Section 1030.60 Degree Authorization under the 1961 Act

Section 1030

Section 1030.60  Degree

Authorization under the 1961 Act

a)         Criteria for New Certificate and Degree Programs

The Board

requires that a non-public or out-of-state public institution demonstrate that

it can maintain and operate a new degree program that meets the standard

criteria for those degree programs. The following standard criteria are

designed to measure the appropriateness of the stated educational objectives to

the certificate or degree programs of a given institution and the extent to

which suitable and proper processes have been developed for meeting those

objectives:

1)         All rules, criteria, and procedures defined in Section 1030.30

shall apply.

2)         The objectives of the certificate or degree program must be

consistent with what the degree program title implies.

3)         The requested certificate or degree program shall be congruent

with the purpose, goals, objectives and mission of the institution.

4)         The caliber and content of the curriculum shall assure that

the stated certificate or degree objectives for which the program is offered

will be achieved.

5)         The institution shall have adequate and suitable space,

equipment and instructional materials to support institutional programs.

6)         The education, experience and other qualifications of

directors, administrators, supervisors and instructors shall ensure that the

students will receive education consistent with the objectives of the program.

7)         The information the institution provides for students and the

public shall accurately describe the programs offered, program objectives,

length of program, schedule of tuition, fees, and all other charges and

expenses necessary for completion of the course of study, cancellation and

refund policies, and such other material facts concerning the institution and

the program or course of instruction as are likely to affect the decision of

the student to enroll

lic shall accurately describe the programs offered, program objectives,

length of program, schedule of tuition, fees, and all other charges and

expenses necessary for completion of the course of study, cancellation and

refund policies, and such other material facts concerning the institution and

the program or course of instruction as are likely to affect the decision of

the student to enroll. This information, including any enrollment agreements or

similar agreements, shall be available to prospective students prior to

enrollment.

8)         Fiscal and personnel resources shall be sufficient to permit

the institution to meet obligations to continuing programs while assuming

additional resource responsibilities for the new certificate or degree program.

9)         The faculty, staff and instructors of the institution shall be

of good professional reputation and character.

b)         Procedures for Obtaining Authority to Award One or More New Certificates

and/or Degrees

The Board

shall approve all new certificate and degree programs in institutions described

in Section 1030.10(b) that are not otherwise exempted in Section 1030.10(c).  Institutions

authorized to offer a program at a site within a region are not required to

obtain additional approval to offer the same certificate or degree at a

different site within the same region.  Following is a description of the steps

in the approval process:

1)         New Certificate or Degree Program Request

A)        The Chief Executive Officer of the institution seeking approval

of a new certificate or degree program in the State of Illinois should make

this intention known by completing a notice of intent on the form provided by

the Board prior to submission of the request for approval. The notice of intent

shall include the certificate or degree and program name, region where located,

description of the program, demographics of the intended students, estimated

enrollment, and contact person

gree program in the State of Illinois should make

this intention known by completing a notice of intent on the form provided by

the Board prior to submission of the request for approval. The notice of intent

shall include the certificate or degree and program name, region where located,

description of the program, demographics of the intended students, estimated

enrollment, and contact person.  Notices of Intent shall be publicly posted by

the Board for no less than 30 days before Board action on the application and

are active for one year after the public posting period expires.

B)        The institution requesting permission to offer a new certificate

or degree program will complete an application provided by the Board.

C)        Information to be provided by the institution shall include:

i)          program titles and descriptions;

ii)         program objectives;

iii)        curriculum;

iv)        relationship of new programs to existing programs;

v)         faculty;

vi)        recommendation of internal governance bodies;

vii)       facilities;

viii)      finances; and

ix)        program publicity information.

2)         Governing Board Approval

The application

shall be approved by the institution's governing board prior to submission to

the Board.

3)         Submission of the Application

Applications may

be submitted to the Board at any time.

4)         Board Staff Analysis

Following

receipt of the application, Board staff will review and analyze the application

and documentation submitted.

5)         Additional Documentation and Site Visit

In the case of

a proposed new certificate or degree program for which Board staff determines

it is necessary to verify or supplement the information supplied in the

application, the staff may request additional written documentation and/or

arrange for a site visit

oard staff will review and analyze the application

and documentation submitted.

5)         Additional Documentation and Site Visit

In the case of

a proposed new certificate or degree program for which Board staff determines

it is necessary to verify or supplement the information supplied in the

application, the staff may request additional written documentation and/or

arrange for a site visit.

6)         Outside Consultants

The Executive

Director of the Board, at his or her discretion, may utilize the services of

outside consultants to assist the staff in a site visit and in the evaluation

of the documentation submitted.

7)         Staff Report

Following the

staff analysis, Board staff will summarize its findings and develop a

recommendation to the Board regarding the new certificate or degree program

request. This recommendation will be shared with the applicant. This

recommendation will be one of the following:

A)        That the program be approved to admit students, with the

appropriate certificates and/or degrees being awarded upon program completion, but

no sooner than one year after the approval date; or

B)        That the certificate or degree authority requested not be

granted.

8)         Staff Recommendations to the Board

The Executive

Director of the Board will submit the staff recommendation for action to the

Board at a regular meeting. The Chief Executive Officer of the institution, or a

designee, will be invited to attend and may be asked to respond to Board

questions. In the event the staff recommendation is negative, the applicant

shall be given an opportunity to respond in writing. This response shall be

transmitted to the Board at the same time as the staff recommendation.

9)         Board Action

Following the

Board's decision to approve or deny the certificate or degree-granting request,

a letter signifying the action will be sent from the Executive Director of the

Board to the Chief Executive Officer of the institution

ll be given an opportunity to respond in writing. This response shall be

transmitted to the Board at the same time as the staff recommendation.

9)         Board Action

Following the

Board's decision to approve or deny the certificate or degree-granting request,

a letter signifying the action will be sent from the Executive Director of the

Board to the Chief Executive Officer of the institution. A letter of approval

will serve as official authorization for the institution to award the stated certificates

and/or degrees.

10)         Awarding Certificates and Degrees

Institutions

shall not award new degrees until one year after authorization by the Board to

do so.

11)         New Application

Any

institution denied approval to award a new certificate or degree must file a

new application in order to be given subsequent consideration for approval.

12)         Advertising of Certificate and/or Degree Programs

A)        An

institution may state that it is approved or authorized to award a certificate

or degree in the State of Illinois only after that approval has been officially

granted and received in writing from the Board.

B)        An

institution shall not advertise or state in any manner that it is

"accredited" by the Board to award certificates and/or degrees.

C)        No

institution shall publish or otherwise communicate to prospective students,

faculty, staff or the public misleading or erroneous information about the certificate-

or degree-granting status of a given institution.

13)         No Program Changes for the First Year

Institutions applying after December 15, 2008 shall not deviate from the

approved plan for one year after the date of the letter of approval.

14)         Institutions Exempt from Approval

Institutions

offering a previously authorized certificate or degree program at another site

within the same region shall not be required to apply for additional Board

approval.