SECTION BH.2

LOCAL GOVERNANCE
CLOSING A PROGRAM

Procedure

CLOSING A PROGRAM

When the decision is made to close an educational program, Navarro College will make a good faith effort to assist affected students, faculty, administrative and support staff so that they experience a minimal amount of disruption in the pursuit of their course of study or professional careers. Individuals will be notified of the decision to close a program as soon as possible so that they can make appropriate plans. Students who have not completed their programs will be advised by faculty or advisors regarding suitable options including transfer to comparable programs.
 
Closing a program requires SACSCOC approval. Approval requires a teach-out plan.
 
Closure is defined as closed to admission or entry, not the cessation of instruction; i.e., closure date is when students can no longer start, not the date instruction ends. Closure approval ensures the institution has a plan and process to provide students reasonable completion options that minimize disruption and additional costs. Because closure approval is approval of the teach-out process, not the closure per se (i.e., not after the fact), a teach-out plan should be submitted as soon as possible after the decision is made to close.
 
Program closure includes ending a program at all locations or by all methods of delivery, but also includes ending a student’s completion option at a specific location or by a specific method of delivery. Therefore, program closure approval is required if a program closes
  • at a location (on-campus or off-campus instructional site) but continues to be offered at other locations, or
  • by a method of delivery but continues to be offered by other methods of delivery.
 
Program closure is not required for a specialization embedded within a discipline-specific program. Depending on an institution’s terminology, a specialization within a program may be called a minor, concentration, cognate, or other similar term
 
Teach-out Plans: A teach-out plan is a written plan developed by Navarro College that provides for the equitable treatment of students if the institution decides to close an educational program. Teach-out plans must be approved by SACSCOC in advance of implementation. To be approved by SACSCOC, a teach-out plan must include the following information:
    1. A SACSCOC Substantive Change Cover Sheet [PDF].
    2. Provide the closure date, defined by SACSCOC as the date when students are no longer admitted.
    3. An explanation of how affected parties – students, faculty, and staff – will be informed of the impending closure.
    4. An explanation of how all affected students will be helped to complete their programs of study with minimal disruption or additional costs.
    5. Explain whether the students subject to the teach-out plan will incur additional charges or other expenses because of the teach-out and, if so, how the students will be notified.
    6. Copies of signed teach-out agreements with other institutions, if applicable.
    7. A description of how faculty and staff will be redeployed or helped to find new employment.
 
Note: Do not submit individually identifiable student information
 
TEACH-OUTS
A teach-out plan is a written plan developed by an institution that provides for the equitable treatment of students if an institution, or an institutional location that provides twenty-five percent or more of at least one program, ceases to operate before all students have completed their program of study, and may include, if required by the institution's accrediting agency, a teach-out agreement between institutions. Teach-out plans must be approved by SACSCOC. Following review and approval of a teach-out plan that includes a program that is accredited by another accrediting agency, the Commission will notify that accreditor of its approval.

TEACH-OUT AGREEMENTS

A teach-out agreement is a written agreement between institutions that provides for the equitable treatment of students and a reasonable opportunity for students to complete their program of study if an institution, or an institutional location that provides twenty-five Substantive Change Policy and Procedures – Page 56 percent or more of at least one program offered, ceases to operate before all enrolled students have completed their program of study. Such a teach-out agreement requires SACSCOC approval in advance of implementation. For approval by SACSCOC, the agreement must be between institutions that are accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, be consistent with applicable standards in the Principles of Accreditation and with SACSCOC policies, and provide for the equitable treatment of students by ensuring that:
  1. The teach-out institution has the necessary experience, resources, and support services to provide an educational program that is of acceptable quality and reasonably similar in content, structure, and scheduling to that provided by the closed institution; and
  2. The teach-out institution demonstrates that it can provide students access to the program(s) and services without requiring them to move or travel substantial distances.
 
Please see the SACSCOC Good Practices document Closing a Program, Site, Branch or Institution for additional discussion of issues regarding closing of programs, sites, branch campuses or institutions.

Updated: January 5, 2021