Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 5, February 29, 2024
(1) General Definitions
(a) Average Annual Graduation Rate: The
average number of graduates reported on the Integrated Postsecondary Education
Data System (IPEDS) completions survey. A five-year average will be calculated
for four-year institutions and a three-year average for two-year
institutions.
(b) Designated
Reporting Period For Implementation: For four-year institutions, IPEDS
completions data from 1991-92 through 1995-96 will be used. For two-year
institutions, IPEDS completions data from 1993-94 through 1995-96 will be
used.
(c) Viability Standard Annual
Graduation Rate: Standard graduation rates based on annual completions reported
to IPEDS, double majors and the certification of previously enrolled
vocational/technical students who obtained gainful employment as a result of
skills earned in the program: Diploma & Certificate Programs (45-90 quarter
hours in length), Associate, Baccalaureate, 7.5 graduates per year; Master's,
3.75 graduates per year; Education Specialist, 3 graduates per year; Doctoral,
2.25 graduates per year.
(d)
Programs Listed in the Academic Program Inventory as of January 15, 1997: All
programs in the academic program inventory will be included with the following
exceptions:
1. Any program deletion which
occurs on or before the June 6, 1997 Commission meeting.
2. Programs on inactive status as of June 6,
1997.
3. Joint programs approved by
the Commission as such and reflected in the Commission's academic program
inventory will be removed from the inventory and reflected in a separate report
(refer to Commission's operational definition of joint program). Although these
programs will be subject to the viability analysis, they will be treated as
single programs for purposes of calculating program viability averages. All
graduates in all participating institutions will be factored into the total
average for the single joint program. These joint programs include: 13.0401
Education Leadership, Ed.D, Ph.D. (UA & UAB); 14.0801 Materials/Metal Eng,
Ph.D. (UA & UAB); 26.0101 Biology, MS (AAMU & UAH); 27.0301 Applied
Mathematics, Ph.D. (UA, UAB, UAH); 30.9999 Materials Science, Ph.D. (UA, UAB,
UAH); 31.0599 Health Education/Promotion, Ph.D. (UA & UAB); 44.0401 Public
Administration, Ph.D. (AU & AUM); and 50.0703 Art History, M.A. (UA &
UAB).
4. Formal consortia
recognized by the Commission will be removed from the inventory and treated in
a separate report (refer to Commission's operational definition of consortium).
Although these programs will be subject to the viability analysis, they will be
treated as single programs for purposes of calculating program viability
averages. All graduates in all participating institutions will be factored into
the total average for the consortia. These formal consortia include 26.0607
Marine Biology, BA, BS (Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium); 15.0506
Water & Wastewater Technology Linkage, AAS; and 43.0201 Fire Science
Linkage, AAS.
5. New programs
approved from 1986 to 1996 and reinstated inactive programs will be excluded
from the program viability review based on the following schedule:
Level - Max. Yrs. to Become Fully Productive - Average Required
by Act 96-557 - Total Years from Date of Implementation
Baccalaureate 5 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Master's 3 Years 5 Years 8 Years
Ed.S. 2 Years 5 Years 7 Years
Doctoral 5 Years 5 Years 10 Years
AAS/AAT/AA/AS 2 Years 3 Years 5 Years
Diploma/Cert. 1-2 Years* 3 Years 4 Years
*Depends on length of the certificate or diploma
program.
Note: The Commission staff will evaluate all academic programs
approved or reinstated since 1986 and develop a list of expected viability
dates based upon implementation dates of the programs. In cases where a Diploma
or Certificate has been upgraded to an AAT or AAS degree, the upgrade is not
considered a new program approval. Completions at the award level prior to the
upgrade will be added to the completions at the new award level for purposes of
calculating the program viability averages.
(e) Waiver of Non-Viability of a Program:
Formal action taken by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education which permits
a program to continue for some defined period of time even though the program
does not meet the viability standard annual graduation rate.
(2) Definitions Related to the
Certification of Alternate Completions in Two-Year Programs
(a) Reporting Period: There are three
reporting periods of the Certification of Alternate Completions: Spring,
Summer, Fall 1996; Winter 1997; Spring, Summer, Fall 1995, Winter, 1996;
Spring, Summer, Fall 1994, Winter, 1995. Each period is four quarters and
includes the Spring Quarter of one academic year and the Summer, Fall, and
Winter Quarters of the following academic year. Certification forms are due on
October 1, 1997. Each reporting period will be regarded as discrete. If a
student leaves a program for the purpose of gainful full-time employment in one
reporting period and in a subsequent reporting period returns to school and
completes 20 additional quarter hours or 15 additional semester hours of
appropriate courses, that student may be counted as a "graduate" in both
reporting periods for purposes of program viability.
Note: A sample certification form is filed as an attachment to
300-2-2-.03,
"Certification of Previously Enrolled Vocational/Technical Students as
Graduates for Purposes of Program Viability."
(b) Student Who Leaves a Program: A
previously enrolled student who meets the definitions of this policy during a
defined reporting period and who is not re-admitted to the college in that
program during the spring quarter or semester following certification. No
student will be counted as a graduate for purposes of program viability if he
(or she) is enrolled in the program during the Spring Quarter following the
reporting period.
(c) Gainful
Employment: New full-time employment (40 hours per week) gained as the result
of completing at least 20 quarter hours or 15 semester hours in
vocational/technical skills courses in a single academic program listed in the
Commission's academic program inventory or existing full-time employment in
which the student maintained, retained, or enhanced his/her job skills as a
result of completing at least 20 quarter hours or 15 semester hours in
vocational/technical skills courses in a single academic program listed in the
Commission's academic program inventory.
