Office of Institutional Effectiveness

• Completing Your 23-24 Annual IE Report within Nuventive (Combined Checklist and Instructions)
• User Manual – Nuventive Improvement Platform
• Reviewer Manual – Nuventive Improvement Platform

All program and curricular changes listed below require internal approvals that are facilitated through CourseLeaf, which opens each fall term and closes in the winter.

Is this a new degree program request?

• The request will require A&M University System and Texas Higher Education Coordination Board (THECB) approvals, and may also require SACSCOC notification or approval.

Is this a change to an existing degree program?

• The request will often require A&M University System and THECB approval, and if it is considered a substantive change, SACSCOC approval or notification.
• Contact Alison Soeder to request the Substantive Change Determination Form to have a determination made on if the proposed change represents this level of change.

Is this a change to the CIP code of an existing degree program?

• The request will require A&M University System and THECB approvals, as long as the change does not significantly (or otherwise) change the focus of the degree or the target students.
• In some instances, the request may require a new program proposal.
• Contact Alison Soeder for more information and assistance with this process.

Is this an increase or decrease of the minimum semester credit hour (SCH) requirement of a program?

• Depending on the extent of the change, a change in SCH requires System approval and THECB approval or notification.
• If a change in program length represents an increase or decrease in 25% or more of the program credit hours AND the students' expected time to completion increases or decreases by more than one term, a prospectus must be submitted and SACSCOC approval received. This requirement for SACSCOC applies equally to degrees, diplomas, certificates, or other for-credit credentials.

Is this a request to create a new stand-alone certificate program?

• If it is an undergraduate certificate over 20 SCH or a graduate certificate over 15 SCH, it will require A&M University System and THECB approval; if it represents a substantive change, it may require SACSCOC approval.
• Contact Alison Soeder to request the Substantive Change Determination form.

30 Day Notification Requirement for New Degree and Certificate Requests:

• Before a new program or certificate may be proposed, an institution must notify other public institutions within a 50-mile radius of the teaching site of the proposal at least 30 days prior to submitting it to THECB. Notification may be accomplished through a letter or email to the chief academic officers of the institutions. If any objections are received, the institution making the request must resolve those objections. If the institution cannot resolve the objections, then it may ask the Assistant Commissioner of the Academic Quality and Workforce Division to mediate the dispute. Once any objections have been resolved, the A&M University System will submit the proposal to the Coordinating Board along with documentation showing that notification was given to nearby public institutions and that the objections, if any, were resolved. The Department of Institutional Effectiveness and Research and Provost's Office will coordinate this notification and handle any objections received.

Forms

• Contact Alison Soeder to request relevant forms.

What methods of delivery are available for academic programs?

• Academic programs may be offered face-to-face, through distance education (either online or face-to-face at an off-campus location), or through competency-based education. For more information about required approvals/notifications for methods of delivery, see below.

What definitions and restrictions apply to the available online modalities?

• A Hybrid/Blended Online program is a program in which a majority, more than 50% but less than 85%, of a program is offered online, with students and faculty not in the same place. Some face-to-face elements that remain may be labs, seminars, exams, etc.
• A Fully Online program is a program in which 86%-99% of a program is offered online, with students and faculty not in the same place. Some face-to-face elements that remain may be labs, seminars, exams, etc. Though a student may design their course schedule so that they are only taking online course sections, face-to-face elements still remain available. International, F1 and M1 visa, students may face some restrictions enrolling in these programs.
• 100% Online programs are programs that have no face-to-face elements; a student will not be able to set foot in a physical location to complete any course requirements. International, F1 and M1 visa, students are unable to enroll in these programs.

Is this a request to propose a new program that will be offered face-to-face on the main campus as (online 100% online, fully online, or hybrid/blended online), face-to-face at an off-site instructional location or, in a competency-based education method of delivery?

• In the new program proposal paperwork that will be completed and submitted to the A&M University System and THECB, clearly state at which location(s) and/or in which online modality the program will be offered.
• If the new program is a substantive change, clearly state at which locations and/or in which online modality the program will be offered
• SACSCOC approval notification is still required for each new method of delivery.
• If you are proposing a new program that will only be offered face-to-face at the main campus in Commerce, TX, refer to the Degrees and Certificates bar above.

Is this a request to offer an existing program, which has already been approved for Distance Education, at an additional approved off-campus location or increased online modality

• If more than 50% of the program will be offered at a new, approved off-site location or in an online modality (hybrid/blended, fully, 100% online) the request requires System approval and THECB notification. SACSCOC notification is required for each new method of delivery added for an approved degree program.
• If the additional off-site location is a Multi-Institutional Teaching Center (MITC), MITC board approval must be obtained, too. Meeting minutes in which the program is approved to be offered at the MITC must be sent to Alison Soeder and kept on file.
• If the program is already approved for online delivery and you want to increase the percent offered online (for instance, the program is already approved as a hybrid/blending online program but the college wants to offer the program 100% online, only) this will required notification to the A&M System and THECB.
• Due to the nature of this programmatic change, the only internal approvals required are those of the college dean, program department head, and president. This change process does not need to be completed through CourseLeaf, though programs are welcome to submit and complete it through CourseLeaf if they would prefer. The THECB Online Delivery Certification form will need to be completed and submitted.
• Contact Alison Soeder for more information and assistance with this process.

