Program Approval Process – Certificate and Degree Credits Rationale Recommendations Criteria Programs Prof/Tech only – College provides Academic Transfer Expectation that Certificates 1-19 credits – same process. Registration documentation as Professional/Technical students can move only. required. I-BEST through an educational program in a timely and Certificates 20-44 or fewer credits Documentation of need cost-efficient manner. may include, but is not Expedited approval process - limited to advisory First two digits of certificate CIP are same as For committee meeting the first two digits in the CIP used for professional/technical minutes, notes of primary program programs, employer conversations or emails needs should inform College provides a program description and from local employers, content and credits pathway diagram labor/market data, or within a program. College provides documentation of need for the notes from meetings with proposed prof/tech certificate. economic and/or It’s a balancing act workforce development between robust Certificates 45 or more credits - OR - organizations. program content that Certificates 20-44 credits that are part of a primary meets employer program and the first two digits of the certificate CIP expectations by differ from the first two digits of primary program CIP. encompassing critical Full program approval process content and moving students through a Transfer and Prof/Tech program of study to Degrees completion in a timely Full program approval process. way. College provides Professional/Technical Colleges will be required to provide additional documentation as I-BEST information is certificates or degrees exceed a specific required. credit threshold. For certificates of 40-44 Certificates 40-44 credits or 75-89 credits, the College provides rational for not developing a full 45- college must present credit certificate that includes required general strong evidence of education courses. employment
Program Approval Process – Certificate and Degree Credits Rationale Recommendations Criteria Programs Expectation that students can move through an educational program in a timely and cost-efficient manner. For professional/technical programs, employer needs should inform content and credits within a program. It’s a balancing act between robust program content that meets employer expectations by encompassing critical content and moving students through a program of study to completion in a timely way. Prof/Tech only – Certificates 1-19 credits – same process. Registration only. Certificates 20-44 or fewer credits Expedited approval process - First two digits of certificate CIP are same as the first two digits in the CIP used for primary program College provides a program description and pathway diagram College provides documentation of need for the proposed prof/tech certificate. Certificates 45 or more credits - OR - Certificates 20-44 credits that are part of a primary program and the first two digits of the certificate CIP differ from the first two digits of primary program CIP. Full program approval process Transfer and Prof/Tech Degrees Full program approval process. Colleges will be required to provide additional information is certificates or degrees exceed a specific credit threshold. Certificates 40-44 credits College provides rational for not developing a full 45- credit certificate that includes required general education courses. College provides documentation as required. Documentation of need may include, but is not limited to advisory committee meeting minutes, notes of conversations or emails from local employers, labor/market data, or notes from meetings with economic and/or workforce development organizations. College provides documentation as required. For certificates of 40-44 or 75-89 credits, the college must present strong evidence of employment Academic Transfer Professional/Technical I-BEST Professional/Technical I-BEST