10 Miss. Code. R. 201-3.13 - Changes Requiring Notice or Approval

A. Institutions or entities shall submit to the Commission a Change Requiring Notice or Approval Form. Out-of-State institutions or entities (located outside the borders of Mississippi) requesting Commission approval are assessed the appropriate fees. Submit a written request for an application/form.

Changes Requiring Notice

a. Awarding dual or joint academic awards.

b. Entering into a cooperative academic arrangement or other arrangement.

c. Changing the governance of an institution or entity.

d. Closing an institution, an entity, a program, a method of delivery, an off-campus instructional site, or a program at an off-campus instructional site.

e. Change in institutional accreditation status.

f. Change in federal financial assistance program participation status.

g. Change in designated central institutional contact, administrators.

h. Change of recognized accreditors.

i. Participating in the federal Prison Education Program providing Pell Grant access to confined or incarcerated students.

Changes Requiring Approval

a. Changing the way an institution or entity measures student progress, whether in clock hours or credit-hours; semesters, trimesters, or quarters; or time-based or non-time-based methods or measures.

b. Acquiring another institution or entity or any program or location of another institution or entity.

c. Merging/consolidating two or more institutions or entities.

d. Changing the legal status, form of control, or ownership of an institution or entity.

e. Relocating an institution or entity or an off-campus instructional site of an institution or entity (including a branch campus).

f. Offering courses or programs at a higher or lower degree level than currently authorized.

g. Initiating programs by distance education.

h. Adding a program.

i. Changing a program.

j. Adding an additional method of delivery to a currently offered program.

k. Adding competency-based education programs.

l. Adding programs with completion pathways that recognize and accommodate a student's prior or existing knowledge or competency.

m. Re-opening a previously closed program or off-campus instructional site.

n. Adding a new off-campus instructional site/additional location including a branch campus.

B. An institution or entity must immediately notify the Commission if it is subject to any investigative action, complaint, show-cause or disciplinary action with an accrediting, state, or federal agency including loss of accreditation or loss of eligibility to participate in the federal financial assistance program. Reports and documents commonly included as part of the accreditation or eligibility process must be made available if requested by the Commission.

C. Commission authorization is not transferable. In the event of a change in ownership of an institution or entity, the new owner must apply for state authorization.

D. For accreditation purposes, institutions and entities should follow their accrediting agency's Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

Notes

10 Miss. Code. R. 201-3.13

Adopted 6/12/2023 Amended 2/19/2024 Amended 6/6/2025