SACSCOC requires prior approval before termination of a program. How does this fit in the timeline of notification to THECB regarding phase-outs and denied temporary exemption requests?

Some of our programs have a new 2010 CIP code. How are graduate totals calculated?

If two low-producing programs consolidate how will the 5-year total be determined?

Can a program be retained but put on "inactive" status?

In addition to the low-producing response form, do applied associate degrees that change/consolidate CIP codes need to submit a program revision?

If a program changes or has changed its CIP code without any major curricular changes, does the program get a new start date?

A program has an end date of August 15, 2012. If our summer graduation does not occur until August 20, 2012, will the students be able to receive that degree?

What is an appropriate phase-out timeline?

What if a student does not graduate by the closure date?

Where did the graduate numbers come from?

What if there is an error in the number of reported graduates?

Are academic associate degrees (AA, AS, & AAT programs) being reviewed for productivity?

Can we appeal the staff decisions?

When will the programs given a temporary exemption be evaluated next? What response options will those programs have?

Are the productivity thresholds going to be raised? What are the new levels and when will they be implemented?

SACSCOC requires a teach-out plan to be approved before the institution stops admitting new students. If an institution chooses to phase-out a program or if the program is denied a temporary exemption, the THECB will allow the institution to continue to admit students through the Spring semester following the response to the low-producing report. During that time, the institution must submit a teach-out plan to SACSCOC (Substantive Changes - Procedure Three). SACSCOC recommends including a copy of the THECB response letter in addition to the teach-out plan.

Your institution is expected to notify the Coordinating Board if the final date of the teach-out period is not approved by SACSCOC and provide the revised date.

If the entire program simply changed to a new number, all graduates from the old CIP code are transferred to the new CIP code.
If a program was given a new CIP code and separated from the remaining program, the total graduates for FY06 through FY09 will be the sum of the combined programs. The graduates listed in FY10 are those reported in the individual programs from the CBM009 submission.

The sum of the consolidated programs will be evaluated and presented under the newly consolidated program name and CIP. Similar to the 2010 CIP code changes, the consolidated programs will not be considered "new." The start date of the consolidated program will be that of the oldest program.

 The number of graduates for the consolidated programs will be combined for all five years.

No. The institution will need to either phase out the program or apply for a temporary exemption.

Yes. Submit updates in the usual manner using GIPWE.

No. The program will retain its original start date. The program completers from the previous CIP will be rolled into the new CIP.

Yes. The data for graduates is not submitted until October 2012. CBM 009 includes graduates from Fall 2011, Spring 2012, and Summer 2012. The August 15 date ensures that the program is closed in FY2012 and not FY2013.

Program faculty review the current enrollment first to determine when the last student should graduate in a timely manner. The institution must make a "good faith effort" to assist all affected and that students should be notified and advised as soon as possible so that they can make appropriate plans. (See SACS-COC Policy: Substantive Changes - Procedure Three)

A timely manner can be defined as:
1. Institution's maximum as noted in their catalog, or
2. AAS = 3 years, Bachelor's = 6 years, Master's = 3 years, Doctoral = 6 years

THECB staff will consider extending the final date of the phase-out period for individual students on a case-by-case basis, if the delay in degree completion was due to an unavoidable situation beyond the student's or the institution's control.

The CBM009 reports submitted and certified by each institution. The data for each year comes from the fall, spring and summer graduates. For FY12, the graduates of Fall 2011, Spring 2012 and Summer 2012 as reported in the October 2012 CBM 009 report are added together. Graduates are reported by level (associate, baccaluareate, master's, and doctoral) and CIP code. Therefore, the number of graduates of with different degree types (BA, BS, BBA, etc.) or different degree titles (Chemistry and Broadfield Science-Chemistry) but with the same CIP code will be added together for evaluation.

The number of degrees awarded can be verified on the Texas Higher Education Data - Profile Reports Electronically Produced (PREP) website.

The data comes from the certified CBM009 report. Please contact your Institutional Research department or Registrar to assure that program data are being reported under the correct CIP code.

If the data submitted by the institution is incorrect, the institution is responsible for supplying additional information regarding the number of graduates and identifying all program affected. Certified CBM009 reports will not be adjusted due to incorrect reporting. Future low-producing evaluations of affected programs will be dependent on each situation.

No. The main purpose of academic programs at community colleges is to assist the student in preparing and transferring to a 4-year institution. Academic associate degrees will be evaluated as part of the existing program performance review.

Yes. Should you feel that the denial of a request for temporary exemption or consolidation is not acceptable, an appeals process is available. According to CB Rule Chapter 4, Subchapter R 4.292, institutions may appeal the staff's decision to the Coordinating Board at a quarterly Board meeting. Further information can be found on the main Low-Producing Programs website.

1. Programs with a temporary exemption end date of 8/31/2012 (two years) will be under consideration in the FY2008-FY2012 Annual Report of Low-Producing Programs. Programs with a temporary exemption end date of 8/31/2014 (four years) will be under consideration in the FY2010-FY2014 Annual Report of Low-Producing Programs.

2. Institutions will have the same response options - phase-out, consolidation request, or temporary exemption request.

The current thresholds remain in effect and will not be raised as proposed.

Amendments to Chapter 4 Subchapter R were approved by the Committee on Academic and Workforce Sucess at the September 2012 meeting. However, the rules were not considered at the October 2012 Coordinating Board meeting.

 

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