Section 1501.302  Units of Instruction, Research, and Public Service

 

a)         Approval of New Units of Instruction.  An application for approval of a proposed new unit of instruction shall be submitted to the ICCB on forms provided by ICCB.  The criteria for approval of new units of instruction, which also apply to existing programs offered by community colleges, are:

 

1)         Mission and Objectives

 

A)        The objectives of the unit of instruction are consistent with the mission of the college as set forth in Section 1-2(e) of the Act.

 

B)        The objectives of the unit of instruction are consistent with what the title of the unit of instruction implies.

 

2)         Academic Control

 

A)        The design, conduct and evaluation of the unit of instruction are under the direct and continuous control of the college's established processes for academic planning and quality maintenance, and clear provision is made for ensuring a high level of academic performance of faculty and students.

 

B)        The admission, course placement, and graduation requirements for the unit of instruction are consistent with the stated objectives of the unit of instruction and with Section 3-17 of the Act, when applicable.

 

3)         Curriculum.  The content of the curriculum ensures that the objectives of the unit of instruction will be achieved.

 

A)        The range of total number of credit hours required for completion of an associate degree curriculum shall be within the following parameters:

 

i)          For the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 64 semester credit hours or equivalent;

 

ii)         For the Associate in Fine Arts and the Associate in Engineering Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 68 semester credit hours or equivalent;

 

iii)        For the Associate in Applied Science degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 72 semester credit hours or equivalent, except in such occupational fields in which accreditation or licensure by a state or national organization requires additional coursework; and

 

iv)        For the Associate in General Studies degree, a total requirement of not less than 60 semester credit hours nor more than 64 semester credit hours or equivalent.

 

B)        An associate degree curriculum shall include a specific general education component consisting of coursework in communication, arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics and science within the following parameters:

 

i)          For the Associate in Arts degree and the Associate in Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 37 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

ii)         For the Associate in Fine Arts degree, the general education component required will represent at least 25 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

iii)        For the Associate in Engineering Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 19 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion;

 

iv)        For the Associate in Applied Science degree, the general education component required will represent at least 15 semester credit hour or equivalent for completion; and

 

v)         For the Associate in General Studies degree, the general education component required will represent no less than 20 semester credit hours or equivalent for completion.

 

4)         Faculty and Staff

 

A)        The academic preparation and experience of faculty and staff ensure that students receive education consistent with the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

B)        The involvement of faculty in the unit of instruction is sufficient to cover the various fields of knowledge encompassed by the curriculum, to sustain scholarship appropriate to the unit of instruction, and to ensure curriculum continuity.

 

C)        Support personnel, including counselors, administrators, clinical supervisors, and technical staff, have the educational background and experience necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.

 

5)         Support Services

 

A)        Facilities, equipment, and instructional resources (e.g., laboratory supplies and equipment, instructional materials, computation equipment) necessary to provide quality instruction will be available and maintained.

 

B)        Library holdings and acquisitions necessary to support quality instruction and scholarship are available, accessible and maintained.

 

C)        Provision is made for the guidance and counseling of students, the evaluation of student performance, the continuous monitoring of progress of students toward their degree or certificate objectives, the placement of completers of the unit of instruction, and appropriate academic record keeping.

 

6)         Financing

 

A)        The financial commitments to support the unit of instruction are sufficient to ensure that the stated objectives can be attained and that the faculty, staff and support services necessary to offer the unit of instruction can be acquired and maintained.

 

B)        Projections of revenues necessary to support the unit of instruction are based upon supportable estimates of general revenue, student tuition and fees, private gifts, and/or governmental grants and contracts.

 

7)         Public Information

The information that the college provides to students and the public accurately describes:  the unit of instruction offered; the objectives of the unit of instruction; length of the unit of instruction; residency requirements, if any; schedule of tuition, fees and all other charges and expenses necessary for completion of the unit of instruction; cancellation and refund policies; and such other material facts concerning the college and the unit of instruction as are likely to affect the decision of the student to enroll.

