Joint Curricular Ventures Involving the Award of Credit Policy and Procedures

Purpose

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) has provided guidance for its member institutions for joint curricular ventures (affiliations, partnerships, technical assistance agreements, articulation agreements, cooperative agreements, consortial agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding) established for credit-bearing and degree-granting activities. The guidance is intended to ensure integrity and quality of academic outcomes in all such arrangements. EMU’s policy is designed to comply with these guidelines.

Policy Statement

As a member institution, it is the policy of Eastern Mennonite University to fully comply with the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation. The university will also consider policies and guidelines offered by SACSCOC. The attached checklist is intended as a tool to ensure compliance with this policy. In all cases copies of agreements and required documentation are to be kept on file in the provost’s office. Memoranda are to be reviewed and updated as-needed on regular basis; at the point of review the director or chair of the department where the joint venture is lodged shall reevaluate the quality of the program, determine whether the program continues to serve the mission of EMU, and update the agreement.

Responsible Party

The provost is responsible for the administration and review of this policy. Deans and program directors/department chairs carry responsibility along with the provost to implement the policy. The provost’s office maintains a chart of organizations with whom EMU has current agreements and memoranda of understanding.

Policy Review

This policy is to be reviewed by the provost on an annual basis to ascertain that it continues to be compatible with SACSCOC requirements. Annually on August 15 the provost also shall review the files to ensure that all memoranda and documentation are up to date.

Distribution

Faculty/Staff Handbook

Approved by President’s Cabinet, June 28, 2006
Revised March 11, 2009
Revised February 6, 2020 for 2018 SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation

Checklist for Development and Evaluation of Joint Curricular Ventures Involving the Award of Credit

SACSCOC refers to joint curricular ventures and cooperative academic arrangements in The Principles of Accreditation in Standard 10.9: “The institution ensures the quality and integrity of the work recorded when an institution transcripts courses or credits as its own when offered through a cooperative academic arrangement. The institution maintains formal agreements between the parties involved, and the institution regularly evaluates such agreements.”(2018 edition)

Additional guidance is provided in the SACSCOC Resource Manual for the 2018 Principles of Accreditation and in a document of the SACSCOC, "Agreements Involving Joint and Dual Academic Awards: Policy and Procedures.” The EMU procedure is intended to assist in use of the policy and guidelines statement to ensure compliance with the Principles. 

EMU must ensure that the following principles have been followed and satisfied with respect to any course or program offered. All joint curricular ventures and cooperative academic arrangements must be formalized via a Memorandum of Understanding or similar document that is approved by all parties involved. In addition to completion of the Memorandum of Understanding, the file for each joint venture or cooperative academic arrangement should include the following:

1. Description of the practices used for determining the amount and level of credit awarded for any course or program.
2. Evidence that the course or program has been approved by the faculty and administration.
3. A statement about acceptable student success and appropriate student progress, and evidence of assessment of success, progress, and outcomes.
4. If a student “enrollment agreement” (an outline of the obligations of the institution, the contracting organization, and the student) is used, include a copy of that in the file. If not, describe how students are fully informed of their rights and responsibilities prior to enrollment and payment of fees.
5. A description of how student academic advising, student support services, and appropriate learning resources are provided.
6. A copy of any notifications or approvals required (e.g., federal or state agencies, SACSCOC).
7. If representatives or agents are used for student recruitment, a description of all arrangements and training provided to ensure appropriate conduct.
8. Copies of any promotional and advertising materials to be used, if applicable.