Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program Policy

Responsible Unit: Provost Office | Executive lead: Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost  
Created: 03/11/2022 | Reviewed/Revised: 01/24/2024, 09/29/2025 | Effective: 09/29/2025
Compliance: NWCCU Substantive Change Policy, WAC 250-61-160, RCW 28b.85 
Approving Body: BOT | Classification: Institution-wide 

Policy:  
Pacific Northwest University of Health Science (PNWU), as an accredited member of the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), is required to notify NWCCU of all substantive changes to academic programs following the NWCCU Substantive Change Policy and ensure that PNWU continues to remain compliant with Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) requirements including relevant Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and Revised Code of Washington (RCW) regulations. 

Individuals within the PNWU community wanting to propose an academic program substantive change such as but not limited to: 1) development of a new academic program, 2) making a significant change to an existing academic program, or 3) closure of an existing academic program, must first consult with the program dean(s)/director(s) affected by the change as well as the Provost and the Accreditation Liaison Office (ALO), before any work to develop a proposal for the change begins (as outlined in the Procedure for Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program). 

The University, under the auspices of the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), has established and maintains the Procedure for Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program to ensure that proposals for academic program change that are classified in the NWCCU Substantive Change Manual as either a minor or major substantive changes are not implemented until they have been:

  1. routed to Staff Council and Faculty Senate (both of which are required), as well as other appropriate parties (as determined by the Provost and ALO) for review/feedback. 
  2. reviewed and recommended to the Board for approval by the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
  3. reviewed and approved by PNWU’s Board of Trustees to be submitted to the appropriate accrediting body(ies).
  4. reviewed and approved by NWCCU and/or any college/school-based accrediting or authorizing organization as required. 

The University’s Provost/VPAA in collaboration with PNWU’s NWCCU ALO, has the primary responsibility to notify NWCCU, PNWU’s BOT, and the PNWU community as required.  

Each college/school or academic program, under the auspices of the program’s dean/director follows the Procedure for Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program to ensure substantive academic program changes are planned for, approved, and accurately reported in a timely manner first to the Provost and PNWU’s NWCCU ALO, and then to the PNWU community. The respective college/school/program dean/director is also responsible for notifying the appropriate programmatic accreditor, e.g., Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), Commission on Accreditation on Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 

Definitions:  

Academic program: A postsecondary educational offering that leads to an academic or professional degree, certificate, or another recognized educational credential.  

Substantive Change: A change that significantly alters an institution’s objectives or the scope of its offerings; alters its autonomy, sponsorship, or the locus of control over it; embarks on offering off-campus academic programs for credit; changes the geographic area(s) served; or offers programs or courses for academic credit on a military base. See also the substantive change categories in the NWCCU Substantive Change Manual at NWCCU.org. 

Procedure:
Procedure for Establishing, Changing, or Closing an Academic Program

Related Documents: 
PNWU Accreditation Policy
NWCCU Substantive Change Manual

Policy Resources

For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Deidre Dennis
ddennis@pnwu.edu