Alabama Administrative Code
Title 300 - ALABAMA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Chapter 300-2-1 - PROGRAM REVIEW
Section 300-2-1-.01 - Definitions Recognized By The Commission
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the definitions recognized by the Commission are as follows throughout these rules:
(a) Commission: The Alabama Commission on Higher Education created by Alabama Code Sections 16-5-1, et. seq.
(b) Unit of Instruction: An organizational structure which offers instructional courses or other activities for academic credit. This definition pertains to institutions, branches, and campuses as well as colleges, schools, divisions, departments, institutes, and centers within institutions which offer courses or other activities for academic credit.
(c) Unit of Research: An organizational structure for those activities intended to produce one or more research outcomes, including the creation of new knowledge, the organization of knowledge, and the application of knowledge. Might include such entities as research divisions, bureaus, institutes, centers, and experiment stations.
(d) Unit of Public Service: An organizational structure established to make available to the public the various unique resources and capabilities of an institution for the specific purpose of responding to local, regional, or statewide needs or problems. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 5/20/88 and 8/19/94; and revisions adopted by the Commission on 6/21/91 and 8/19/94; Code of Ala. 1975, Chapter 5, Paragraphs 16-5-1; 16-5-8).
(e) Higher Education/Postsecondary Education Institutions: Institutions which provide formal programs of instruction with curricula designed primarily for students who have completed the requirements for a high school diploma or its equivalent. This includes academic, occupational, professional, and continuing professional education programs. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(f) Public Institutions of Higher Education: Those public educational institutions in Alabama which have been authorized by the Legislature or by the Constitution to provide formal education including vocational, technical, collegiate, professional, or any other form of education, above the secondary school level (Code of Ala. 1975, 16-5-1). These institutions are controlled and operated by publicly elected or appointed officials and derive their primary support from public funds. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(g) Private Institutions of Higher Education: An institution of higher education which is controlled by an individual or agency other than the state, a subdivision of the state, or the federal government and is usually supported primarily by other than public funds and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(h) College or University System: Two or more separately accredited colleges or universities under the governance of a single board and under the control or supervision of a single executive head. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(i) Multicampus Institution: A single institution which operates on two or more administratively equal campuses. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(j) University: An institution of higher education usually composed of several schools and colleges. The institution normally confers undergraduate degrees, primarily the baccalaureate. It also may confer graduate degrees, such as masters, doctorates, and specialist in education, as well as one or more first professional degrees in fields such as law and medicine. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(k) Upper Division College or University: An institution of higher education which does not enroll freshmen or sophomores and offers courses and programs only at the junior, senior, and possibly graduate level. The institution normally confers the baccalaureate degree and, in some instances, graduate degrees. Students matriculated in formal programs of study transfer the lower division (freshman-sophomore) component from other institutions. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(l) Community College: A lower division institution which offers university parallel transfer programs which culminate in the award of Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees as well as "career" or "applied" programs to prepare students for occupational, technical, or paraprofessional employment. The applied programs, varying in length, culminate in certificates, diplomas, or Associate in Applied Science degrees. Considerable emphasis is placed on developmental/remedial studies and continuing education. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(m) Junior College: A lower division institution similar in role and mission to the Community College. The main distinction is in the scope of the curriculum, i.e. the junior college is generally less comprehensive than the community college in its "applied" programs and is primarily a transfer institution designed to offer the first two years of a baccalaureate degree. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(n) Technical College: A lower division institution which offers occupational programs in trade and industrial, technical and applied science fields. These programs culminate in certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees. Technical Colleges accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions (COEI) may grant the Associate in Applied Technology degree (AAT), while those accredited by the Commission on Colleges (COC) may grant the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. The technical college may not offer the transfer AA and AS degrees. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission 8/19/94.)
(o) Branch: A degree-granting division of an institution located in a geographical setting separate from the sponsoring institution's main campus or central administration and authorized for a stated purpose in relation to the sponsoring institution and the area served. The branch offers all requirements for completing degree programs in two or more fields of study as classified by the CIP taxonomy at the six digit level. A branch provides the necessary administrative services, student services, financial resources, library, and physical facilities to provide adequate support for degree programs offered. (Definition was adopted by the Commission on 8/24/79; revision adopted 8/19/94.)