 

8)         Accreditation and Credentialing

 

A)        Appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that accreditation of the proposed new unit of instruction will be granted in a reasonable time.

 

B)        The proposed new unit will provide the skills required to obtain individual credentialing (certification, licensure, registration) needed for entry into an occupation as specified in the objectives of the proposed new unit of instruction.

 

9)         Program Needs and Priorities

 

A)        The unit of instruction must be educationally and economically justified based on the educational priorities and needs of the citizens of Illinois and the college's district.

 

B)        The unit of instruction meets a need that is not currently met by units of instruction that are offered by other institutions in the district.

 

b)         Approval of New Administrative Units of Research or Public Service.  An application for approval of a proposed new administrative unit of research or public service shall be submitted to the ICCB on forms provided by ICCB.  The criteria for approval of new administrative units of public service or research are:

 

1)         The proposed new administrative unit shall be authorized by the board of trustees;

 

2)         The objectives of the proposed new administrative unit are consistent with the mission of the college;

 

3)         The proposed new administrative unit shall meet a district's need to deliver a public service or research program which cannot be met through the district's current structure as indicated by an organizational chart;

 

4)         The proposed new administrative unit shall administer at least one public service or research program;

 

5)         The needs assessment demonstrates that the demand for the public service or research program to be administered by the proposed new unit shall be continuous for at least three years; and

 

6)         The district shall provide evidence that the resources for the facilities, equipment and materials, and staff necessary to provide a quality program or service shall be made available to the proposed new administrative unit.

 

c)         Withdrawal.  An approved unit of instruction, public service, or research may be withdrawn by the college when it decides to suspend operation of the unit.  The withdrawal request shall be submitted to ICCB through an electronic exchange system. Withdrawal of a curriculum will require reassignment of related courses.

 

d)         Reasonable and Moderate Extensions

 

1)         An approved unit of instruction, public service, or research may be modified or extended by the college within the parameters listed in subsections (d)(2) through (4).  The college shall notify ICCB of the extensions on forms provided by ICCB.

 

2)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of instruction include:

 

A)        The addition, modification or withdrawal of courses within an approved unit of instruction that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

B)        A change in minimum credit hours for completion of an approved unit of instruction that does not affect the instructional level of the unit of instruction.

 

C)        A change in title of an approved unit of instruction that does not indicate a different objective of the unit than that previously approved.

 

D)        The creation of an option (major, concentration or specialization) within an approved unit of instruction in which:

 

i)          the option created is within the same general academic discipline or occupational field as the previously approved unit of instruction;

 

ii)         the option created within a previously approved associate degree curriculum shares a common core of first-year courses with the previously approved unit of instruction; and

 

iii)        the option created does not substitute more than 15 semester credit hours of other courses for courses previously approved as part of an associate degree curriculum or cluster of closely related curricula, e.g., from the same four-digit CIP code or substitute more than 9 semester credit hours of other courses for courses previously approved as part of a certificate curriculum (or closely related cluster) of 30 semester credit hours or more.

 

E)        The creation of certificate curricula from previously approved associate degree curricula and certificate curricula, including closely related curricula; e.g., from the same four-digit CIP code, providing no more than 6 semester credit hours are substituted for certificates of up to 30 semester credit hours or no more than 9 semester credit hours are substituted in certificates of 30 semester credit hours or more.

 

F)         The creation of certificate curricula of less than seven semester credit hours from previously approved associate degree curricula and certificate curriculum from the same two-digit CIP code.

 

G)        Modifications.  An approved unit of instruction, public service or research may be modified by the colleges within the parameters listed in subsection (d)(2)(D). The college shall notify ICCB of the modifications through an electronic exchange system. Modifications to existing units of instruction include:

 

i)          The addition, modification or withdrawal of courses within an approved unit of instruction that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction;

 

ii)         A change in minimum credit hours for completion of an approved unit of instruction that does not affect the instructional level of the unit of instruction;

 

iii)        A change in title of an approved unit of instruction that does not indicate a different objective of the unit than that previously approved; or

 

iv)        A change in program/course classification code that does not alter the objectives of the unit of instruction.