Is this a request to propose an existing program online?

• When 50% or more of a program is offered online, System approval must be obtained and THECB notification provided; SACSCOC approval is required if the program is not identical to that offered on-campus.
• THECB defines a fully online program as one which may have mandatory face-to-face courses totaling no more than 15 percent of the total curriculum.

Is this a request to offer part of a program off-campus or online?

• 50% or more of a program requires System approval and THECB notification.

50-mile Notification Requirements:

• Programs that are to be delivered 50% or more at an approved off-campus instructional site, require prior notification to all institutions of higher education, including Higher Education Centers, within a 50-mile radius of the proposed delivery site, with a copy of such notification being provided to System and THECB. Notification is required at least 60 days prior to the proposed program implementation date. Once notified, institutions have 30 days to file an objection. Objections are made via email to the offering institution, with copies to the applicable THECB staff. The Department of Institutional Effectiveness and Research and the Provost’s Office will coordinate this notification and handle any objections received. Faculty are not required to compose or send out this notification.

Is this a request to close a program, either at the main campus in Commerce, TX, at an off-site instructional location, or online?

• Closing a program or program offering requires internal approval (CourseLeaf) as well as external approval (A&M University System, THECB, SACSCOC).
• Approval of program closure is required if the program is closed at all locations and in all modalities as well as if the program were to be closed at only one location or in one modality but continues to be offered at other locations or in other modalities. The closure of each program modality requires the submission of a SACSCOC teach-out plan, a SACSCOC substantive change cover sheet, and THECB notification.
• Contact Alison Soeder for more information and assistance with this process.

Forms

• Contact Alison Soeder to request relevant forms. Forms and guidance on completing them will be provided following internal processes.

Administrative changes involve the creation of or changes to an academic administrative unit. Administrative changes include:

• The creation of new administrative units – colleges, schools, divisions, departments.
• Changes to existing administrative units such as a name change, consolidation of existing units, or movement of a program into another unit.

Note: All administrative change requests require submission through System office and notification of THECB.

Is this a change to the name of a college?

• Requires Board of Regents approval.

Is this a request to create a new college?

• Requires Board of Regents approval.

Is this a request to consolidate a college?

• Requires Board of Regents approval.

Is this a request to eliminate a college?

• Requires Board of Regents approval.

Is this a request to change the name of a department?

• Requires approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs but does not require BOR approval.

Is this a request to move an existing degree program(s) to another department or college?

• Requires approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs but does not require BOR approval.

Is this a request to move a department to another college?

• Requires approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs but does not require BOR approval.

Is this a request to create a new department?

• Requires approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs but does not require BOR approval.

Is this a request to create another type of academic unit (e.g. a school)?

• Requires approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs but does not require BOR approval.

Exception: If a new administrative unit is to be created that offers programs that are not closely related to currently approved programs at the institution, it requires Board of Regents approval.

Forms

• Access the forms needed

• When considering the creation of a center or institute, please refer to A&M-Commerce procedure 11.02.99.R0.01 Centers and Institutes.
• System Requirements for a New Center or Institute

• THECB Program Inventory
• List of Off-Site Degree Programs
• List of Online Degree Programs

University and A&M System Policies:

• 03.02.99.R0.01 Academic Approval Procedure for Programs
• 03.02.99.R0.03 Programmatic and Administrative Substantive Change Approvals Process (SACSCOC)
• 11.02 Creation of Centers and Institutes
• 11.10 Academic Program Requests

Presented By Academic Impressions:

• Creating a Business Case for New Academic Programs
• Resources for Creating a Business Case for New Academic Programs

Presented by SACSCOC:

• Determining Significant Departure
• What Not to Report
• How to Write a Prospectus
• Managing Off-campus Instructional Sites
• Dual Enrollment and Instructional Sites

University's Mission

Educate. Discover. Achieve.

University's Vision

Texas A&M University-Commerce strives to

• TRANSFORM LIVES by providing an excellent, relevant and personalized education to all learners
• ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE to solve contemporary problems
• FOSTER COLLABORATION where all are valued

The Office of the President provides information regarding the Texas A&M University-Commerce Strategic Plan.

Assessment

• Each educational program and support unit at A&M-Commerce participates in an annual assessments for institutional effectiveness. The Department of Institutional Effectiveness and Research provides resources, training, and support for faculty and staff engaging in assessment.

IE Leadership Team

• The Institutional Effectiveness Leadership Team (IELT) has been charged to work directly with the IE Authors of their respective colleges, schools, and divisions. The efforts of the representatives on the IELT ensure that documentation is submitted at the appropriate times so that program student learning outcomes and support unit goals are annually assessed and any modifications are based on the results of those assessments. This effort ensures we accomplish our mission as a university and that we strive to provide the optimal educational experience for every student.

View our assessment resources.