Substantive Change

This page provides a link to the ACCJC 2008 Substantive Change Manual to guide institutions in developing substantive change proposals. In addition, basic information for substantive change is available here, as is the letter announcing the new Substantive Change fee which goes into effect January 2009, sent by the Commission President, Dr. Barbara A. Beno on October 8th 2008.

2009-2010 ACCJC Committee on Substantive Change

Substantive Change Proposal Instructions and 2009-2010 Meeting Dates

With new federally funded initiatives on the horizon there will be opportunities for member institutions to develop new programs, new partnerships with business and industry, new locations or expansion of distance learning and courses/programs. These may require Substantive Change proposals to the Commission for quality assurance and to maintain Title IV financial aid funds for students of the institution. A Substantive Change proposal will also be required if a student is able to earn more than 50 percent of a program, degree, or certificate, including general education requirements, through a mode of distance or a mode of electronic delivery.

Dates of scheduled meetings for the ACCJC Committee on Substantive Change for the 2009-2010 year are September 17, October 16 and November 20, 2009; February 19, March 12, April 16, May 7 and May 21, 2010.

Commission resources include:

• Substantive Change Policy;
• Policy on Distance Learning, Including Electronically Mediated Learning;
• Contractual Relationships with Non-Regionally Accredited Organizations, Institutions with Related Entities; and,
• Interregional Policies on the Accreditation of Institutions Operating Across Regions.

In addition, the ACCJC Substantive Change Manual is designed to assist institutions as they consider substantive changes and to guide the institution in developing proposals demonstrating evidence that the institution will continue to meet Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards. The ACCJC Distance Learning Manual provides additional assistance with substantive changes related to distance learning and electronically mediated instruction.  ACCJC Staff assigned to facilitate and assist with the substantive change process is Dr. Susan B. Clifford, sclifford@accjc.org.