Screening Form for Changes to Existing Educational Programs

Complete the form below to determine whether prior HLC approval or notification is required for any of the following types of changes to an existing HLC-approved degree or certificate program.

Types of Changes to Report

Number of Clock or Credit Hours

Report a change of 25% or more to the number of clock or credit hours required to complete a degree program or certificate program, either in a single change or as the sum total of aggregate changes since the institution’s most recent accreditation review (comprehensive evaluation or Assurance Review).

When Approval Is Required

Prior HLC approval is required when changing the number of clock or credits hours by 25% or more for a degree program and by 50% or more for a certificate program. In those cases, institutions are not required to complete this screening form before submitting an application. See Substantive Change: Changes to Existing Programs for more information.

Changes of Less Than 25%

Institutions may also report changes to clock or credit hours of less than 25%. HLC will add this information to its records and treat it as a notification.

Program Content

Report a change of 25% or more to the content of a program, either in a single change or as the sum total of aggregate changes, since the most recent accreditation review (comprehensive evaluation or Assurance Review).

Program content changes include changes to a program’s curriculum (measured by clock or credit hours), learning objectives, competencies or required clinical experiences. This includes changes in the general education courses required for program completion, not merely the courses within the discipline, program or major.

Program Concentrations or Specializations

Changes to program concentrations or specializations should not be reported in this form. Please contact your institution’s HLC staff liaison if you are planning to:

• Add a concentration or specialization that is a significant departure from the original approved program.
• End a concentration or specialization.

Program Name or CIP Code Changes 

Only report changes to a program name or CIP code if the program is specifically listed in the institution’s General stipulation limiting the programs the institution offers. Otherwise, you do not need to report program name or CIP Code changes to HLC.

If your institutions received a request from a regulatory agency to document that HLC has approved a program, please submit that request using HLC’s Official Letter Request Form.

Method of Delivery 

Report a change in the method of delivery for a program. If your institution is changing a program’s method of delivery to credit-based competency-based education or distance education, you will need your institution’s relevant stipulation from its Institutional Status and Requirements (ISR) Report.

Customized Pathways or Abbreviated or Modified Courses 

Report the development of customized pathways or abbreviated or modified courses or programs to accommodate a student’s existing knowledge (such as from employment or military service) and to close competency gaps between demonstrated prior knowledge and the full requirements of a particular course or program.

Institutions Subject to Additional Requirements

Do not use this screening form if your institution meets any of the conditions listed below. These institutions are subject to additional requirements and should complete this alternative screening form.

• Your institution is currently on Notice, Probation or under a Show-Cause Order (placed on the sanction or Show-Cause Order after July 1, 2020);
• In the prior three years, your institution has been on Notice, Probation or under a Show-Cause Order (placed on the sanction or Show-Cause Order after July 1, 2020); or
• Your institution is currently under a provisional certification status with the U.S. Department of Education, and that status was assigned on or after July 1, 2020.