Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-2-2-.01 - Implementation Policy, Process, And Procedures For Program Viability Legislation, Act 96-557

(1) Purpose Statement: Through the implementation of Act 96-557, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education will work with institutions to examine academic programs which do not produce minimum levels of graduates as established by the Alabama legislature. The goal of this effort will be to evaluate priorities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and focus existing resources to enhance the overall quality of academic offerings.

(2) Policy: The Alabama Commission on Higher Education will review the productivity of programs listed in its academic program inventory using a two-level review process. In year one, programs will be identified as viable or non-viable. This identification process will be followed by a three-year monitoring period. Any programs which do not meet the standards or receive a waiver of non-viability at the end of the three-year monitoring period will be phased out over a three-year period. Consistent with the statutory mandate to base productivity standards primarily, but not exclusively, on the annual average number of degrees conferred, the Commission will use three factors in evaluating the productivity of a program: IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) completions data as required by Act 96-557, double majors, and the number of students previously enrolled in vocational/technical programs who meet certain standards and can be counted as graduates for purposes of program viability. Although one outcome of this process may be program terminations, the Commission recognizes that closing programs will not necessarily lead to cost savings because programs often share facilities, faculty, and resources.

(3) Review Process: The review process will consist of an Identification Year Review and a Three-Year Monitoring Period.

(a) Identification Year Review:

1. Level I Review: Programs whose average annual graduation rate meets the viability standard annual graduation rate established by Act 96-557 will be deemed viable. This rate will be calculated using IPEDS completions data only.

2. Level II Review: The remaining programs will be subjected to a Level II review based on double majors and the certification of students previously enrolled in vocational/technical programs as graduates if the institution can document that the student successfully completed a minimum of 20 quarter hours or 15 semester hours of technical skills courses during the reporting period and left the program for purposes of gainful employment. All data will be subject to audit as directed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. Programs which meet the viability standard annual graduation rate as a result of the Level II review will be placed on the viable program list, and the remaining programs will be considered non-viable, with the exception of the core liberal arts programs (see b.2. in this section and 300-2-2-.02.).

(b) Three-Year Monitoring Period: During the three-year monitoring period, the graduation rates of non-viable programs will be compiled. At the end of the three-year monitoring period, any non-viable program which does not meet the standard may request a waiver of non-viability due to unique and extraordinary characteristics of that program. The request for a waiver must be based on the seven factors outlined in Act 96-557. The Commission will grant or deny the waiver on a case-by-case basis based on the strength of the justification offered by the institution. If there are any fields in which no programs in the state are viable, the Commission will undertake a statewide review of the disciplines. Any non-viable program which has not been granted a waiver and does not meet the viability standard annual graduation rate at the end of the three-year monitoring period will be terminated by the Commission with a three-year phase out.

(4) Review Procedures: The following procedures apply to all academic programs at public institutions, including programs recognized by the Commission as core liberal arts programs (for an explanation and listing of core liberal arts programs recognized by the Commission, see 300-2-2-.02).

(a) Identification Year (1997)

1. The Commission will calculate the annual graduation rate for each program listed in its academic program inventory as of January 15, 1997 using the designated reporting periods for implementation from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) annual completions survey. Where more than one program at a degree level is listed at a six-digit CIP code, the staff may request that the institution separate the completions for each program. Note: The asterisk sign in the Commission's academic program inventory denotes separate programs.

2. The annual graduation rate for each program will be compared to the viability standard annual graduation rate listed in Act 96-557. All programs whose annual graduation rate equals or exceeds the viability standard annual graduation rate will be deemed viable for the four-year period. The remaining programs will be subjected to a second level of analysis based on double majors, and the certification of students previously enrolled in vocational/technical programs as graduates in combination with the annual graduation rate.

3. The Commission will issue a Level I review report which lists viable programs by institution based on the IPEDS completions survey data.

4. Programs which meet the viability standard annual graduation rate as a result of the second level of analysis will be placed on the viable program list, and the remaining programs will be considered non-viable, with the exception of the core liberal arts programs. The Commission will issue a Level II review report which adjusts the viable program list to reflect those programs so designated as a result of the second level review, a list of non-viable programs, and a list of core liberal arts programs on the exemption list.

5. The Commission will report to the Governor, the State Board of Education and the Council of College and University Presidents on the status of programs determined to be viable, non-viable, and on the exemption list. This report shall include information for each institution.

(b) Three-Year Monitoring Period (1998-2000)

1. Non-Viable Programs:

(i) The viability standard annual graduation rates of non-viable programs will be monitored for three years.

(ii) An institution may request a waiver for a non-viable program at the end of the third year of the three-year monitoring period due to unique and extraordinary characteristics of that program. The request for a waiver must be based on at least one of the seven factors outlined in Act 96-557.

(iii) The Commission will grant or deny the waiver on a case-by-case basis based on the strength of the justification offered by the institution. A waiver request must include a description of efforts the institution has taken to increase productivity.

(iv) No waivers will be granted by the Commission for programs whose viability standard annual graduation rate is 0.

(v) If there are any fields in which no programs in the state are viable, the Commission will undertake a statewide review of the discipline.

(vi) Any non-viable program which has not been granted a waiver and does not meet the viability standard annual graduation rate at the end of the third year of the three-year monitoring period will be terminated by the Commission with a three-year phase out.

(vii) The Commission will continue to make an annual report to the Governor, the State Board of Education and the Council of College and University Presidents. This report shall continue to include information for each institution and its respective viable, non-viable, and exempt program offerings. In addition, the annual report will list any programs granted waivers of non-viability by the Commission along with the commission's rationale for granting the waiver.

2. Exempt Core Liberal Arts Programs (For a description and list of core liberal arts programs recognized by the Commission, see 300-2-2-.02):

(i) Each institution with exempt core liberal arts programs will conduct an assessment of those programs during the three-year monitoring period. The purpose of this assessment is for institutions to develop innovative, high quality approaches to offering core liberal arts education which also meet viability standards. At a minimum, the assessment should address the following questions for each exempt core liberal arts program.

(I) Should the institution continue to offer all of its existing core liberal arts programs, or is there a better way to provide the necessary educational experience to the student?

(II) In what ways can the institution cooperate or collaborate with other institutions to offer quality core liberal arts programs?

(III) Can the institution more narrowly focus it's liberal arts programs and improve quality through consortia, resource sharing among institutions, distance education, joint and cooperative programs, etc.?

(IV) What are the barriers to cooperative efforts?

(ii) The institution will provide an annual report to the Commission each December during the three-year monitoring period which summarizes activity during the year devoted to the assessment and improvement of the exempt core liberal arts programs.

(iii) At the end of the three-year monitoring period, the institution will present a final report to the Commission outlining the efforts and outcomes of the assessment. For any core liberal arts programs which still do not meet the viability standard annual graduation rate at the end of the three-year monitoring period, the Commission will continue monitoring the productivity for a final, additional three-year monitoring period (2000-01, 2001-02, 2002-03). At the conclusion of the final three-year monitoring cycle, institutions will phase out any remaining non-viable core liberal arts programs for which a waiver or non-viability is not sought out granted by the Commission.

Author: Kitty C. Collier

Notes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-2-2-.01

Filed April 10, 1989. Amended: Filed October 19, 1989; December 5, 1990. Repealed: Filed March 12, 1996; effective April 16, 1996. New Rule: Filed August 4, 1997; effective September 8, 1997. Amended: Filed March 7, 2001; effective April 11, 2001.

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 6-5-1, et. seq., and in implementation of Act 96-557.