellor Michael Martin and Board of Supervisors’ Elimination of the Position of Chancellor of LSU A&M

October 29, 2012 [18]

June 29, 2012 [19]

Course-Sharing Alliance with Mississippi State University, Oklahoma State University, and University of Arkansas

February 2013 [20]

January 6, 2010 [21]

Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery

April 5, 2010 [22]

 

File Attachments:
  1. [1] LSU Policy Statement 116: Reporting Substantive Change to SACSCOC [1] LSU Policy Statement 116: Reporting Substantive Change to SACSCOC
  2. [2] Effective Date for Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System and Chancellor of LSU A&M [2] Effective Date for Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System and Chancellor of LSU A&M
  3. [3] SACSCOC Response re: Effective Date for Appointment [3] SACSCOC Response re: Effective Date for Appointment
  4. [4] Dual Degree Program with China [4] Dual Degree Program with China
  5. [5] Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System [5] Appointment of Dr. F. King Alexander as President of the LSU System
  6. [6] Response from SACSCOC re: President of the LSU System [6] Response from SACSCOC re: President of the LSU System
  7. [7] Response to SACSCOC Request for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3. [7] Response to SACSCOC Request for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3.
  8. [8] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3 [8] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3
  9. [9] Response to SACSCOC Request for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3. [9] Response to SACSCOC Request for Additional Information on Core Requirement 2.3.
  10. [10] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3 [10] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3
  11. [11] Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery [11] Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery
  12. [12] Response from SACSCOC re: Programs offered via Electronic Delivery [12] Response from SACSCOC re: Programs offered via Electronic Delivery
  13. [13] LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory [13] LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory
  14. [14] Response from SACSCOC re: LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory [14] Response from SACSCOC re: LSU A&M’s Degree Program Inventory
  15. [15] Response to SACSCOC Request for Information on Core Requirement 2.3 [15] Response to SACSCOC Request for Information on Core Requirement 2.3
  16. [16] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3 [16] Response from SACSCOC re: CR 2.3
  17. [17] Departure of Chancellor, Board of Supervisors Elimination of the Position of Chancellor of LSU A&M [17] Departure of Chancellor, Board of Supervisors Elimination of the Position of Chancellor of LSU A&M
  18. [18] Request from SACSCOC re: 2.3 [18] Request from SACSCOC re: 2.3
  19. [19] Course-Sharing Alliance [19] Course-Sharing Alliance
  20. [20] Response from SACSCOC re: Course-Sharing Alliance. [20] Response from SACSCOC re: Course-Sharing Alliance.
  21. [21] Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery [21] Intent to Offer Programs via Electronic Delivery
  22. [22] Response from SACSCOC re: Program Offered via Electronic Delivery [22] Response from SACSCOC re: Program Offered via Electronic Delivery
Author: Stephenie Franks
Last modified: 7/1/2015 8:33 AM (EDT)