1. (1) Purpose. This rule implements a uniform submission, approval and compliance process for baccalaureate degree programs proposed and offered by Florida College System institutions, in accordance with Section (s.) 1007.33, Florida Statutes, (F.S.).

2. (2) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule and forms incorporated herein, the following definitions shall be used.

   1. (a) “Academic Program Pre-Proposal Recognition System” or “APPRiSe” is a web-based notification system used by the Florida College System and the State University System to provide advance notice to both systems of plans to develop a new baccalaureate degree program.
   2. (b) “Board of Trustees” means a Florida College System institution board of trustees.
   3. (c) “Classification of Instructional Programs” or “CIP code” refers to the taxonomic scheme developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and located at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55.
   4. (d) “College” means an institution within the Florida College System.
   5. (e) “Completed proposal” means a college’s final submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for consideration by the State Board of Education.
   6. (f) “Division” means the Division of Florida Colleges.
   7. (g) “Initial proposal” means a college’s first submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for review.
   8. (h) “Institutional educational accrediting body” means the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions.
   9. (i) “Notice of intent” means the pre-proposal submission of a brief description of the baccalaureate degree program including the workforce demand, supply, unmet need and other requirements pursuant to s. 1007.33(5)(a), F.S.
   10. (j) “Service district” means the geographical area served by a college identified in s. 1000.21, F.S.

3. (3) Baccalaureate Notice of Intent Process.

   1. (a) Notification using APPRiSe. As the first step in the baccalaureate program proposal process, a Florida College System institution proposing a new baccalaureate degree program shall enter the prospective program in APPRiSe to provide state colleges and universities information regarding the new degree program. The APPRiSe notification shall be made prior to the submission of the notice of intent. The information submitted to APPRiSe must include at least: the program location, the program name, the program level, the CIP code family, the anticipated beginning term, a narrative description, and a primary contact name.

      1. The APPRiSe notification will remain valid for two (2) years from the date it was noticed.

      2. If the notice of intent is not received within two (2) years of the APPRiSe notification, the college must begin the approval process set forth in s. 1007.33(5), F.S., anew, beginning with the submission of a new APPRiSe notification.

   2. (b) Notice of intent. Once the APPRiSe notification has been made, then pursuant to s. 1007.33(5)(a), F.S., a college seeking consideration of approval by the State Board of Education for a new baccalaureate degree proposal must complete and submit the Notice of Intent, Form No. BAAC-01 (HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19195"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19195) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective May 2026. A copy of the form may be found at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

      1. The notice of intent will remain valid for two (2) years from its receipt by the Division.

      2. If the initial proposal is not received within two (2) years of receipt of the notice of intent, the college must begin the approval process set forth in s. 1007.33(5), F.S., anew, beginning with the submission of a new APPRiSe notification followed by a notice of intent.

4. (4) Alternative Proposals and Objections. Alternative proposals and objections to the proposed baccalaureate degree may be submitted by a Florida state university or a private college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Alternative proposals must be submitted to the Chancellor of the Florida College System and must address all criteria specified in s. 1007.33(5)(c), F.S., and specifically include a calculation of the total tuition and fees for a student starting as a first-time, freshman student in the program and a calculation of the total tuition and fees for completing the last two (2) years of the program. Both calculations must be based on the total hours required for the baccalaureate degree. A state university or private college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may also submit an objection to a proposed new program to the Division, pursuant to s. 1007.33(5)(b), F.S. State universities have sixty (60) days following the receipt of the notice of intent to submit alternative proposals and objections. Subsequent to the sixty (60) day submission window for state universities, regionally accredited private colleges have thirty (30) days to submit alternative proposals and objections.

5. (5) Baccalaureate Proposal Process, Application. A college seeking consideration of approval by the State Board of Education for a new baccalaureate degree proposal must complete and submit the Baccalaureate Proposal Application, Form No. BAAC-02 (HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19196"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19196) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective May 2026. A copy of the form may be found at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

   1. (a) Upon receipt of an initial proposal, the Division shall review the proposal to determine compliance with criteria in s. 1007.33(5)(d), F.S., and other information requested on the Baccalaureate Proposal Application form.
   2. (b) Based on the review of the initial proposal, the Division shall notify the college of any deficiencies. The college shall be required to submit a revised, completed proposal application, which addresses deficiencies identified by the Division, in order to proceed with the request to offer the baccalaureate degree program.
   3. (c) Unless the proposal is withdrawn by the college, the Division shall forward the completed proposal application, including all related documentation, to the Commissioner of Education with a written analysis.

