About the New Program Application
A New Program Application must be submitted and approved prior to the initiation, enrollment, or advertising of any new program. A new program is:
1. one that has never been offered by the institution;
2. one that has never been offered at the campus where it is to be initiated; or
3. an existing program that has been revised:
a) to award a higher academic credential than previously approved by ACICS
(e.g., diploma to degree); (Program Application Part III -
TRANSITION PLAN TO ADD A HIGHER CREDENTIAL)
b) to change 25% or more of the previously approved contact hours, credits, curriculum
content (courses offered), or program length of a previously approved program;
c) to reflect a change in academic measurement from clock hours to credit hours or vice versa,
or a change from quarter to trimester or semester credits or vice versa; or
d) to reflect any additions or deletions of courses offered that may change the overall objective
of a currently approved program.
All submissions must use the most current version of the application. Previous versions of the new program application will not be accepted.
Please be sure to include contact information for all parties involved in the program application.
Back to Top
Payment Information
Please note that all outstanding invoices must be paid before purchasing an application. To view outstanding orders, institutions should login to the ACICS member website and go to MY ACCOUNTS/MYORDERS.
For a complete list of fees, view the Schedule of Fees. For payment by check follow the steps outlined in the instructions for Submitting Payment via Check.
Back to Top
Application Process
RESPONSIBLE
PARTY
|
ACTION STEP
|
Institution
|
STEP 1 - Download and complete all required documents:
Download templates and prepare the following documents for submission in Step 3:
|
Institution
|
STEP 2 - Purchase the New Program application
See Instructions for Purchasing an Application
Submission of identical programs to multiple locations: (see fee schedule): If an identical new program is submitted for multiple locations at the same time, see the schedule of fees. A complete application must be submitted for each location using their unique. ACICS ID. ACICS staff will verify uniformity of identical programs submitted. All duplicate applications must be submitted within three (3) business days.
|
Institution
|
STEP 3 - Upload and submit documents listed in Step 1
See Instructions for Uploading Documents
IMPORTANT: Completed applications should be submitted to the Council office at least 45 business days before the institution plans to advertise recruit, enroll, or start classes in the program. The program must be approved before any of these activities can occur.
|
ACICS
|
STEP 4 - Review
Staff will review documentation and determine when the program will be reviewed on-site.
All applications for a new program offered at a higher credential than currently awarded at the campus in question require a Readiness Visit to the institution before Council approval for the program is granted. (See Step 3)
Please note that an application for a new program delivered either partially or 100% through a non-traditional format requires the submission of a response to Appendix H of the Accreditation Criteria. (See Narrative)
|
ACICS
|
STEP 5 - Notification
Institutions will receive a Letter of Approval from Council Staff via e-mail.
Programs that are considered to be in scope will be reviewed during the next regularly scheduled new grant visit.
Programs that are considered to be out of scope will be scheduled for a new program visit approximately a year following the visit start date. (Step 6- are applicable)
Programs being initiated at a higher credential level will be scheduled for a readiness visit approximately 6 months following the visit start date (Step 6 - are applicable)
|
ACICS/Institution
|
STEP 6 - Schedule Visit
Institutions will be contacted by Council staff approximately two months prior to the first month of the visit cycle stated in your Letter of Approval (Step 5).
|
ACICS/Institution
|
STEP 7 - New Program Visit or Readiness Visit
Visits will include Council Staff and a qualified program specialist for each program identified in the Letter of Approval.
|
Institution
|
STEP 8 - Submit Payment for Visit
Institutions will receive a manual invoice sent via U.S. Postal service. In addition, institutions view any outstanding invoices via their ACICS login - MYORDERS and pay via credit card.
|
ACICS/Institution
|
Step 9 - Visit Report
A copy of the team visit report including detailed response instructions will be sent by Council Staff to the institution via email approximately two weeks following the visit. Team visit reports will include a cover letter notifying institutions of the response due date.
|
Institution
|
STEP 10 - Visit Response
Institutional responses must address each area of non-compliance identified in the team visit report. Team visit response instructions
|
ACICS
|
STEP 11 - Council Decision
Notification of Council decision will be sent via e-mail within a month following Council meeting. Notifications will be sent via U.S. Postal mail for U.S. domestic institutions.
|
Effective July 1, 2010 institution's with programs that fit the U. S. Department of Education definition of clock-hour program, who use the clock to credit hour conversion for Title IV, HEA funding and who plan to increase a program's total clock hours by adjusting the total instructional hours, MUST submit a Letter of Justification. The letter must provide a detailed and comprehensive written justification for the increase in hours to demonstrate that the new program length is necessary for students to fulfill all the program and course objectives and to achieve specific knowledge, skills, and competencies required for employment. This letter of justification must be addressed to the ACICS Director of Campus Development and submitted with a new program or non-substantive program modification application.
Back to Top