POLICY: SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE


Original Adoption: 11/3/2025
Effective Date: 11/3/2025
Last Revision Date: 11/3/2025
Cancellation:
Functional Division: Administrative

PURPOSE
The of this policy is that Northwest Technical College purpose to ensure Louisiana Community
(NLTCC) maintains compliance with the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) regarding the timely identification and
reporting of substantive changes. As candidate for accreditation, NLTCC is committed to
upholding the principles and procedures outlined by SACSCOC to promote institutional integrity
and continuous improvement.

SCOPE
This policy applies to all NLTCC administrative units, faculty, and staff who ARE involved in
actions that may result in substantive changes impacting the institution, its academic programs, or
instructional sites. All members of the or college community are responsible for understanding
and adhering to the requirements of this policy as part of ongoing accreditation efforts.

POLICY

Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, as a candidate for accreditation with
SACSCOC, is dedicated to complying with SACSCOC policies related to substantive change
notification and approval. A substantive change is defined significant modification
as a or expansion in the nature and scope of the college. The U.S. Department of Education requires
SACSCOC to monitor and approve to ensure such changes ongoing quality and compliance.

Examples of Substantive Changes
The following illustrate the types of changes that be considered substantive,
may as summarized from the SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy and Procedures:


Institutional Changes
Substantially changing the established mission or objectives of an institution or its
programs.

  • Changing the legal form, status, of control, or ownership of an institution.
  • Changing the governance of an institution.
  • Merging consolidating two or more institutions or entities.
  • Acquiring another institution location or any program of another institution.
  • Offering courses or programs at a higher or lower degree level than currently
  • authorized.
  • Adding graduate programs at an institution previously offering only undergraduate programs (including programs degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other for-credit credential).
  • Changing the way an institution measures student progress, whether in clock hours or credit hours; semesters, trimesters, or quarters; or time-based or non-time-based methods or measures.
  • Initiating programs by distance education correspondence programs or courses.


Program Changes

  • Adding a program that is a significant departure from the existing method of delivery, from those offered when the institution was last evaluated.
  • Adding an additional method of delivery to currently offered a program.
  • Entering a cooperative academic arrangement.
  • Entering a written arrangement under 34 C.F.R. § 668.5 under which an institution or
  • organization not certified to participate in the title IV Higher Education Act (HEA)
  • programs offers less than 25% (notification) or 25-50% (approval) of one or more of the
  • accredited institution's educational programs.
  • Substantially increasing or decreasing the number of clock hours or credit hours
  • awarded or competencies demonstrated, or an increase in the level of credential awarded, for successful completion of one or more programs.
  • Adding competency-based education programs.
  • Adding each competency-based education by direct program assessment.
  • Adding programs with completion pathways that recognize and accommodate a student’s prior or existing knowledge or competency.
  • Awarding dual or joint academic awards
  • Re-opening a previously closed program.


Off-campus Instructional Site Changes

  • Relocating an institution or an off-campus instructional site of an institution (including a branch campus).
  • Re-opening a previously closed off-campus instructional site.
  • Adding a new off-campus instructional site/additional location including a branch campus.
  • Adding a permanent location at a site at which an institution is conducting a teach-out program for students of another institution that has ceased operating before all students have completed their program of study.
  •  Closing an institution, a program, a method of delivery, an off-campus instructional site, or a program at an off-campus instructional site.

Procedures
NLTCC will follow the processes set forth in the SACSCOC Substantive Change SACSCOC Accredited Institutions Policy, including:

  • Procedures for changes requiring notification and approval prior to implementation,
  • Procedures for changes requiring only notification, and
  • Procedures for closing a program, site, branch campus, or the institution. 

 

Details on the SACSCOC substantive change policy can be found here:
https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/SubstantiveChange.pdf


Compliance
All NLTCC administrators, faculty, and staff are responsible for remaining informed about
potential substantive changes within their areas and promptly reporting such changes to the
accreditation SACSCOC liaison. Failure to comply with this policy may jeopardize the college’s
eligibility for federal financial assistance and its standing in the SACSCOC accreditation
process.