6. (6) Baccalaureate Accountability Process. Each college with one (1) or more baccalaureate programs shall annually submit one College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-03, and a Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-04, for each active baccalaureate degree program.

   1. (a) The College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-03 (HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19197"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19197), effective May 2026, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be accessed at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
   2. (b) The Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-04, (HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19198"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19198) effective May 2026, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be accessed at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
   3. (c) Annually, the Division shall notify the colleges of the due date for Baccalaureate Accountability Reports at least sixty (60) days prior to the due date.

7. (7) Change to Baccalaureate Program Status and Other Programmatic Changes. A college seeking to inactivate, reactivate, terminate, or make other changes to an approved baccalaureate program must adhere to the provisions set forth herein. A college submitting a baccalaureate program change request must complete and submit the Baccalaureate Program-Level Changes, Form No. BAAC-05, (HYPERLINK "http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19199"http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19199) effective May 2026, which is hereby incorporated by reference and may be accessed at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. Form No. BAAC-05 may be submitted on a rolling basis.

   1. (a) Inactivation (temporary suspension). A program that is inactivated for new enrollments remains an approved program. Students that are already enrolled can continue to progress towards degree completion. Colleges that inactivate, or temporarily suspend, an approved baccalaureate degree program shall report the inactivation via the Baccalaureate Program-Level Changes, Form No. BAAC-05. Reasons for inactivating programs may include, but are not limited to, the following:

      1. Curriculum is being revised;

      2. Key faculty member(s) have left the college and replacements are being recruited for the program;

      3. Accreditation standards have changed;

      4. The college is reprioritizing its resources and/or efforts; and

      5. Student demand for the program has diminished over time and the college is re-evaluating the viability of the program.

   2. (b) Reactivation. A college may subsequently reactivate an inactivated program and can begin accepting new enrollments without undergoing the baccalaureate approval process as outlined in subsections (3) and (5) of this rule provided that the reactivation occurs within two (2) years of the date that the approved program was inactivated. Colleges that reactivate an approved baccalaureate degree program shall report the reactivation via the Baccalaureate Program-Level Changes, Form No. BAAC-05. Colleges that wish to subsequently reactivate a program that has been inactive for more than two (2) years from the date that the program was inactivated must undergo the baccalaureate approval process as outlined in subsections (3) and (5) of this rule.

   3. (c) Termination. Termination means that the college is no longer approved to offer the program. To ensure the efficient use of state resources and maintain the quality and relevancy of baccalaureate programs, colleges may terminate programs. Colleges that terminate an approved baccalaureate program shall develop a teach-out plan to accommodate students currently enrolled in the program and shall report the termination via the Baccalaureate Program-Level Changes, Form No. BAAC-05. Reasons for terminating programs may include but are not limited to the following:

      1. Enrollments are no longer sufficient to justify the cost of instruction, facilities, and equipment, or the program duplicates other offerings at the college;

      2. Faculty or other resources are no longer sufficient to deliver a high-quality program;

      3. The program is no longer aligned with the mission or strategic goals of the college;

      4. The program no longer meets local and regional workforce need and demand; and

      5. The program no longer meets the needs of the citizens of Florida or the residents of the service area in providing a viable education or occupational objective. Colleges that terminate a program and subsequently wish to offer the program must undergo the baccalaureate approval process as outlined in subsections (3) and (5) of this rule.

   4. (d) A college seeking to make changes to an approved baccalaureate degree program other than to inactivate, reactivate, or terminate the program, must report other changes via the Baccalaureate Program-Level Changes, Form No. BAAC-05. Other changes to an approved baccalaureate degree program include the following:

      1. Program 6-digit federal CIP code;

      2. Program credit hours;

      3. Limited/restricted/open access designation;

      4. Degree type; and

      5. Program name.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1007.33(6), 1003.491(5) FS. Law Implemented 1007.33, 1003.491(5) FS. History–New 8-8-10, Amended 9-16-12, 8-26-15, 10-27-20, 2-21-23, 5-21-26.