34 C.F.R. § 602.22 Substantive change.
Title 34 - Education
(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; (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)
Title 34: Education
PART 602—THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES
Subpart B—The Criteria for Recognition
Required Operating Policies and Procedures
§ 602.22 Substantive change.
