Substantive Change: Additional Locations
Prior HLC approval or notification may be required for substantive changes related to additional locations. See HLC’s Glossary for our definition of additional location.
Off-Campus Instruction Provided Through a Consortial Arrangement
If an institution provides instruction through a consortial arrangement at a facility separate from its main campus, the facility may qualify as an additional location and therefore require prior HLC approval. This requirement applies if it is possible for students at the location to complete 50% or more of the courses in an academic program leading to a degree or other credential conferred by the institution. This is the case even if, among the consortial partners, the instruction that the institution provides at that location accounts for less than 50% of the academic program.
Manage Location Records in Canopy
Chief Executive Officers, Accreditation Liaison Officers and Location Coordinators can view and update their institution’s branch campus and additional location records in HLC’s Canopy system. To access these records, click on “Location and Campus Update” in the Institution section of the main menu or under the Quick Links section of the Canopy homepage.
Types of Requests
Opening or Relocation
Closure or Suspension
Reclassification
Joining the Notification Program for Additional Locations
An institution with access to the Notification Program for Additional Locations will be able to open new additional locations after notifying HLC prior to initiating any new additional locations and receiving an acknowledgement that HLC has added the new additional location to its systems. The program is appropriate for institutions that have a distributed network of additional locations and intend to open new additional locations frequently during the year.
Program Eligibility
To qualify for the program, an institution must demonstrate that it has appropriate systems to ensure quality control of locations that include clearly identified academic controls; regular evaluation by the institution of its locations; a pattern of adequate faculty, facilities, resources and academic/support systems; financial stability; and long-range planning for future expansion. Institutions are eligible to apply for admission to the Notification Program if they meet the criteria for eligibility identified in HLC policy Review of Substantive Change (INST.G.10.020).
Important: An institution may be suspended or removed from the program if it meets any of the conditions identified in HLC policy. HLC also reserves the right to reconsider this privilege at any time and for any reason it deems appropriate.
Program Levels
There are two levels of access to the program: (1) additional locations in the United States and (2) additional locations in the United States and internationally. An institution must have at least three active locations within the geographic scope of a program level before applying for access to that level.
Related Resources
