Southern Polytechnic State University
Policy and Procedure Manual
P&P Number:  303.10
Original Date: July 1998
Previous Revisions: none
Approved: August 26, 2002
 
Consortial Relationships or Contractual Agreements for Credit-Bearing Courses, Certificates, or Degree Programs
Contents This P&P includes the following main sections:
  • Background
  • Procedure for proposing SPSU’s participation
  • Process of maintenance and control
Background Compliance with this policy is required when a program or school of the university wishes to enter into a consortial relationship and/or contractual agreement. In such cases, SACS accreditation guidelines mandate the following:
  1. Member institutions may only enter into such arrangements with regionally accredited institutions offering degrees or certificates at the same level, unless exceptions to this mandate have been pre-approved by the Commission.
  2. Such educational services and programs must be consistent with the mission of the institution.
  3. The member institution assumes responsibility for maintaining the quality of all programs/courses offered via the consortium or contract.
  4. The institution should evaluate all consortia and contracts regularly.
Procedure for
Proposing SPSU’s
Participation
Step Procedure
1. An academic program head or dean may develop a preliminary proposal requesting that SPSU enter into a consortial or contractual relationship or agreement for the purpose of offering credit courses, certificates, or degrees.
2. Any consortial or contractual agreement with an organization located outside of the United States must involve the Director of International Programs in developing the agreement.
3. The dean of the school that is seeking to establish the consortial relationship or contractual agreement submits copies of the proposal to each program of the school, to the other deans in the university, to the vice president for academic affairs, and to the president.
4. The dean of the school that will offer the proposed program forwards the proposal to the Faculty Senate with his or her recommendation.
5. The Faculty Senate reviews the proposal and makes its recommendation to the faculty.
6. The faculty forwards a recommendation for approval or denial to the president.
7. The president makes the final decision either to approve or deny the proposal.
Process of
Maintenance and
Control
  1. The vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) ensures that all consortial relationships and contractual agreements are consistent with SPSU's mission statement.
  2. Each consortial relationship and contractual agreement is evaluated every other year by the VPAA, with results submitted to the president.
  3. If a consortial relationship or contractual agreement does not satisfy reviews described in the above two points, the relationship or agreement is re-negotiated or terminated at the discretion of the president.