Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - COORDINATING COMMISSION FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Title 281 - COORDINATING COMMISSION FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Chapter 4 - RULES AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING REVIEW OF PROGRAMS OF PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Section 281-4-004 - REVIEW OF NEW INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS

Universal Citation: 281 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 4 § 004

Current through September 17, 2024

004.01 Preliminary Notification

004.01.A The purpose of the preliminary notification is to provide an opportunity for the Commission to offer comments to the institution regarding potential state-level issues for consideration during the planning of the proposed program.

004.01.B Each public institution is encouraged to submit to the Commission a list of instructional programs that are under consideration by the institution and that are in an early stage of planning as identified in consultation with each sector.

004.01.C The schedule for submission shall be set by the Commission in cooperation with each institution.

004.02 Review Process

004.02.A Governing boards of public institutions shall submit to the Commission all proposals for new programs after the governing board has approved the program and prior to implementation.

004.02.B The format for the proposal shall be prescribed by the Commission.

004.02.C The Commission shall have ninety days from the date a complete final proposal is submitted to the Commission to disapprove a program or it shall stand approved.

004.02.D Following consultation with the governing board, the Commission may require, as a condition of approval, and as evidence of need and demand, that a new program not constitute unnecessary duplication and that it meet minimum performance standards established by the Commission. The Commission may require an institution to submit a periodic status report until the conditions are satisfied. If the program does not meet the performance standards, the Commission shall review the program and may continue or withdraw the approval of the program.

004.03 Conditional Approval

004.03.A A governing board may submit to the Commission for conditional approval a proposal for a new program which is not authorized by the role and mission provision of the statutes.

004.03.B The Commission shall review the proposal under the provisions of sections 004.01, 004.02, and 005.

004.03.C Within one hundred twenty days from its receipt of the proposal, the Commission shall report to the Legislature its recommendations in support for or opposition to the . amendments to the role and mission statutes that would be necessary for the Commission to approve the program.

004.03C(1) The Commission may extend the time period for up to an additional ninety days for good cause. Any such extension shall be filed with the chairperson of the Education Committee of the Legislature prior to the expiration of the initial one hundred twenty days.

004.03.D If the necessary amendments to the role and mission statutes supported by the Commission in its report to the Legislature are enacted, the program shall stand approved.

004.04 Criteria for Review of New Instructional Programs

Review criteria for new instructional programs shall include the following:

004.04.A Centrality to the role and mission of the public institution . The program shall be consistent with the institutional role and mission, as defined by law and in the Comprehensive Statewide Plan of the Commission. Except for new programs submitted for conditional approval under section 004.03, only those programs that are consistent with the institution's role and mission shall be approved.

004.04.B Consistency with the Comprehensive Statewide Plan. The program shall not be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Statewide Plan as approved by the Commission.

004.04.C Evidence of need and demand. The program shall meet significant educational needs of the state or service area and shall not unnecessarily duplicate other programs, and the program shall serve reasonable and appropriate numbers of students and produce sufficient credit hours.

004.04.C(1) Evidence of need and demand may include quantifiable data and/or qualitative information and may be tailored to be appropriate to the field of study.

004.04.C(2) The Commission may, as appropriate, evaluate the extent to which the program will contribute to the economic development of the state by providing skilled employees or services for businesses located in the state or by attracting high quality firms to the state.

004.04.C(3) The Commission may also consider societal needs. Some programs, such as those in selected liberal arts, humanities, or fine arts disciplines, may be justified because they offer individual and societal benefits that may be independent of labor force or market demand. Those programs may provide benefits to the state by instilling in citizens a capacity for advanced learning, by providing a source of new knowledge, by advancing understanding of the fundamentals of civilizations, by enhancing the quality of life through literature and the fine and performing arts, or by other similar outcomes.

004.04.D Adequacy of available resources. The program shall have adequate resources to offer appropriate educational experiences for students and shall use its resources efficiently. The institution shall provide evidence that it has adequate resources to establish and sustain the program. The Commission strongly encourages the sharing of resources such as telecommunications and instructional technologies with other institutions of higher education. For each category of resources identified below, the institution shall identify the basis on which the conclusions about adequacy and efficiency were made.

004.04D(1) Faculty and Staff Resources. Faculty and staff resources shall be adequate for the program, given the institution's mission, and the nature of the program.

004.04D(2) Library/lnformation Resources. Library and information resources shall be adequate and appropriate for the program.

004.04D(3) Physical Facilities . Physical facilities shall be adequate to sustain the program.

004.04D(4) Instructional Equipment. Instructional equipment shall be adequate and appropriate for the program.

004.04.E Avoid unnecessary duplication. Prevention or elimination of unnecessary program duplication shall be a high priority of the Commission. The Commission will consider whether instructional programs are unnecessarily duplicative of similar offerings in their geographic service area, in other areas of the state, or in the region. The Commission will consider the availability of student exchange programs offered by other educational entities, such as the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.

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