Substantive Change

Under the authority of and delegated duties articulated in federal regulation, in addition to regular five-year and ten-year comprehensive evaluations, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) requires its member institutions to provide notice of or seek pre-approval for activities that result in a substantive change to the institution’s current accredited status. Substantive change entails a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. As defined by federal regulation, substantive Change includes high-impact, high-risk changes, and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services.

In accordance with UCF Policy 4-505.2, the Academic Program Quality unit maintains a list of activities that can trigger the need for substantive change reporting. The list provided here does not intend to replace or supersede HLC policy but rather, serves to simplify the HLC reporting requirements for internal audiences. UCF policy requires that the person initiating an action in the list or the unit head with oversight for the associated activity must notify the Accreditation Liaison Officer or designee in Academic Program Quality as soon as the change is considered. Typically, this would occur nine to twelve months in advance of implementing the possible change. Failure to proactively detect and report such changes can result in serious consequences for the entire institution, including sanctions by HLC and/or the U.S. Department of Education.

Please direct all questions concerning substantive change to the Accreditation Liaison Officer and Senior Vice Provost Tim Letzring or to a member of the Academic Program Quality team that operates under his oversight.

Resources

For more information, including a detailed explanation of the substantive change process, see the following university and HLC policies and other resources:

• UCF Policy 4-505.2 Reporting of Substantive Change
• HLC Policy INST.G.10.010, Substantive Change
• HLC Policy INST.G.10.020, Review of Substantive Change
• HLC Policy INST.G.10.030, Monitoring of Substantive Change
• HLC Policy INST.G.20.010, Change of Control, Structure or Organization
• HLC Policy INST.G.20.020, Processes for Seeking Approval of Change of Control, Structure or Organization
• HLC Policy INST.G.20.030, Monitoring Related to Change of Control, Structure or Organization
• HLC Policy FDCR.B.10.010, HLC Approval of Institutional Teach-Out Arrangements
• HLC Substantive Change Process

Contacts