Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Purpose. This rule implements a uniform
submission, approval and compliance process for baccalaureate degree programs
proposed and offered by Florida College System institutions, in accordance with
Section 1007.33, F.S.
(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this
rule and forms incorporated herein, the following definitions shall be used.
(a) "Academic Program Pre-Proposal
Recognition System" or "APPRiSe" is a web-based notification system used by the
Florida College System and the State University System to provide advance
notice to both systems of plans to develop a new baccalaureate degree
program.
(b) "Board of Trustees"
means a Florida College System institution board of trustees.
(c) "Classification of Instructional
Programs" or "CIP code" refers to the taxonomic scheme developed by the U.S.
Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and located
at
http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55.
(d) "College" means an institution within the
Florida College System.
(e)
"Completed proposal" means a college's final submission of a baccalaureate
program proposal to the Division for consideration by the State Board of
Education.
(f) "Division" means the
Division of Florida Colleges.
(g)
"Initial proposal" means a college's first submission of a baccalaureate
program proposal to the Division for review.
(h) "Institutional educational accrediting
body" means the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education
institutions.
(i) "Service
district" means the geographical area served by a college identified in Section
1000.21,
F.S.
(3) Baccalaureate
notice of intent process.
(a) Notification
using APPRiSe. First, a Florida College System institution proposing a new
baccalaureate degree program shall enter the prospective program in APPRiSe to
provide state colleges and universities information regarding the new degree
program. The APPRiSe notification shall be made prior to the submission of the
notice of intent. The information submitted to APPRiSe must include at least:
the program location, the program name, the program level, the CIP code family,
the anticipated beginning term, a narrative description, and a primary contact
name.
(b) Notice of intent. Once
the APPRiSe notification has been made, then pursuant to Section
1007.33(5)(a),
F.S., a college seeking consideration of approval by the State Board of
Education for a new baccalaureate degree proposal must complete and submit the
Notice of Intent, Form No. BAAC-01 (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15155)
which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective February 2023.
A copy of the form may be found at
http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml
or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
1. The notice of
intent will remain valid for two (2) years from its receipt by the
Division.
2. If the initial
proposal is not received within two (2) years of receipt of the notice of
intent, the college must begin the approval process set forth in Section
1007.33(5),
F.S., anew, beginning with submission of a new APPRiSe notification and notice
of intent.
(4)
Baccalaureate proposal process, alternative proposals and objections.
Alternative proposals and objections to the proposed baccalaureate degree may
be submitted by a Florida state university or a private college or university
that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Alternative proposals must be submitted to the Chancellor of the Florida
College System and must address all criteria specified in Section
1007.33(5)(c),
F.S., and specifically include a calculation of the total tuition and fees for
a student starting as a first-time, freshman student in the program and a
calculation of the total tuition and fees for completing the last two (2) years
of the program. Both calculations must be based on the total hours required for
the baccalaureate degree. A state university or private college or university
that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
may also submit an objection to a proposed new program to the Division,
pursuant to Section 1007.33(5)(b),
F.S. State universities have sixty (60) days following the receipt of the
notice of intent to submit alternative proposals and objections. Subsequent to
the sixty (60) day submission window for state universities, regionally
accredited private colleges have thirty (30) days to submit alternative
proposals and objections.
(5)
Baccalaureate proposal process, application. A college seeking consideration of
approval by the State Board of Education for a new baccalaureate degree
proposal must complete and submit the Baccalaureate Proposal Application, Form
No. BAAC-02 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15156)
which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective February 2023.
A copy of the form may be found at
http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml
or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(a) Upon receipt
of an initial proposal, the Division shall review the proposal to determine
compliance with criteria in section
1007.33(5)(d),
F.S., and other information requested on the Baccalaureate Proposal Application
form.
(b) Based on the review of
the initial proposal, the Division shall notify the college of any
deficiencies. The college shall be required to submit a revised, completed
proposal application, which addresses deficiencies identified by the Division,
in order to proceed with the request to offer the baccalaureate degree
program.
(c) Unless the proposal is
withdrawn by the college, the Division shall forward the completed proposal
application, including all related documentation, to the Commissioner of
Education with a written analysis.
(6) Baccalaureate accountability process.
Each college with one (1) or more baccalaureate programs shall annually submit
one College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, BAAC-03, and a
Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, BAAC-04, for each active
baccalaureate degree program.
(a) The
College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-03 (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15157),
effective February 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be
accessed at
http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml
or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(b) The
Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-04, (
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15158)
effective February 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be
accessed at
http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml
or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244,
Tallahassee, Florida 32399.
(c)
Annually, the Division shall notify the colleges of the due date for
Baccalaureate Accountability Reports at least sixty (60) days prior to the due
date.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02,
1007.33(6),
1003.491(5) FS.
Law Implemented 1007.33,
1003.491(5)
FS.
New 8-8-10, Amended 9-16-12, 8-26-15, 10-27-20,
2-21-23.
