[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR602.22]

[Page 206-207]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 602--THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart B--The Criteria for Recognition
 
Sec. 602.22  Substantive change.

    (a) If the agency accredits institutions, it must maintain adequate 
substantive change policies that ensure that any substantive change to 
the educational mission, program, or programs of an institution after 
the agency has accredited or preaccredited the institution does not 
adversely affect the capacity of the institution to continue to meet the 
agency's standards. The agency meets this requirement if--
    (1) The agency requires the institution to obtain the agency's 
approval of the substantive change before the agency includes the change 
in the scope of accreditation or preaccreditation it previously granted 
to the institution; and
    (2) The agency's definition of substantive change includes at least 
the following types of change:
    (i) Any change in the established mission or objectives of the 
institution.
    (ii) Any change in the legal status, form of control, or ownership 
of the institution.
    (iii) The addition of courses or programs that represent a 
significant departure, in either content or method of delivery, from 
those that were offered when the agency last evaluated the institution.
    (iv) The addition of courses or programs at a degree or credential 
level above that which is included in the institution's current 
accreditation or preaccreditation.
    (v) A change from clock hours to credit hours.
    (vi) A substantial increase in the number of clock or credit hours 
awarded for successful completion of a program.
    (vii) The establishment of an additional location geographically 
apart from the main campus at which the institution offers at least 50 
percent of an educational program.
    (b) The agency may determine the procedures it uses to grant prior 
approval of the substantive change. Except as provided in paragraph (c) 
of this section, these may, but need not, require a visit by the agency.
    (c) If the agency's accreditation of an institution enables the 
institution to seek eligibility to participate in Title IV, HEA 
programs, the agency's procedures for the approval of an additional 
location described in paragraph (a)(2)(vii) of this section must 
determine if the institution has the fiscal and administrative capacity 
to operate the additional location. In addition, the agency's procedures 
must include--
    (1) A visit, within six months, to each additional location the 
institution establishes, if the institution--
    (i) Has a total of three or fewer additional locations;
    (ii) Has not demonstrated, to the agency's satisfaction, that it has 
a proven record of effective educational oversight of additional 
locations; or
    (iii) Has been placed on warning, probation, or show cause by the 
agency or is subject to some limitation by the agency on its 
accreditation or preaccreditation status;

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    (2) An effective mechanism for conducting, at reasonable intervals, 
visits to additional locations of institutions that operate more than 
three additional locations; and
    (3) An effective mechanism, which may, at the agency's discretion, 
include visits to additional locations, for ensuring that accredited and 
preaccredited institutions that experience rapid growth in the number of 
additional locations maintain educational quality.
    (d) The purpose of the visits described in paragraph (c) of this 
section is to verify that the additional location has the personnel, 
facilities, and resources it claimed to have in its application to the 
agency for approval of the additional location.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)