Substantive Change

Dates of scheduled meetings for the ACCJC Committee on Substantive Change for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters are:

The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) supports all efforts to continuously improve the quality of learning at our member institutions. As such, change is constant. Defined by federal regulations, an institutional change that significantly affects quality, mission, scope, or control is considered substantive. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulations require that accrediting agencies have policies and procedures that ensure that any substantive changes to the institution, its educational mission, or programs do not adversely affect the capacity of the institution to continue to meet Eligibility Requirements, Accreditation Standards, and Commission policies. Federal law mandates that accrediting agencies require institutions to obtain accreditor approval of a substantive change before it is included in the scope of the accreditation granted to the institution (34 CFR §602.22).

The ACCJC is committed to supporting our member institutions’ efforts to ensure quality in higher learning. Specifics about the categories of changes, as well as the steps in the substantive change process, can be found in the ACCJC’s Substantive Change Policy and Substantive Change Manual. Links to both are provided below. The broad classifications are as follows:

• Change in Mission, Objectives, Scope, or Name of the Institution
• Change in the Nature of the Constituency Served
• Change in the Location or Geographic Area Served
• Addition of a New Location or Branch Campus
• Change in the Control or Legal Status of the Institution
• Change in Programs or their Mode of Delivery that Represents a Significant Departure from Current Practice
• Change in How Student Progress is Measured
• Implementation of a Baccalaureate Degree Program
• Implementation of Direct Assessment
• Contractual Relationship with a Non-Accredited Organization

To begin this process, the institution’s ALO must complete the Substantive Change Inquiry Form. Within 5 business days following the receipt of an inquiry, ACCJC staff will determine and notify the institution whether the proposed change can be affirmed through administrative approval, or requires review and approval from the ACCJC Substantive Change Committee.

If a change is determined to be substantive and requires approval from the ACCJC Substantive Change Committee, the ALO must complete a full, targeted, up-to-date application provided upon submission of the inquiry form. The institution will be invoiced for the corresponding fee upon submission of the completed application. Applications and corresponding fees must be received at least 30 days before a meeting to be reviewed for approval. Some types of applications can receive Administrative Approval from senior staff (see Substantive Change Manual for more information). There is no fee for these types of approvals. Upcoming meeting dates by semester are listed above.

Please email Dr. Kevin Bontenbal at substantivechange@accjc.org regarding questions about the Substantive Change process.

On behalf of the Commission, thank you for your continued commitment to accreditation and academic quality in higher education.