Board Policies
Chapter 3 - Educational Policies
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3.12 Academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement and Closure

Part 1. Definitions

Subpart A. Closed Academic Program. A closed academic program is one that is not admitting students for current or future enrollment and may not be reinstated by a college or university without approval under Policy 3.14 Academic Program Approval.

Subpart B. Suspended Academic Program. A suspended academic program is one that is not admitting students for current or future enrollment but may be reinstated by a college or university without seeking approval under Policy 3.14 Academic Program Approval.

Subpart C. Documentation. Documentation is information, as applicable, regarding (a) academic program need, (b) student enrollment trends, (c) placement of graduates, (d) the financial circumstances affecting the program or institution, (e) any obligations to accommodate students currently enrolled in the program, (f) impact on faculty and support staff, (g) consultation with appropriate constituent groups including students, faculty and community, (h) alternatives considered, (i) programmatic accreditation or licensure, (j) program costs and benefits, and (k) other factors affecting program operation.

Part 2. Academic Program Suspension and Reinstatement

Subpart A. Suspension. The president of a college or university may suspend an academic program for up to three years, following a review of all applicable documentation. The president shall notify the chancellor of the program suspension no later than 30 days after its effective date. Notification to the chancellor shall include all applicable documentation. The president of a college or university may extend the suspension for up to one year upon notification to the chancellor.

Subpart B. Reinstatement. The president of a college or university may reinstate a suspended academic program upon notification to the chancellor.

Part 3. Academic Program Closure

An academic program shall close only in accordance with this part.

Subpart A. Closure by chancellor. The chancellor may approve a program closure if:

the closure is requested by the president of a college or university, and the chancellor determines that the documentation provided by the college or university supports closure;

following consultation with the president of a college or university, the chancellor determines that closure is warranted:
a. because no student has enrolled in the program within 18 months of its approval; or
b. based on an evaluation of the program's performance.

Subpart B. Closure following program suspension. A program that has been previously suspended by the president of a college or university shall automatically close at the end of the three year period unless the president submits notification to extend the period of suspension. A suspended program that does not enroll any student during the twelve month extension shall automatically close at the end of the extension period.