(p) Campus: The grounds and buildings of an institution of higher education. (From Operation Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(q) Off-campus Site: The specific location where one or more courses are offered for academic credit away from the sponsoring institution's main campus. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(r) Off-campus Facility: The actual physical plant in which instruction is conducted at an off-campus site. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(s) College: An instructional unit within a university which usually includes several academic divisions and/or departments and is usually administered by a dean. Often, though not always, a college is a more prominent or inclusive unit than a school. As used here, the term "college" does not pertain to separate institutions known as colleges, such as junior college, community college, technical college, or Athens State College. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(t) School: An instructional unit within an institution of higher education which usually encompasses a professional discipline such as medicine, engineering, education, etc. and which often includes several academic divisions and/or departments. A school is usually under the administration of a dean or director. Often, though not always, a school is less inclusive than a college. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.
(u) Division: An instructional unit which usually includes two or more academic departments representing allied fields of study. (For example, a Division of Natural Sciences might include departments of biology, chemistry, physics and geology). Usually, but not always, a division is a more prominent entity than a department. (Some institutions identify the department as the more inclusive unit. In such cases, the department might include several divisions.) (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(v) Department: An instructional unit encompassing a discrete branch of study; usually located within a division and/or a school or college. The department is usually a less inclusive unit than a division, although this is not always the case. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(w) Center: A place, area, or concentration of resources marked significantly by an indicated activity, pursuit or interest. A center may involve instruction, research or service or some combination of the three. It may or may not offer courses or other activities for academic credit. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(x) Institute: An association of persons or organizations that collectively constitute a technical or professional authority in a field of work, study, research, or service. An institute may or may not offer courses or other activities for academic credit. Sometimes the term is used interchangeably with a center or an entire special purpose institution. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(y) Bureau: A specialized administrative unit of an institution that usually serves as a clearing house or intermediary for exchanging information, making contacts or coordinating related activities. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(z) Program of Instruction: An organized set of courses and related activities for which, upon satisfactory completion, some degree, diploma, or certificate is awarded. This does not include areas of specialization or concentration within a program. If an institution wishes to give such options discrete program identify, they must first be reviewed and approved by the Commission. Options within programs will not be separately identified in the Commission's Academic Program Inventory, and the institution may not identify such options as degree programs in its catalog or other publications.
(aa) Cooperative Program of Instruction: A program which is under the sponsorship of a single institution (identified as the primary institution) but which contains elements of resource sharing agreed upon by one or more other institutions (the secondary institution(s)). The administrative control of such a program and commitment for maintaining the resources necessary to support it are the responsibility of the primary institution. The degree is granted under the seal of the primary institution and the program will be identified in the Commission's Academic Program Inventory for that institution only. The program is so structured that should the elements contributed by the secondary institution(s) be discontinued, the basic strength of the program will not be damaged seriously and the institution administering the program will be able to continue to do so with few or no additional resources. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 5/20/88 and revised on 6/21/91 and 8/19/94.)
(bb) Joint Program: A program which is mutually sponsored by two or more institutions leading to a single degree which is conferred by both or all participating institutions. A joint degree program is unique and distinguishable from any program offered independently at any one of the institutions. A joint degree program exhibits the following specific characteristics:
(cc) Shared Program: A program of instruction that is mutually sponsored by two or more institutions and leads to a single degree or other award of completion which is jointly conferred by all participating institutions. A shared program is very similar to a joint program. However, the withdrawal of one of more participating institutions from a shared program does not automatically preclude the continuation of the program by the remaining participants or the reversion to independent program status by institutions which offered independent programs prior to entering the shared program agreement. The purpose of a shared program is to allow institutions to pool their resources in order to offer a collaborative program of greater depth, breadth, academic quality, productivity, and economy than would generally be possible through independent single programs. It is also expected that shared programs will help reduce program duplication. Guidelines for shared programs are listed below.
(dd) Reasonable Extension or Alteration of a Unit or Program of Instruction: Modification of an existing unit or program of instruction which does not change its essential character, integrity, or objectives. Such modifications do not create new units or programs of instruction. Program changes may include reasonable extensions such as the addition of a new area of specialization (concentration, option, emphasis, focus, track), or reasonable alterations such as a change in degree nomenclature at the same degree level (except doctoral), or a change in program title or CIP code, provided these modifications are within the Commission guidelines. Provisions for reasonable extensions or alterations of units or programs of instruction do not relate to the addition of off-campus sites or adding any new unit or program. (From Operation Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94. See 300-2-1-.01(d)1 for the Commission's requirements.)
