Reinhardt University SACSCOC Compliance Certification
Comprehensive Standards - Educational Programs
3.4 | Educational Programs | |
3.4.1 | Academic Program Approval | |
3.4.2 | Continuing Education/Service Programs | |
3.4.3 | Admission Policies | |
3.4.4 | Acceptance of Academic Credit | |
3.4.5 | Academic Policies | |
3.4.6 | Practices for Awarding Credit | |
3.4.7 | Consortial Relationships/Contractual Agreements | |
3.4.8 | Noncredit to Credit | |
3.4.9 | Academic Support Services | |
3.4.10 | Responsability for Curriculum | |
3.4.11 | Academic Program Coordination | |
3.4.12 | Technology Use | |
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Part 1 | Signature Attesting Integrity | |
Part 2 | Substantive Changes | |
Part 3 | ||
2 | Core Requirements | |
3 | Comprehensive Standards | |
4 | Federal Requirements | |
Part 4 | Inst. Summary Form |
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Instructions |
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Compliance Reports |
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3.4.11 Academic Program Coordination
For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration. (Academic program coordination) Judgment Compliance
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Narrative
Reinhardt University assigns the primary responsibility for program coordination, curriculum development, and program review to a Program Coordinator, who is a qualified person with expertise in the disciplinary field. [6] Designated program coordinators are appointed for all academic programs, including online and off-campus site programs. Program coordinators report directly to the Dean of the Academic School in which the program is offered. Responsibilities for program review and curriculum development are handled through a participatory and collegial process that involves the School Dean and Program Coordinator in consultation with other persons or groups with governing responsibilities, including the Curriculum Committee, the Faculty Executive Committee, the Faculty Senate, the Provost, and the President. Degree-Granting Programs and Program Coordinators The position of Program Coordinator is described in “Section III: Academic Affairs Structure and Administration” of the Faculty Handbook, which outlines the duties and evaluation of faculty holding such positions. According to this policy, "each degree-granting program shall have a Program Coordinator. Faculty members who are part of such a program shall meet periodically for the purpose of furthering the academic and instructional objectives of the curriculum." Section III of the Faculty Handbook lists the following responsibilities for program coordinators: [3]
In all cases, program coordinators are thoroughly reviewed with regard to their academic credentials and have undergone a national search before their appointment to the faculty. See Faculty Recruitment section in the Faculty Handbook. [9] Faculty who coordinate baccalaureate degrees must minimally hold a master's degree in the discipline. A terminal degree in the program discipline and graduate faculty status are required for all graduate program directors. Table 3.4.11-1 summarizes the qualifications for all undergraduate program coordinators. Program coordinators' credentials are available in the 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster (see Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1) and include advanced degree(s), major(s), university, and other qualifications. An excerpt from the 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster demonstrates that all program coordinators are qualified to teach in their programs. [5] Table 3.4.11-1 Qualifications of RU Undergraduate Program Coordinators
In 2016-17, graduate program coordinators are as follows: Table 3.4.11-2 Qualifications of RU Graduate Program Coordinators
Academic Schools and School Deans Reinhardt University is organized into seven academic schools: The School of Arts and Humanities, the McCamish School of Business, Price School of Education, School of Mathematics and Sciences, School of Performing Arts, School of Nursing, and School of Professional Studies. Graduate programs are housed within the appropriate academic school. As directed by the Faculty Handbook, School Deans work in consultation with Program Coordinators and School faculty members to “develop long-term curriculum plans and plans for new course offerings; submit semester schedules to the registrar; review catalog descriptions for all School programs and courses; after consulting with the Provost, submit proposals for curriculum innovations, changes, or deletions to the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee (APCC); and participate in major/minor program review processes conducted by either the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee or the Provost.” [1] As documented in Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8, experienced deans lead and assist in coordinating the educational, academic, and administrative efforts of each academic school. [2] Table 3.4.11-3 summarizes the education credentials and years of administrative experience for the academic deans. Table 3.4.11-3 Qualifications of RU Academic Deans
Deans are evaluated annually by the Provost and by the faculty in a manner determined by the Faculty Executive Council. [3] Process for Curriculum Changes According to the Faculty Handbook, “the initiator of any proposed curricular changes will discuss the proposal with Program Coordinator and the School Dean well in advance. The Dean will inform the Provost and follow the appropriate channels for securing course approvals.” [7] Proposals are submitted by the Program Coordinator to the School Dean for review and presentation to the School’s full-time faculty members. Once approved at the School level, proposals are submitted to the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee, whose membership consists of appointed representatives distributed “equally among the Schools” and whose responsibilities include “review of the education programs of the University and making recommendations for changes”. Program Coordinators and the Academic Program and Curriculum Committee (APCC) are “charged” with the responsibility of reviewing each proposal for a change. Following approval by the APCC, the proposal is sent to the Faculty Senate for deliberation and vote. [8] All approved curriculum changes are then forwarded by the Chair of the Faculty Senate to the Office of Academic Affairs where the Provost reviews the approved proposals, assuring that curriculum changes are consistent with the University’s mission, vision, and goals. The Provost also assesses whether curriculum proposals constitute a “substantive change” according to the policy enforced by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. If the Provost judges a program change to require approval from SACSCOC under the substantive change rule, the Provost and the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness work with the School Dean and the Program Coordinator from which the proposal emerged to compose a substantive change proposal for submission to SACSCOC. Following approval of substantive changes, Reinhardt University enacts the curricular proposal. Distance Education Program Coordination As with on-campus programs, the primary responsibility for program integrity and coordination of online and off-campus classes/programs falls to the program coordinator. Undergraduate and graduate program coordinators for online and off-campus programs follow the same credentialing, recruiting, appointment, and performance review processes as those used for program coordinators of on-campus, traditionally delivered programs. Distance Education Curricular Development and Review Curricular development and review for online and off-campus programs follows the same processes as those used for traditionally delivered and on-campus programs. All courses, regardless of delivery, must be approved through the University's curriculum processes. Additionally, before an online or hybrid course can be offered, the program coordinator must approve the distance learning course proposal and approve the final content of the online course before it is sent for review by the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate. Program coordinators must also approve the conversion of a traditional program to a fully online program. The proposal for a fully online program must be sent to the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees for approval prior to implementation. See Online MBA Program Proposal as an example. [11] Program coordinators must also approve off-campus course offerings through the regular scheduling process by designating a site for each course. If the program wishes to use a new site, the Provost must approve the new site and determine if a Substantive Change has to be submitted to SACSCOC for site approval. The Provost must also approve any proposal for a fully off-campus delivery of a program.
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Supporting Documents
[2] Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8 [4] Example of Academic Program Assessment Report [5] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster – Program Coordinators [8] Curricular Change Cover Sheet [10] Example of Program Coordinator Performance Review [11] Online MBA Program Proposal
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