1. A. A proposed program shall meet a critical and compelling regional or Statewide need as identified in the State Plan.

2. B. A program proposal shall clearly demonstrate demand and need for the program in terms of meeting present and future needs of the region and the State in general. Four kinds of needs may be identified:

   1. (1) The need for the advancement and evolution of knowledge;
   2. (2) Societal needs, including expanding educational opportunities and choices for minority and educationally disadvantaged students at institutions of higher education;
   3. (3) Occupational and professional needs relative to upgrading vocational/ technical skills or meeting job market requirements; and
   4. (4) The need to strengthen and expand the capacity of historically black institutions to provide high quality and unique educational programs.
3. C. The Commission recognizes and supports the tradition of liberal arts education and the need for programs that offer individual and societal benefits independent of manpower or market demand considerations. These programs provide immeasurable returns to the State in part by instilling in citizens a capacity for advanced learning and an understanding of the fundamentals of civilization.

4. D. Market Demand Data.

   1. (1) This section does not apply to programs in the liberal arts and sciences.
   2. (2) An institution proposing a new program shall present data projecting market demand and the availability of openings in the job market to be served by the new program. The types of information submitted vary, depending on the program, but may include manpower and employment projections prepared by the Maryland Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Data, and the Maryland Department of Commerce as well as professional and trade associations.
   3. (3) An institution shall conduct market surveys that clearly provide quantifiable and reliable data from prospective employers on the educational and training needs and the anticipated number of vacancies expected over the next 5 years.
   4. (4) In assessing demand for a new program, an institution shall also present data showing the current and projected supply of prospective graduates.

5. E. Identification of Programs Having Market Demand.

   1. (1) The Commission shall identify, on a regular basis, programs that are in market demand in Maryland.
   2. (2) For each program identified, the Commission shall also provide an indication of minority participation rates, identifying those programs where minorities are underrepresented.
   3. (3) Institutions maintaining a role and mission appropriate and consistent with those fields declared as shortage areas are encouraged to develop specific programs.
   4. (4) Proposals submitted in response to a declared shortage area do not need to include additional documentation on market demand and supply data.
6. F. As an additional indicator of need, an institution shall clearly detail how program success will be defined and measured, particularly if the definition includes measures in addition to the conferral of a degree or certificate.

Authority: Education Article, Titles 11 and 16, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: July 1, 1980 (7:13 Md. R. 1280)

Chapter recodified from COMAR 13.50.05 to 13B.02.03

Regulations .01—.14, Minimum Requirements for Degree-Granting 2-Year Colleges, repealed effective December 14, 1987 (14:25 Md. R. 2662)

Regulations .01—.16, Minimum Requirements for Associate Degree-Granting Institutions, adopted effective December 14, 1987 (14:25 Md. R. 2662)

Regulation .02B amended effective April 17, 1989 (16:7 Md. R. 812)

Regulations .01—.16, Minimum Requirements for Associate Degree-Granting Institutions, repealed effective April 10, 1995 (22:7 Md. R. 537)

Regulations .01—.32, Academic Programs — Degree-Granting Institutions, adopted effective July 1, 1996 (23:13 Md. R. 945)

Regulation .02B amended effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622); October 29, 2001 (28:21 Md. R. 1858); January 26, 2009 (36:2 Md. R. 102); October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1593); July 26, 2010 (37:15 Md. R. 999)(2)

Regulation .02-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 2011 (38:14 Md. R. 788); adopted permanently effective October 17, 2011 (38:21 Md. R. 1279)

Regulation .03E amended effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .04 amended effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .23 amended effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .24 amended effective April 15, 2002 (29:7 Md. R. 621)

Regulation .25 repealed effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .26E amended effective July 24, 2000 (27:14 Md. R. 1343)

Regulation .26 amended and recodified to Regulation .25 effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .26 adopted effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .33 adopted effective September 17, 2001 (28:18 Md. R. 1622)

Regulation .33C amended effective June 23, 2003 (30:12 Md. R. 791)

Regulation .34 adopted effective October 19, 2009 (36:21 Md. R. 1593)

Chapter revised effective April 2, 2012 (39:6 Md. R. 409)

Regulation .02B amended effective March 16, 2015 (42:5 Md. R. 487); May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .02B amended as an emergency provision effective August 2, 2018 (45:24 Md. R. 1161); emergency status expired effective December 31, 2018

Regulation .02B amended effective March 25, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 346); November 18, 2019 (46:23 Md. R. 1066); August 22, 2022 (49:17 Md. R. 790); January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .02-1B amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .03E amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462); January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .03F amended effective January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .03G amended effective January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .03-1 adopted as an emergency provision effective December 19, 2014 (42:1 Md. R. 16); adopted permanently effective April 27, 2015 (42:8 Md. R. 608)

Regulation .06 amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462); August 22, 2022 (49:17 Md. R. 790); January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .07 amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .10 amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .11H adopted effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .13C adopted effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .15C adopted effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .19 repealed and new Regulation .19 adopted effective August 22, 2022 (49:17 Md. R. 790)

Regulation .20 amended effective January 31, 2025 (51:25 Md. R. 1142)

Regulation .20A amended as an emergency provision effective August 2, 2018 (45:24 Md. R. 1161); emergency status expired effective December 31, 2018

Regulation .20A amended effective March 25, 2019 (46:5 Md. R. 346)

Regulation .22 amended effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)

Regulation .24 amended effective October 28, 2013 (40:21 Md. R. 1780)

Regulation .24D amended effective June 29, 2020 (47:13 Md. R. 642)

Regulation .24D, I amended effective November 18, 2019 (46:23 Md. R. 1066)

Regulation .28 amended effective December 1, 2024 (51:23 Md. R. 1037)

Regulation .29 adopted effective May 7, 2018 (45:9 Md. R. 462)