(ee) Major: That part of a degree program which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field. While practices vary among institutions, a baccalaureate program major usually consists of 28 semester hours (42 quarter hours) or more. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(ff) Minor: That part of a degree program which consists of a specified group of courses in a particular discipline or field usually constituting a minimum of 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours). (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94).
(gg) Specialization, Concentration, Option, Focus, Track, Emphasis: Synonymous terms that represent a specified group of courses within a program of instruction. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(hh) Degree: An award conferred by a college, university or other higher/postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful completion of a prescribed program of studies. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(ii) Diploma: A formal award certifying the successful completion of a prescribed postsecondary education program. In Alabama, the diploma, which ranges from 48 to 90 quarter hours, is only awarded by the community and technical colleges. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(jj) Certificate: A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a prescribed program of study. The certificate is less than a degree, and its curriculum in many instances is related to the student's employment or professional advancement. In the two-year college system of Alabama, a Certificate requires a minimum of 15 quarter hours and a maximum of 90 quarter hours. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(kk) Credit: Recognition of attendance and performance in an instructional activity (course or program) that can be applied by a recipient toward the requirements for a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94).
(ll) Credit Hour: A unit of measure representing the time and activity required for one hour of credit. Usually, this involves the equivalent of 50 minutes of instruction each week for a semester, trimester, or quarter. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(mm) Contact Hour: A unit of measure that represents a minimum of 50 minutes of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(nn) Academic Year: The period of an institution's regular session, generally extending from September to June, usually divided as semesters, trimesters, quarters or the 4-1-4 plan. These designations are sometimes referred to as "terms." (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(oo) Faculty: Persons whose specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of conducting instruction, research, or public service as a principal activity (or activities), and who hold academic rank titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, lecturer, or the equivalent of any of these academic ranks. If their principal activity is instructional, faculty may include deans, directors, or the equivalent, as well as associate or assistant deans and departmental or division heads. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(pp) Merger: One institution relinquishes its assets and degree granting authority and is dissolved into another with the second institution remaining as the sole surviving entity. Might involve the closure of a campus or one institution becoming a branch of the other. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(qq) Administrative Consolidation: Two or more institutions are placed under a single executive head without program interchange. All involved institutions maintain separate functional identities. This does not constitute a multicampus institution, but rather two or more separate institutions operating under a single executive head. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(rr) Institutional Consolidation: Two or more institutions join to form a distinctly new unit, often with a new name. This results in a single multicampus institution operating under one chief executive officer and under one regional accreditation designation. Often involves program relocation or exchange. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(ss) Consortium: A formal federation or association of two or more separate institutions for one or more specific purposes, usually involving a statement of mutual obligations and resource-sharing. (From Operational Definitions adopted by the Commission on 8/19/94.)
(tt) Alphabetical index of definitions recognized by the Commission with reference to location in Chapter 300-2-1.
Academic Year, 300-2-1-.01(nn)
