057-6 Wyo. Code R. § 6-3

Current through April 27, 2019

Section 6-3 - Approving New Certificate and Degree Programs

(a) The Commission reviews and approves or disapproves programs based on the WY Community College Commission Statewide Strategic Plan. Approval of nursing and allied health programs by the appropriate agency may also be required.

(b) Community colleges shall submit all proposed new, long-term programs to the Commission for approval.

(c) Community colleges requesting approval for new, long-term programs shall submit an application addressing:

(i) The alignment of the program with the WY Community College Commission Statewide Strategic Plan objectives at the time of implementation and in future years;

(ii) Projected labor market demand for graduates in the state and region which includes a five (5) year period from the proposed implementation date;

(iii) Wage projections for program graduates who enter an occupation directly related to their earned academic certificate or AAS degree;

(iv) Documented citizen, business and industry input in program design and assessment (AAS or credit certificate);

(v) The means by which the proposed program shall coordinate internally and externally with other programs, colleges, and agencies;

(vi) A list of similar programs at other Wyoming community colleges;

(vii) The program layout including new course descriptions, student learning outcomes, suggested Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code, and where applicable, any program accreditation process;

(viii) The breakdown of the program's course teaching pedagogy, identifying the number of classes in a semester that shall be conducted (lecture, lab, practicum, clinical, internship or other) and the offering mode(s) for the requested program (face-to-face, online, hybrid or other);

(ix) The credit hours required for a program's degree or certificate attainment;

(x) Any proposed level of instruction code for courses that are new to the Wyoming community colleges;

(xi) Additional resources that will be required to start the requested program and how the community college plans to provide those resources; and

(xii) The means for assessing student learning and completer follow-up per performance indicators.

(d) As defined in the WCCC Policy on Consultation, the Program Review Committee shall render final approval or denial of a new pilot program request.

(i) Within 10 business days of receipt of a pilot program application, the Commission and applicable community college shall be informed in writing of the final decision.

(ii) Pilot programs shall have a 4 semester or 24 month developmental stage prior to requesting multi-level approval and "long-term" program designation.

(e) Community colleges requesting approval for pilot programs shall submit to the Commission a condensed application that addresses: Chapter 6, Section 3(c)(iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) and (xii) above.

(f) The Program Review Committee shall render final approval or denial of a new certificate program request which is comprised solely of a sub-set of courses from a Commission approved AAS degree program that is currently offered by the college making the request.

(g) The Commission shall have final authority to approve, conditionally approve or deny requests for new long-term associate degree programs and long-term certificate programs that are not comprised solely of a sub-set of courses required in a previously Commission approved AAS degree.

(h) The Commission shall have final authority for any pilot program denied by the Program Review Committee through the appeal process initiated by the affected college.

(j) The implementation of a long-term and/or pilot program may begin immediately after the approval. Should conditional approval be granted, implementation shall not start until all identified conditions have been acceptably met and approved by the Program Review Committee.

(k) A community college district may request to change a program at any time. Program modifications that include program completer outcomes change, program intent change, or target audience change require approval by the Executive Council. For programs to move from pilot to long-term status, the requesting community college shall resubmit the program to the Commission using the long-term application.

(m) A community college district that discontinues a program will notify the Commission within 30 calendar days of notifying the Higher Learning Commission of the cessation of that program, identifying the program and the date of discontinuation.

057-6 Wyo. Code R. § 6-3

Amended, Eff. 11/21/2017.