Substantive Change Policy

What is substantive change?

A substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Substantive change includes high-impact, high-risk changes and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services. Some examples of a substantive change are eliminating an academic degree program or offering coursework at an off-site location. To see Auburn University’s Substantive Change Reporting Requirements Policy, please click here

Why is this policy important and how might it impact AU?

Failure to comply with SACSCOC’s Substantive Change Policy and Procedures, could put Auburn University’s accreditation status at risk. An unreported substantive change may trigger a review of Auburn’s substantive change policy and procedures by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. Non-compliance could also subject Auburn to monitoring, sanction, or removal from membership. Failure to secure approval, if required, of a substantive change involving programs or locations that qualify for Title IV federal funding may place Auburn in jeopardy with the U.S. Department of Education; in these instances, sanctions could include loss of future federal funding or reimbursement of past funds related to the unreported substantive change.

Substantive Change Reporting Procedures

Click here for a full list of substantive change definitions.

Curricular/Instructional Changes

Type of Substantive Change Action Required Review within SACSCOC Timeline for Submission Documents Required Timeline to Notify SACSCOC Liaison
New Program (50% or more) Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Joint Academic Award - non-SACSCOC Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Program Length Change (+-25%) Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Program Closure Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Teach-Out Plan 10 months prior to implementation
Dual Academic Award Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Cooperative Academic Agreement Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Joint Academic Award - SACSCOC Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Method of Delivery of Existing Program Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
New program (25-49% new content) Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Program Designed for Prior Learning Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Program Reopening (within 5 years) Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation

Off-Campus Instructional Site/Additional Location Changes

Type of Substantive Change Action Required Review within SACSCOC Timeline for Submission Documents Required Timeline to Notify SACSCOC Liaison
New Off-Campus Instructional Site (50% or more) Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Off-Campus Instructional Site Closure Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
New Off-Campus Instructional Site (25-49%) Approval   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Off-Campus Instructional Site Name or Address Change Approval   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Off-Campus Instructional Site Relocation Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation
Off-Campus Instructional Site Reopen Notification   Any time before implementation Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 3 months prior to implementation

Institutional Changes

Type of Substantive Change Action Required Review within SACSCOC Timeline for Submission Documents Required Timeline to Notify SACSCOC Liaison
Institutional Contingency Teach-Out Plan Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Mission Change Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Change in Measure of Student Progress to Completion Approval Executive Council January 1 or July 1* Prospectus 10 months prior to implementation
Governance Change Notification + Approval Board of Trustees January 1 or July 1* Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 10 months prior to implementation
Institution, Program, or Location Acquision Notification + Approval Board of Trustees January 1 or July 1* Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 10 months prior to implementation
Merger/Consolidation Notification + Approval Board of Trustees January 1 or July 1* Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 10 months prior to implementation
Ownership, Means of Control, or Legal Status Change Notification + Approval Board of Trustees January 1 or July 1* Notification and SACSCOC required documentation 10 months prior to implementation
** January 1 for changes to be implemented July 1 through December 31 of the same calendar year. July 1 for changes to be implemented January 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year. **

Substantive Change FAQs and other resources

Substantive Change FAQs and other resources

Last updated: November 28, 2023