Adjunct Faculty, 300-2-1-.01(oo)3
Administrative Changes (Department Level), 300-2-1-.06(2)(j)
Administrative Consolidation, 300-2-1-.01(qq)
Approval of a New Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.04(3)
Associate's Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)1; 300-2-1-.06(2) (a-e)
Bachelor's Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)2
Branch, 300-2-1-.01(o); 300-2-1-.05(3)(c)
Branch Campus, 300-2-1-.01(p)2; 300-2-1-.05(3)(d)
Bureau, 300-2-1-.01(y)
Campus, 300-2-1-.01(p)
Center, 300-2-1-.01(w)
Certificate, 300-2-1-.01(ii); 300-2-1-.06(2)(a)1., (g), (h), (l)
College, 300-2-1-.01(s)
College or University System, 300-2-1-.01(h)
Commission, 300-2-1-.01(a)
Community College, 300-2-1-.01(l)
Concentration, 300-2-1-.01(gg)
Consortium, 300-2-1-.01(ss)
Contact Hour, 300-2-1-.01(mm)
Cooperative Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(aa)
Credit, 300-2-1-.01(kk)
Credit Hour, 300-2-1-.01(ll)
Deferral of a Proposed Program, 300-2-1-.04(6)
Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)
Department, 300-2-1-.01(v); 300-2-1-.06(2)(j)
Diploma, 300-2-1-.01(ii); 300-2-1-.06(2)(a), (b), (d)
Disapproval of a New Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.04 (4-5)
Division, 300-2-1-.01(u)
Doctoral Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)6
Dual Degree Programs, 300-2-1-.06(2)(i)
Education Specialist's Degree (Ed.S.), 300-2-1-.01(hh)4; 300-2-1-.06(2)(f)
Emphasis, 300-2-1-.01(gg);300-2-1-.06(1)
Exempt Institutions (Non-Alabama Institutions), 300-2-1-.02(c)
Exempt Site (Off-campus definition), 300-2-1-.05(3)(e)
Existing Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(z)1
Existing Unit of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(b)1
Faculty, 300-2-1-.01(oo)
First-Professional Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)5
Focus, 300-2-1-.01(gg); 300-2-1-.06(1)
Four-One-Four (4-1-4) Plan, 300-2-1-.01(nn)4
Full-time Faculty, 300-2-1-.01(oo)1; 300-2-1-.02(d); 300-2-1-.05(3)(h)
Higher Education, Postsecondary Institution, 300-2-1-.01(e)
Inactive Program, 300-2-1-.06(2)(m); 300-2-1-.07
Institute, 300-2-1-.01(x)
Institutional Consolidation, 300-2-1-.01(rr)
Joint Program, 300-2-1-.01(bb)
Junior College, 300-2-1-.01(m)
Main Campus, 300-2-1-.01(p)1; 300-2-1-.02(e)
Major, 300-2-1-.01(ee)
Master's Degree, 300-2-1-.01(hh)3
Merger, 300-2-1-.01(pp)
Minor, 300-2-1-.01(ff)
Multicampus Institution, 300-2-1-.01(i)
New Instructional Program Proposals, 300-2-1-.03
New Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(z)2
New Teacher Certification Programs, 300-2-1-.06(2)(1)
New Units of Instruction, Research, or Service, 300-2-1-.06(2)(k)
NISP (Notification of Intent to Submit a Proposal), 300-2-1-.03(4)
Non-Alabama Institutions, 300-2-1-.02(f)
Non-credit Courses (Off-campus Offerings), 300-2-1-.05(4)(c)2.
Non-degree Programs, 300-2-1-.06(2)(g)
Notification of Intent to Submit a Proposal (NISP), 300-2-1-.03(4)
Off-campus Course, 300-2-1-.05(3)(f)
Off-campus Facility, 300-2-1-.01(r); 300-2-1-.05(3)(b)
Off-campus Instruction, 300-2-1-.05
Off-campus Prison Sites, 300-2-1-.05(4)(o)
Off-campus Program, 300-2-1-.05(3)(g)
Off-campus Site, 300-2-1-.01(q); 300-2-1-.05(3)(a)
Option, 300-2-1-.01(gg); 300-2-1-.06(1)
Part-time Faculty, 300-2-1-.01(oo)2; 300-2-1-.05(3)(i)
Private Institutions of Higher Education, 300-2-1-.01(g)
Private For-Profit (Profit Making) Institution, 300-2-1-.01(g)2
Private Nonprofit Institution, 300-2-1-.01(g)1
Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(z)
Proposed New Unit of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(b)2
Public Institutions of Higher Education, 300-2-1-.01(f)
Quarter, 300-2-1-.01(nn)1
Reasonable Extension or Alteration of a Unit or Program of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(dd)
Reinstatement of an Inactive Program, 300-2-1-.06(2)(m); 300-2-1-.07
School, 300-2-1-.01(t)
Semester, 300-2-1-.01(nn)2
Shared Program, 300-2-1-.01(cc)
Specialization, 300-2-1-.01(gg); 300-2-1-.06(1)
Technical College, 300-2-1-.01(n)
Termination of a Program, 300-2-1-.06(2)(n)
Track, 300-2-1-.01(gg); 300-2-1-.06(1)
Training for Business and Industry (Off-campus Offerings), 300-2-1-.05(4)(c)
Trimester, 300-2-1-.01(nn)3
Unit of Instruction, 300-2-1-.01(b); 300-2-1-.06(2)(k)
Unit of Public Service, 300-2-1-.01(d); 300-2-1-.06(2)(k)
Unit of Research, 300-2-1-.01(c); 300-2-1-.06(2)(k)
Units or Programs of Instruction (Courses) (Non-Alabama Institutions), 300-2-1-.02(3)(a)
University, 300-2-1-.01(j)
University or College System, 300-2-1-.01(h)
Upper Division College or University, 300-2-1-.01(k)
Withdrawal of a Proposed Program, 300-2-1-.04(7)
Author: William O. Blow
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 16-5-1, et. seq.