Substantive Change Requirements

February 9, 2026

The Substantive Change policy provides clear and appropriate guidelines for changes that provide a significant modification on the nature and scope of the institution. These include high-impact, high-risk changes and changes that can impact the quality of educational programs and services.

The revisions to this policy pertain primarily to the development of a faster review process by SACSCOC Senior Staff and the elimination of over twenty substantive change types not required by federal law.