IV. R. Program Approval and Termination
The Department recognizes the sensitive nature of this responsibility. It also recognizes its obligation to assist the institutions of the state to develop and to maintain programs of high quality and to avoid or reduce unnecessary duplication of programs or services both internal and external to the system.
The offering of a new program in an institution must be based upon a thorough assessment of the need for such a program. That need should be such that there is reasonable assurance that the program will be able to attract students in adequate numbers; the need is continuing and would sustain the program over a period of years; and there is ample evidence of employment opportunities within the school service area, the region, or the state.
Requests for a program to be offered by an institution for the first time must be accompanied by justification for the program. The nature and extent of such justification would differ considerably for programs developed in response to demonstrated need and those developed as pilot or innovative programs or those designed as an incentive for industrial development or to serve emerging technologies.
Board approval of new program requests based upon need shall be based upon such factors as population trends, job opportunities, availability of clinical sites, level of economic development activity, student availability, availability of similar programs, start-up and continuing operational costs, expected salary ranges, the long-term prospects of a viable program, and ability to meet applicable program and institutional accreditation requirements.
A Technical College must be approved by the State Board to offer any instructional program leading to a technical certificate of credit, a diploma, or a degree and must specifically be approved to do so at each campus where it wishes to offer the program. Individual courses and technical certificates of credit not Title IV eligible may be offered at other off-campus locations -- for example, high schools or business sites -- without additional approval, and students attending courses and programs at such locations shall be reported through the campus from which the course or program is being administered.
No new program shall be authorized for enrollment, listed in the catalog of any institution, or publicized in any manner prior to the recommendation of the local Board of Directors and the approval by the State Board.
The termination of authority to offer a program must be recommended by the local Board of Directors and approved by the State Board.
The Commissioner shall develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy.
References
Adopted: May 4, 1989
Code: 04-03-07
Revised: August 6, 2001, August 12, 2004
Approved