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University Policies

University level policies are listed on this page.

ETSU Policy: Approval of Academic Programs, Units, and Modifications

The purpose of this policy is to establish the procedures and processes for the submission and approval of requests for developing or modifying academic programs or units.

ETSU Policy: Definition of Credit

The purpose of this policy is to define credit, the criteria for determining credit, process for determining credit, and external confirmation for courses and programs. The U.S. Department of Education Regulatory Language is included. ETSU places emphasis on learning outcomes not time.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC), Academic Affairs

Presents current and germane information regarding academic affairs in the State of Tennessee: Program Approval and Academic Polices, Searchable Academic Program Inventory, Quality Assurance Funding, Academic Common Market, Grants Programs, Chairs and Centers of Excellence, and Seamless Alignment and Integrated Learning Support (SAILS).

THEC Academic Policy A1.0 New Academic Programs: Approval Process

Presents scope and purpose of THEC in reviewing and approving new academic programs, off-campus extensions of existing academic programs, new academic units (divisions, colleges, schools, and departments) and new instructional locations for public institutions of higher education in the State of Tennessee. Presents steps to establish a news academic program or certificate. 

THEC  Letter of Notification (LON) and New Academic Program Proposal (NAPP) Checklist

Delineates specific items that are included in a required document proposing a new degree or certificate with 24 or more credits. Identifies the items that must be included in the Letter of Notification (LON) and those to be included in the New Academic Program Proposal (NAPP).

THEC  Expedited Letter of Notification (ELON) and Expedited New Academic Program Proposal (ENAPP) Checklist

Delineates specific items that are included in a required document proposing a new degree or certificate with 24 or more credits. Identifies the items that must be included in the Expedited Letter of Notification (LON) and those to be included in the Expedite New Academic Program Proposal (NAPP).

THEC Academic Policy A1.1 Academic Program Modifications

Identifies how an academic program can be modified into a new academic program by changing or adding a program degree designation or establishing a free-standing academic program from an existing concentration with steady enrolment and degrees awarded.

THEC  Academic Program Modifications (APM) Checklist

Delineates items that must be addressed to propose an academic program modification. The actual contents differ slightly, depending on the action requested.

THEC Academic Policy: A1.3 New Academic Units

Identifies the types of academic units that must be approved by the THEC: college or school, division, or department. The policy includes items that must be addressed. The establishment of these units includes a proposal and a THEC Financial Projection form.

THEC Financial Projection Form

Presents the Excel form that accompanies proposals with associated costs. The form requires 3-7 years of budgetary information (depending on level of program). One-time and recurring expenditures and revenues are reported. In the text of the proposals, these budgetary items are described in correspondence with the information on the Excel file. The programming of the document may not be changed.

THEC Academic Program Inventory

Contains information about all degree programs currently offered by universities, community colleges, and technology centers. The inventory is the State’s sole source in tracking concentrations of academic programs. This feature allows searching the Academic Program Inventory database by Federal CIP, by Major Name, or by Institution.

THEC Academic Policy - A1.5 Academic Actions Notification

Establishes the process for identifying academic actions that must be submitted by public institutions to maintain the accuracy of the state’s Academic Program Inventory (API). Lists the academic program actions eligible for reporting after campus approval processes are met.

Academic Program Inventory

IInactive Programs

Presents the THEC-approved degrees and certificates offered at ETSU. This Academic Program Inventory (API) identifies the 10-digit CIP code associated with established programs. Degree and certificate proposals include a CIP recommendation; the THEC has the final decision on CIP codes, which are the 6-digit federal codes in the center of the 10-digits codes. The first two and last two numbers are associated with the THEC.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Identifies and explains six cognitive levels associated with learning outcomes. The website is part of the Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Each cognitive-level includes a list of appropriate active verbs for leaning outcomes associated with courses and programs of study.

6-Digit Federal Program CIP Codes

Provides the national Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) to support tracking, assessment, and reporting of field of study. Each CIP code describes the discipline. There are both general and specific codes. THEC has assigned codes to the current ETSU programs. ETSU suggests appropriate 6-digit CIP codes for new degree programs and certificate proposals.

Substantive Change for SACSCOC Accredited Institutions

Substantive change is a significant modification or expansion in the nature and scope of an accredited institution. This policy describes the types of substantive change and the procedures for addressing them appropriately with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), ETSU’s accrediting body.    

ETSU Policy: Substantive Change

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all substantive changes regarding the nature and scope of East Tennessee State University (ETSU) are reported to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in accordance with defined standards and federal regulations.