Substantive Change Policy and Procedure
- Purpose: Compliance with the Substantive Change for SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.
- Policy: No employee of Palm Beach State College will implement any change to a College Program, College Campus, College Campus Offerings, Off-site Location, District Board of Trustees Policy or Program Delivery Method that might create a substantive change without the approval of the Substantive Change Review Committee.
- Process for Submission: Faculty and/or staff must submit changes for assessment and/or approval:
- Substantive Change Assessment Form (Form 1). This form must be submitted for each type of change as outlined in the Substantive Change Responsibility Chart.
- The Substantive Change Assessment form will be required of every curriculum action that adds or modifies a program.
- Submission of the form for other types of changes is the responsibility of the initiator of the proposed change (i.e., relocating a program, new facility, or a new campus). The form is submitted to the Substantive Change Review Committee.
- Campus Off-Site Course Approval Web Form - This Web form is submitted for each off-campus site utilized by the campuses. The form is submitted to the Campus Deans for review and approval. Forms must be submitted at least 90 days before the term starts.
- Process for Review: The Substantive Change Assessment Form and the Campus Off-Site Course Approval Forms will be reviewed by the SACSCOC Liaison and appropriate College Leadership on the type of change proposed (Institutional, Program &/or Off-site). Review may include DBOT, President Cabinet, Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Dean of Curriculum, the Deans' Council, the Director of Institutional of Institutional Research & Effectiveness and/or Director of Assessment). The PBSC accreditation liaison may also consult with the SACSCOC institutional representative, and other appropriate staff to determine if the proposed change qualifies as a substantive change.
- Process for Compliance Reporting: Substantive Change reporting obligations identified through the College’s review process will be coordinated by the College’s SACSCOC Liaison. The SACSCOC Liaison serves as the College’s point of contact for Commission staff. All PBSC staff inquiries about SACSCOC Substantive Change Policies and Procedures, The Principles of Accreditation or other accreditation policies and processes are routed through PBSC’s Accreditation Liaison, who will contact Commission staff if necessary.
Note: The type and scope of a substantive change reporting obligation identified by these reviews may impact implementation timelines. No changes may be implemented without the appropriate SACSCOC compliance reporting and approvals.
All pending changes must adhere to SACSCOC’s Advertising and Student Recruitment Policy Statement
Substantive Change Compliance & Reporting Requirements
Substantive Changes
Revised December 2020
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Program Changes
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Prior Approval or Notification Requirement
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SACSCOC Submission Deadlines
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Prospectus Requirement
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Clock-Credit Hour Conversion
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Competency-based Education by Direct Assessment – Approval
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Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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Competency-based Education by Direct Assessment – Notification
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Cooperative Academic Arrangement
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Cooperative Academic Arrangement with Non-Title IV Entities – Approval
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Cooperative Academic Arrangement with Non-Title IV Entities – Notification
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Correspondence Education - Approval
*Approval only required if on restriction
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Correspondence Education- Notification
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Dual Academic Award
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Joint Academic Award with non-SACSCOC Institution(s) or Entity(ies)
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Joint Academic Award with SACSCOC Institution(s)
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Program Changes cont.
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Prior Approval or Notification Requirement
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SACSCOC Submission Deadlines
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Prospectus Requirement
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Method of Delivery – Approval *Approval only required if on restriction
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Method of Delivery – Notification1
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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New Program – Approval1
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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New Program – Notification1
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Program Closure
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Teachout Required
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Program Designed for Prior Learning – Approval
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Program Designed for Prior Learning – Notification
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Program Length Change3
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Program Re-open
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Off-Campus Instructional Site (OCIS) Changes
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Prior Approval or Notification Requirement
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SACSCOC Submission Deadlines
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Prospectus Requirement
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Off-campus Instructional Site Notification 25%-49%
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Off-campus Instructional Site Extensive Review Approval (including branch campus)
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Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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Off-campus Instructional Site Limited Review Approval (including branch campus) 50% or more
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Off-campus Instructional Site Relocation Non-Branch Campus
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Off-campus Instructional Site Relocation Branch Campus
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Off-campus Instructional Site Name or Address Change
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Off-campus Instructional Site Closure
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Teachout Required
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Off-campus Instructional Site Re-open
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Notification
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Institutional Changes
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Prior Approval or Notification Requirement
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SACSCOC Submission Deadlines
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Prospectus Requirement
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Change in Measure of Student Progress to Completion
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Competency-based Education by Course/Credit-based Approach – Institutional-level Approval
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Distance Education – Institutional-level Approval
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Correspondence Education– Institutional-level Approval
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Governance Change
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Notification & Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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Institution Closure
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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No
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Institution Relocation
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Institution, Program, or Location Acquisition
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Notification & Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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Institutional Contingency Teach-out Plan
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Teachout Required
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Level Change
*Additional Requirements and deadlines
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Approval
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Contingent
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No
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Merger / Consolidation
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Notification & Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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Mission Change2
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Approval
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January 1st |July - December|, July 1st |Subsequent Year January - June|
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Yes
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Ownership, Means of Control, or Legal Status Change
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Notification & Approval
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March 15 |June Board Meeting|, September 1st |December Meeting|
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Yes
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1 a significant departure is one in which a program is not closely related to previously approved programs at the institution, site or for the mode of delivery. To determine if a new program is a “significant departure”, it is helpful to consider the following questions:
- What previously approved programs does the institution offer that are closely related to the new program and how are they related?
