Wyo. Code R. 057-0001-6
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 6: Dist Instructional Prog Development, Approval, Review & Termination
Effective Date: 08/05/1997 to 06/04/2001
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 057.0001.6.08051997
Section 1. Authority. The Wyoming Community College Commission is required by S. 21-18-202 (a)(iii) to review and approve or disapprove academic and vocational-technical programs based on relationship to student demand and need and conduct periodic reviews of existing programs. In addition, the State Commission is required to provide for termination of academic and vocational-technical programs based on Commission findings of excessive duplication, lack of cost effectiveness, change in demand, or that the like exist sufficient to warrant termination. The State Commission will also review the process of accreditation by industry and professional groups. Approval of allied health programs by the appropriate agency may also be required. (W.S. 21-18-316)
Further, the State Commission coordinates and approves academic and vocational-technical programs offered by any community college in areas not part of an existing community college district. (W.S. 21-18-202 (a)(x))
Section 2. Applicability. This chapter will govern the standards, application, procedures, State Commission review, disapproval, modification, termination, approval, and implementation process at the state level of district academic and occupational programs which are offered within or outside of a district. It will also govern the assessment of student outcomes. District activities and programs which do not fit the definition of 'an instructional program' are not covered by this chapter and will be evaluated through the district review, audit, accounting, and budget review procedures of the State Commission Rules.
Section 3. Standards. The standards for State Commission consideration will be: consistency with missions, program and community needs, program costs, source of available resources, student outcomes, evidence of unnecessary duplication, and overall quality and viability.
(a) Colleges will submit all proposed academic and vocational-technical programs with substantial new courses to the Commission for approval.
(b) Colleges requesting new program approval will submit an application which shall address:
projected demand for graduates in the state and region for the five (5) year period from the proposed implementation date, documented citizen, business and industry input in program design and assessment (AAS or certificate), means by which the proposed program will coordinate internally and externally with other programs, colleges, and agencies,
the means for assessing student learning and completer follow-up per College System Strategic Plan indicators, program layout including course descriptions, program accreditation process (where applicable), and such other information as may be deemed relevant to assist in the program approval process;
(c) The Academic Affairs Council shall:
(i) have responsibility for approving courses;
(ii) recommend funding level(s).
(d) Upon recommendation of Commission staff, the Commission will:
(i) make a decision to approve, conditionally approve or not approve, if approved, implementation of the program may begin immediately thereafter. Should conditional approval be granted, implementation may not start until all identified conditions have been acceptably met and approved by the Commission.
Section 5. Course Changes. To be eligible for state funding, all new courses and any significantly modified courses must be approved by the college’s curriculum process/committee and subsequently submitted to the Academic Affairs Council for approval.
Section 6. Changed Programs. A district may request to change a program at any time. Requests, including explanations, should be sent to State Commission staff who will determine if changes are significant enough to warrant submission of a new program. In general, substantive changes will require State Commission approval.
Section 7. Program Evaluation. W.S. 21-18-202 (iii) requires that the State Commission “conduct periodic reviews of existing programs.” It is the intent of the Commission to work closely with the administration and district board of each college to evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing instructional programs.
(a) Colleges will be required to report evaluations of approximately one-fifth of their instructional programs annually, providing for a complete evaluation of all instructional programs on a five (5) - year rotation. The list of programs to be evaluated will be submitted to the State Commission by April 1 of each year for the following year’s evaluations. Any program not reviewed by the fifth year after implementation will not be eligible for formula funding, unless and exception is approved by State Commission staff.
(b) Annual review reports are due to the State Commission on the form provided by September 1 of each year.
(c) Colleges are required to develop internal program review and evaluation procedures for all instructional programs. These procedures may be formatted to adhere to local policies and circumstances. Each college’s evaluation process must be documented and available for State Commission review.
(d) Each program review shall contain a section of recommendations by appropriate faculty. Each review shall be approved by the district board.
(e) The State Commission will, upon receipt of annual local evaluations, review them.
(f) Nothing in this section will preclude a college from more extensive evaluation of programs than that required and approved by the State Commission.
(g) When the State Commission staff identifies deficiencies in a program review, a timely, written response is required. It will include steps taken to correct deficiencies identified by the WCCC staff.
(a) If, based upon evaluation of a program, the State Commission elects to consider terminating a program that has not been recommended for termination by the offering district board, the Commission will conduct an additional hearing with the district board, allowing the board to presents its position. The hearing procedures will follow the State Commission’s hearing procedure rules (Chapter 12).
(b) If, at the program hearings, the State Commission decides to terminate a program that has not been recommended for termination by the offering district board, the Commission action will be the final administrative decision.
(c) Programs terminated by the State Commission may be resubmitted for implementation by any district as a new program under these rules.
(d) Programs and courses which have not been offered by a district for a period of three (d) years will be considered terminated. Colleges must request permission for each proposed exception.
(e) Nothing in this section, (a) through (d), will preclude colleges from internally terminating or discontinuing instructional programs. When termination occurs, however, notification will be made to the State Commission.
The State Commission may review participation by colleges in a BOCES to ensure consistency with the mission of the community colleges. The Commission may disapprove such an agreement if it find the agreement is inconsistent with the statutory definition of the community college’s mission. (W.S. 21-18-202 (a)(xvi))