(d) Same Field of Study as the Program:
Program title and CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs Taxonomy) code
which are directly linked to a previously enrolled student's position title,
position description, and employer. By providing this information on the
certification form, the two-year institution is asserting that the full-time
employment is in the same field of study as the program. Information is subject
to audit by the Commission. If any part of the "Certification for Alternate
Completions" form is left blank, the student will not be counted as a graduate
for purposes of program viability. The Commission staff will not follow-up with
institutions to obtain missing information.
(e) Obtained the Skills in the Program:
Previously enrolled student must have completed at least 20 quarter hours or 15
semester hours in skills courses in the same field of study as the program
before student is eligible for certification. Courses in general education
and/or courses in "related" technical/vocational skills will not count toward
this requirement. Information is subject to a transcript audit by Commission to
evaluate course numbers, names, and descriptions as compared to the student's
employment.
(f)
Vocational/Technical Program Eligible to Certify Previously Enrolled Students
As Graduates for Purposes of Program Viability: Associate in Applied Science
(AAS), Associate in Applied Technology (AAT), and Diploma and Certificate
programs (45-90 qh) in the following fields have been defined as the
vocational/technical programs eligible to certify previously enrolled students
as graduates for purposes of program viability. Note that the list does not
include AA or AS transfer programs or programs which train students for
specific professions or jobs where state licensure or certification is required
to practice.
CIP Code Program Title
01.0101 Agriculture
01.0301 Agricultural Production
01.0601 Horticulture Services
01.0603 Horticulture, Ornamental
01.0605 Landscape Operations Management
03.0401 Forestry
08.0705 Retail Merchandising
08.0708 Marketing
08.1001 Insurance Marketing
09.9999 Telecommunications
10.0103 Photography & Film
10.0104 Radio & TV Broadcasting
11.0101 Computer Science
12.0402 Barbering
12.0403 Cosmetology
12.0503 Culinary Arts
15.0201 Civil Engineering Technology
15.0303 Electronic Engineering Technology
15.0304 Electro Optics
15.0399 Electrical Engineering Tech.
15.0401 Biomedical Equipment Technology
15.0403 Electromechanical Technology
15.0404 Instrumentation Technology
15.0501 Air Cond/Refrigeration Tech
15.0603 Industrial Engineering Tech
15.0607 Plastics Technology
15.0699 Industrial Production
15.0702 Quality Control Technology
15.0801 Avionics Technology
15.0803 Automotive Technology
15.0805 Mechanical Design Technology
15.0899 Mechanical Engineering Tech
15.0901 Mining Technology
15.1001 Construction Management Tech
15.1101 Engineering Technology
15.9999 Engineering Technology
20.0102 Child Development
20.0201 Child Development
20.0301 Textile Technology
20.0303 Commercial Sewing
20.0401 Food Service Management
20.0404 Food & Nutrition
20.0409 Commercial Food Service
20.0501 Interior Design
20.0599 Floristry
22.0103 Legal Assistant/Paralegal
25.0301 Library Assistant
30.9999 Nuclear Power Instrumentation Tech
31.0101 Recreation/Recreation Leadership
31.0301 Golf Course Management/Leisure Facilities
Management/Parks & Recreation Management
41.0205 Nuclear Power Operations Technology
41.0301 Chemical Technology
43.0107 Criminal Justice
43.0202 Fire Science
44.0201 Community Services, General
44.0701 Social Worker Technician
46.0101 Masonry
46.0201 Carpentry
46.0302 Electrical Technology
46.0401 Building Maintenance
46.0499 Building Construction
46.0501 Plumbing
47.0101 Consumer Electronics
47.0102 Electronic Machine Repair
47.0103 Communications Electronics
47.0105 Industrial Electronics Tech
47.0106 Major Appliance Repair
47.0201 Heating & Air Conditioning
47.0303 Industrial Maintenance Tech
47.0408 Watch & Jewelry Repair
47.0603 Automotive Body Repair
47.0604 Auto Mechanics
47.0605 Diesel Mechanics
47.0606 Small Engine Repair
47.0607 Aviation Maintenance Technology
47.0608 Aircraft Mechanics, Powerplant
47.0699 General Aviation Technology
47.9999 Turf Equipment Management
48.0101 Drafting & Design Technology
48.0201 Graphics & Printing
48.0299 Graphics & Printing
48.0303 Upholstery
48.0304 Shoe & Boot Repair
48.0501 Patternmaking Technology
48.0503 Machine Shop Technology
48.0506 Sheet Metal Worker
48.0507 Machine Tool Technology
48.0508 Welding
48.0599 Computer Numerical Control
48.0702 Furniture Refinishing
48.0703 Cabinet Making
49.0102 Flight Technology (Commercial)
49.0107 Aviation Technology (Private)
49.0202 Heavy Equipment Operator
49.9999 Transportation Management
50.0402 Commercial Art/Visual Comm & Comp Graphics
50.9999 Music Industry Communications
51.0801 Medical Assistant
51.1614 Nursing Assistant
51.1801 Optical Technology
52.0101 Management & Supervision/Business & Management,
Gen
52.0204 Office Administration
52.0302 Accounting Technology
52.0401 Office Administration/Secretarial Studies
52.0405 Court Reporting
52.0408 Clerical Technology
52.0803 Banking & Finance/Finance Administration
52.0901 Hospitality Services Management
52.0902 Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Management
52.1501 Real Estate
52.9999 Business & Management, Other
Author: Kitty C. Collier
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala.
1975,
16-5-1,
et. seq., and in implementation of Act 96-557.
