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<p>The Faculty Senate's recommendation, approval, and implementation of MCC's new General Education led to an high number of program revisions across the curriculum. In general, most program revisions are minor and do not need to be approved by SUNY and NYSED-- and can be implemented after completing MCC's curriculum approval process. There are, however, some major changes, such as program title or award, format change, changes in the number of credits for a certificate, and changes to licensure-qualifying programs that need to be approved and the program re-registered prior to implementation. In addition, programs that have accumulated minor revisions over time that impact 20 or more credits must also be re-registered. Our Gen Ed implementation process includes an internal review to disclose whether programs have exceeded the 20-credit threshold. In these cases, note that students are already be enrolled in a program that differs from the version previously registered.</p>
<p>Specifically with regard to programs being reviewed for accumulated incremental changes, one of the questions raised at Faculty Senate was "In cases where a program revision has not yet been approved at SUNY or NYSED, what are the implications for students who have been, and are now, selecting courses based on a revised curriculum?"</p>
<p>There are no implications. Students are not at risk because that is not how the SUNY and NYSED review process works.</p>
<p>All of MCC's existing degree and certificate programs are approved programs. Each obtained this status on the day it was last registered by State Ed as a new program. SUNY and NYSED expect that program curricula will change over time. Hence when a department at MCC decides to change one requirement of a newly registered program, and then has this change approved by the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, the program remains a registered program. Likewise, if an additional revision is made, the program remains registered by default. However, because incrementally over time a program's content could change significantly, there needs to be a process that requires institutions to report a program's accumulated changes and that allows SUNY and NYSED to review the program's conformity with basic policy. (Such as, for example, the maximum number of credits.) When there are no compliance issues presented by reported changes, the program is re-registered.</p>
<p>Dr. Deborah Moeckel, the SUNY Assistant Provost assigned as MCC's program reviewer, explains the process as follows:</p>
<p>"<em>Dear Provost Wade,</em></p>
<p><em>I understand that there have been some concerns voiced at Monroe about the process for approval of program revisions. As you know, <strong>new</strong> programs may not be advertised or have students enrolled until the program is registered by the NY State Education Department. With program revisions, however, there are several different aspects to the process depending on what the need is for re-registration.</em></p>
<p><em>When incremental changes over time amount to 20 credits at the Associate degree level, the credit threshold is an indicator that re-registration is necessary. The program being revised <strong>is still registered</strong> during this process, so there is no risk to students while the proposed revisions are being considered by SUNY and SED. In order to ensure this, each proposal indicates the date of implementation of the proposed change. In cases where a major change such as a title change, change of focus, addition or deletion of tracks, among others, is requested, placeholder programs may be assigned during the transition so that students may finish the degree under the conditions which were in place when they enrolled. If the changes have been incremental over time, there may not be a need for this, as students would not be experiencing the changes all at one time.</em></p>
<p><em>As the Assistant Provost assigned to your institution, in cases where the proposed revision does not meet SUNY policies and/or SED requirements, I would work with you and your faculty to make any necessary changes. As I stated above, the program remains registered during this period of time, so there is no risk to students enrolled in the program.</em></p>
<p><em>I hope that this information is helpful to you and to the college community.</em></p>
<p><em>Respectfully,</em></p>
<p><strong>Deborah L. Moeckel, Ph.D.</strong><br /><em>Assistant Provost for Assessment and Community College Education"</em></p>
<p></p>
<p>Please feel free to reach out to me or to AVP Barnet if you have any additional questions.</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

Information on the Academic Program Re-Registration Process

At the May 9 meeting of the Faculty Senate, there were questions raised regarding the status of academic program revisions that have been adopted in the catalog / course schedule, but for which a review for re-registration by SUNY and/or NYS Education Department is still in progress. Associate Vice President David Barnet and I wanted to provide information to resolve any concerns.

The Faculty Senate's recommendation, approval, and implementation of MCC's new General Education led to an high number of program revisions across the curriculum. In general, most program revisions are minor and do not need to be approved by SUNY and NYSED-- and can be implemented after completing MCC's curriculum approval process. There are, however, some major changes, such as program title or award, format change, changes in the number of credits for a certificate, and changes to licensure-qualifying programs that need to be approved and the program re-registered prior to implementation. In addition, programs that have accumulated minor revisions over time that impact 20 or more credits must also be re-registered. Our Gen Ed implementation process includes an internal review to disclose whether programs have exceeded the 20-credit threshold. In these cases, note that students are already be enrolled in a program that differs from the version previously registered.

Specifically with regard to programs being reviewed for accumulated incremental changes, one of the questions raised at Faculty Senate was "In cases where a program revision has not yet been approved at SUNY or NYSED, what are the implications for students who have been, and are now, selecting courses based on a revised curriculum?"

There are no implications. Students are not at risk because that is not how the SUNY and NYSED review process works.

All of MCC's existing degree and certificate programs are approved programs. Each obtained this status on the day it was last registered by State Ed as a new program. SUNY and NYSED expect that program curricula will change over time. Hence when a department at MCC decides to change one requirement of a newly registered program, and then has this change approved by the Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee, the program remains a registered program. Likewise, if an additional revision is made, the program remains registered by default. However, because incrementally over time a program's content could change significantly, there needs to be a process that requires institutions to report a program's accumulated changes and that allows SUNY and NYSED to review the program's conformity with basic policy. (Such as, for example, the maximum number of credits.) When there are no compliance issues presented by reported changes, the program is re-registered.

Dr. Deborah Moeckel, the SUNY Assistant Provost assigned as MCC's program reviewer, explains the process as follows:

"Dear Provost Wade,

I understand that there have been some concerns voiced at Monroe about the process for approval of program revisions. As you know, new programs may not be advertised or have students enrolled until the program is registered by the NY State Education Department. With program revisions, however, there are several different aspects to the process depending on what the need is for re-registration.

When incremental changes over time amount to 20 credits at the Associate degree level, the credit threshold is an indicator that re-registration is necessary. The program being revised is still registered during this process, so there is no risk to students while the proposed revisions are being considered by SUNY and SED. In order to ensure this, each proposal indicates the date of implementation of the proposed change. In cases where a major change such as a title change, change of focus, addition or deletion of tracks, among others, is requested, placeholder programs may be assigned during the transition so that students may finish the degree under the conditions which were in place when they enrolled. If the changes have been incremental over time, there may not be a need for this, as students would not be experiencing the changes all at one time.

As the Assistant Provost assigned to your institution, in cases where the proposed revision does not meet SUNY policies and/or SED requirements, I would work with you and your faculty to make any necessary changes. As I stated above, the program remains registered during this period of time, so there is no risk to students enrolled in the program.

I hope that this information is helpful to you and to the college community.

Respectfully,

Deborah L. Moeckel, Ph.D.
Assistant Provost for Assessment and Community College Education"

Please feel free to reach out to me or to AVP Barnet if you have any additional questions.

Andrea Wade
Academic Services
05/14/2019