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Procedure

�鶹��Ʒ���߲���nical Community College (�鶹��Ʒ���߲���) shall terminate a curriculum program of study (program) when there has been no enrollment for two (2) consecutive years at any level of the curriculum program (associate, diploma, or certificate), or if the College has not offered the program or has not had enrollment in the program within two (2) years of the date the program was approved by the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC). Departments may also choose to terminate a program or a curriculum in response content-based changes, a curriculum redesign, or in response to industry needs.  

The following procedure provides guiding principles for the termination of individual courses within a program (content revision) and termination of an associate degree, diploma, or certificate.   

Teach-Out Plans

A teach-out plan is a written plan developed by an institution that provides for the equitable treatment of students if an institution, or an institutional location that offers fifty (50) percent of at least one (1) curriculum program, ceases to operate a program before all students have completed their program of study, and may include a teach-out agreement between institutions. In such cases and in accord with , the institution is required to submit the program closure and teach-out plan to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for approval prior to its implementation.

The institution may include a teach-out agreement as part of its teach-out plan. A teach-out agreement is a written agreement between institutions that provides for the equitable treatment of students and a reasonable opportunity for students to complete their program of study if an institution, or an institutional location that offers fifty (50) percent of at least one (1) curriculum program, ceases to operate before all enrolled students have completed their program of study. If an institution includes a teach-out agreement as part of its teach-out plan, the agreement must be submitted to SACSCOC for approval prior to its implementation.

�鶹��Ʒ���߲��� implements teach-out plans when the College terminates individual course(s) within a program or terminates a program entirely, necessitating the “teaching out” of courses and credentials for currently enrolled students (new students are not admitted to a terminated program). The Program Management Committee manages the process of terminations, with final approval coming from the Chief Academic Officer. The College must report terminations as required to external regulatory agencies, including the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), SACSCOC, and the Department of Education (DOE).

Academics and Guided Career Pathways should be notified of proposed terminations as soon as possible. Individual course or credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) terminations and teach-out plans must go through the Program Management Committee for review. The Program Management Committee will make recommendations to the Chief Academic Officer for final approval. Termination of any curriculum program (degree, diploma, or certificate) must also have the approval of the President and the Board of Trustees.

The goal of any teach-out plan is to protect the interests of students and faculty, provide minimal disruption to students, and satisfy the requirements established by the College with SACSCOC. Teach-out plans will vary depending on the length of the program and the remaining courses required of students in the program. Teach-out plans should provide ample opportunity for students to take the courses being phased out; however, the College is under no obligation to ensure a program, diploma, or certificate can be completed after a reasonable teach-out plan. Programs should plan to offer the affected courses on a more frequent schedule during the teach-out period, if necessary, in order to ensure students have the opportunity to take the affected courses.  

A program teach-out plan should include and/or address the following:

• Provide the closure date, defined by SACSCOC as the date when students are no longer admitted.
• Provide a communication plan to inform all affected parties of the closure to include:
  • How each of the following will be informed for the closure:
    • currently enrolled students,
    • students with lapsed enrollment (i.e., not currently enrolled but recently enrolled),
    • prospective students.
  • How faculty and staff will be informed including advisors., admissions and recruiting / marketing staff
  • How community or industry partners will be informed. If not applicable, provide an affirmative statement to that effect.
• If the institution is providing options for students to complete at another institution(s), provide copies of all planned communication from the institution and from the teach-out institution(s) related to the closure. All communication must demonstrate the institutions are making accurate statements about students’ ability to transfer credits to the teach-out institution(s) and disclose tuition, fees, and other costs at the teach-out institution(s).
• An explanation of how all affected students will be helped to complete their programs of study with minimal disruption or additional costs.**
• An explanation of whether the students subject to the teach-out plan will incur additional charges or other expenses because of the teach-out and, if so, how the students will be notified.**
• Copies of signed teach-out agreements with other institutions, if applicable.
• A description of how faculty and staff will be redeployed or helped to find new employment.
• Regular reports at least annually to department chairs, deans, and the vice president of Academics and Guided Career Pathways to provide monitoring of the teach-out activities
• **Note: Do not submit individually identifiable student information.
   

When a program is discontinued, its information will be removed from College resources, including the website, admissions materials, Colleague, and College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) after SACSCOC approval. Further, admissions outreach for the fall semester typically begins in the fall of the previous year; therefore, all curriculum review must go through the Program Management Committee and final approvals need to be obtained as soon as possible in the year preceding the discontinuation of the degree program.

A course teach-out plan should include and/or address the following:

• A clear timeline that provides for equitable treatment of students to ensure they can complete the terminated course within the teach-out period. Recommendations may also be provided for viable course substitutions or changes to the catalogue year to best serve the student’s education goal.  
• Number of students who currently need the terminated course to complete their current program(s) of study.
• Direction on prompt student notification and advising for affected students, ensuring students have ample opportunity to take the courses being terminated; and
• Regular reports at least annually to department chairs, deans, and the assistant vice president of Academics and Guided Career Pathways to provide monitoring of the teach-out activities.
   

Copies of teach-out plans should remain on file in the office of Academics and Guided Career Pathways. 

Definitions

Continuous Enrollment – Students are considered continuously enrolled at the College if they register for and attend courses (including prerequisites) creditable toward a degree, diploma, or certificate. The student must attend credit coursework in a following semester after the initial enrollment semester (attendance is required in the following fall or spring semester or following spring or fall semester). 

Program of Study – The actual course content of a credential within the NC Community College System’s curriculum standard framework