Substantive Change

As an accredited institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the College of Charleston is required to notify SACSCOC of changes in accordance with the substantive change policy and, when required, seek approval prior to the initiation of changes.

A substantive change is a significant modification or expansion of the nature and scope of an accredited institution. Substantive change includes high-impact, high-risk changes and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services.

Member institutions are required to have policies and procedures to ensure that all substantive changes are reported to the Commission in a timely manner.

SACSCOC Commission Responsibilities

(from the SACSCOC Policy Statement)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accredits an entire institution and its programs and services, wherever they are located or however they are delivered. It is responsible for reviewing all substantive changes that occur between an institution’s decennial reviews to determine whether the change has affected the quality of the total institution and to assure the public that all aspects of the institution continue to meet defined standards.

The SACSCOC is recognized by the US Department of Education as an agency whose accreditation enables its member institutions to see eligibility to participate in Title IV programs. To maintain its recognition with the US Department of Education, the SACSCOC has incorporated federal requirements into its substantive change policy and procedures. Some of those requirements specify that an institution seek and receive approval prior to the initiation of a substantive change so that the change can be included in the institution’s scope of accreditation.