- Will significant additional equipment or facilities be needed?
- Will significant additional financial resources be needed?
- Will a significant number of new faculty members be required?
- Will a significant number of new courses be required?
- Will significant additional library/learning resources be needed?
2 significant changes in mission are those that lead to a fundamental shift in the nature of the institution, such as an institution that had offered only professional programs deciding to add general education offerings, or a technical college transforming itself into a comprehensive community college.
3 significant changes in program length are those with noticeable impact on the program’s completion time (e.g., increasing a baccalaureate degree from 124 hours to 150 hours).
Off-campus Instructional Site reported to SACSCOC
25-49% of instruction: Off Campus Instructional Sites
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Dual Enrollment at High Schools
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Site Name and Address
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Implementation Date
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Degree
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John I. Leonard High School, 4710 10th Avenue North, Lake Worth, FL 33463
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Fall Term 2012
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Associate in Arts
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Jupiter High School, 500 North Military Trail
Jupiter, FL 33458
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Fall Term 2004
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Associate in Arts; Associate in Science
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Lake Worth Community High School, 1791 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, FL 33460
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Fall Term 2012
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Associate in Arts
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Palm Beach Central High School, 8499 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33411
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Fall Term 2004
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Associate in Arts
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Palm Beach Lakes Community High School
3505 Shiloh Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
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Fall Term 2021
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Associate in Arts; Associate of Science
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Royal Palm Beach High School, 10600 Okeechobee Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
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Fall Term 1999
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Associate in Arts
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Santaluces Community High School
6880 Lawrence Road, Lantana, FL 33462
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Fall Term 2021
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Associate in Arts
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Seminole Ridge High School, 4601 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, Loxahatchee, FL 33470
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Fall Term 2006
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Associate in Arts
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Suncoast High School, 1717 Avenue S, Riviera Beach, FL 33404
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Fall Term 2012
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Associate in Arts
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Wellington High School, 2101 Greenview Shores Boulevard, Wellington, FL 33414
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Fall Term 1998
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Associate in Arts
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CLINICAL SITES
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Bethesda Memorial Hospital, 2815 S. Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
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Fall Term 2002
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Associate in Science - Nursing
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Palms West Hospital, 1301 State Road 80
West Palm Beach, FL 33470
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Spring Term 2005
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Associate in Science - Nursing
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St. Mary’s Hospital, 901 45th. Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33407
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Spring Term 2002
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Associate in Science - Nursing
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>50% of instruction: Off Campus Instructional Sites
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Site Name and Address
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Implementation Date
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Degree
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Belle Glade Campus, 1977 College Drive, Belle Glade, FL 33430
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1972
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Associate in Arts; Associate in Science; Certificates
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City of Riviera Beach Public Works Center (CORB), 1481 West 15th Street, Riviera Beach, FL 33404
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Fall Term 2019
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College Credit Certificate (CCC)
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Boca Raton Campus, 801 Palm Beach State College Drive, Boca Raton, FL 33431
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1971
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Associate in Arts; Associate in Science; Certificates
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Loxahatchee Groves Campus, 15845 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470
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2017
|
Associate in Arts; Associate in Science; Certificates
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Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
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1982
|
Associate in Arts; Associate in Science; Certificates
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Form 1: PBSC Substantive Change Form
This form is located at https://www.pbsc.edu/curriculum-development/create-a-new-program/substantive-change.aspx

Form 2: Web Form for Campus Off-Site Course Approval
This form is located on the College Portal
(https://mypbsc.palmbeachstate.edu/faculty_staff/ →Forms and Utilities → College Forms → Academic Services → Off-Campus Approval)



Enacted July 2007 into Section G from existing policy; revised July 2010; revised July 2019; revised December 2020; revised July 2021