[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 34, Volume 3]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 34CFR602.22]



[Page 204-205]

 

                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION

 

 CHAPTER VI--OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY 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



[[Page 205]]



    (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;

    (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)