 

3)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of research or public service include units with an annual operating expenditure from whatever source of less than $250,000 or an annual operating expenditure from state appropriations of less than $50,000.

 

4)         Reasonable and moderate extensions of previously approved units of administration include any administrative reorganization of a college.

 

e)         Approval in a Multi-College District.  Approval of new units of instruction, research, or public service in a multi-college district will be for a specific college.  Transfer of a unit to, or duplication of a unit by, other colleges within the district constitutes a new unit requiring approval by the ICCB.  However, up to 9 hours of a program approved at one college may be offered by any other college in the district at the option of the Board.

 

f)         Inactivation.  When a college no longer offers an approved unit of instruction to additional new students, that unit of instruction shall be reported to the ICCB and shall be removed from the college catalog and other documents advertising the program offerings to the public. An inactive unit of instruction shall be maintained on the ICCB Curriculum Inventory File with the date that it became inactive for a period of at least 10 years.  The effective date that a unit of instruction becomes inactive shall be determined by the college.

 

g)         Reactivation. A unit of instruction that has been inactivated by a college may be reactivated by submitting the materials outlined in subsection (a) for review and approval by ICCB.

 

1)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for less than three years may be reactivated by the college once it has completed the following:

 

A)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from its chief executive administrator;

 

B)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from agencies that license, certify, or accredit the program, if appropriate; and

 

C)        Submitted a request for reactivation and an updated copy of the curriculum to ICCB.

 

2)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for three to 10 years may be reactivated by the ICCB Executive Director if the college has completed the following:

 

A)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from its chief executive administrator;

 

B)        Obtained approval to reactivate the program from agencies that license, certify or accredit the program, if appropriate;

 

C)        Demonstrated through local surveys or State labor market data that the labor market demand and supply shows a need for graduates of the program;

 

D)        Conducted a review of the program with representatives from business and industry including on-site visits and advice regarding current technologies and equipment;

 

E)        Demonstrated, in accordance with subsections (a)(5) and (a)(6), that the college has adequate facilities, equipment and financial resources to offer a quality program;

 

F)         Demonstrated, in accordance with Section 1501.303(f), that the college has available qualified faculty to provide the instruction for the program; and

 

G)        Submitted a request for the reactivation and an updated copy of the curriculum to ICCB.

 

3)         A unit of instruction that has been inactive for over 10 years may be reactivated by following the new unit approval process described in subsection (a).

 

h)         Discontinuation of Programs.  The ICCB may discontinue programs thatfail to reflect the educational needs of the area being served as follows:

 

1)         Programs that do not meet standards of need, quality and cost effectiveness may be discontinued by the ICCB.  This determination shall be made based on review and collective findings of information available to the ICCB through ICCB and Illinois Board of Higher Education program review, evaluation and productivity processes; the ICCB Management Information System; and other sources of pertinent information on the following criteria:

 

A)        Program need, including educational priorities of the district, accessibility, credit hours generated, enrollments, completions, and labor market supply and demand.

 

B)        Program quality, including job placement or education continuation, program content, academic control, faculty qualifications, and accreditation and credentialing.

 

C)        Program costs, including adequacy of financial support and unit costs.

 

2)         ICCB will use special State-level analyses to identify programs that appear to be of questionable need, cost or quality based on State data. Programs identified through State-level analysis will be referred to the colleges to enable them to evaluate the programs in detail in their normal process and to obtain the results and comments from the local level.

 

3)         ICCB will notify college districts of programs being considered for discontinuation and shall grant the district 60 days to respond to concerns regarding the program in question before action by the Board.  This information shall be taken into account in determining if a program should be discontinued by the ICCB.

 

4)         Once a program is discontinued by the ICCB and the appeal process is concluded, the college must inactivate the program by not enrolling any additional new students and develop a plan for an orderly discontinuation of the program for students currently enrolled.  Programs discontinued by the ICCB may be reestablished by obtaining approval as a new unit of instruction under subsection (a).

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 18680, effective November 13, 2020)