6A-14.095. Site Determined Baccalaureate Access

(1) Purpose. This rule implements a uniform submission, approval and compliance process for baccalaureate degree programs proposed and offered by Florida College System institutions, in accordance with Section 1007.33, F.S.

(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule and forms incorporated herein, the following definitions shall be used.

(a) “Academic Program Pre-Proposal Recognition System” or “APPRiSe” is a web-based notification system used by the Florida College System and the State University System to provide advance notice to both systems of plans to develop a new baccalaureate degree program.

(b) “Board of Trustees” means a Florida College System institution board of trustees.

(c) “Classification of Instructional Programs” or “CIP code” refers to the taxonomic scheme developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and located at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Default.aspx?y=55.

(d) “College” means an institution within the Florida College System.

(e) “Completed proposal” means a college’s final submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for consideration by the State Board of Education.

(f) “Division” means the Division of Florida Colleges.

(g) “Initial proposal” means a college’s first submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for review.

(h) “Institutional educational accrediting body” means the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions.

(i) “Service district” means the geographical area served by a college identified in Section 1000.21, F.S.

(3) Baccalaureate notice of intent process.

(a) Notification using APPRiSe. First, a Florida College System institution proposing a new baccalaureate degree program shall enter the prospective program in APPRiSe to provide state colleges and universities information regarding the new degree program. The APPRiSe notification shall be made prior to the submission of the notice of intent. The information submitted to APPRiSe must include at least: the program location, the program name, the program level, the CIP code family, the anticipated beginning term, a narrative description, and a primary contact name.

(b) Notice of intent. Once the APPRiSe notification has been made, then pursuant to Section 1007.33(5)(a), F.S., a college seeking consideration of approval by the State Board of Education for a new baccalaureate degree proposal must complete and submit the Notice of Intent, Form No. BAAC-01 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15155) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective February 2023. A copy of the form may be found at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

1. The notice of intent will remain valid for two (2) years from its receipt by the Division.

2. If the initial proposal is not received within two (2) years of receipt of the notice of intent, the college must begin the approval process set forth in Section 1007.33(5), F.S., anew, beginning with submission of a new APPRiSe notification and notice of intent.

(4) Baccalaureate proposal process, alternative proposals and objections. Alternative proposals and objections to the proposed baccalaureate degree may be submitted by a Florida state university or a private college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Alternative proposals must be submitted to the Chancellor of the Florida College System and must address all criteria specified in Section 1007.33(5)(c), F.S., and specifically include a calculation of the total tuition and fees for a student starting as a first-time, freshman student in the program and a calculation of the total tuition and fees for completing the last two (2) years of the program. Both calculations must be based on the total hours required for the baccalaureate degree. A state university or private college or university that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may also submit an objection to a proposed new program to the Division, pursuant to Section 1007.33(5)(b), F.S. State universities have sixty (60) days following the receipt of the notice of intent to submit alternative proposals and objections. Subsequent to the sixty (60) day submission window for state universities, regionally accredited private colleges have thirty (30) days to submit alternative proposals and objections.

(5) Baccalaureate proposal process, application. A college seeking consideration of approval by the State Board of Education for a new baccalaureate degree proposal must complete and submit the Baccalaureate Proposal Application, Form No. BAAC-02 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15156) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective February 2023. A copy of the form may be found at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(a) Upon receipt of an initial proposal, the Division shall review the proposal to determine compliance with criteria in section 1007.33(5)(d), F.S., and other information requested on the Baccalaureate Proposal Application form.

(b) Based on the review of the initial proposal, the Division shall notify the college of any deficiencies. The college shall be required to submit a revised, completed proposal application, which addresses deficiencies identified by the Division, in order to proceed with the request to offer the baccalaureate degree program.

(c) Unless the proposal is withdrawn by the college, the Division shall forward the completed proposal application, including all related documentation, to the Commissioner of Education with a written analysis.

(6) Baccalaureate accountability process. Each college with one (1) or more baccalaureate programs shall annually submit one College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, BAAC-03, and a Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, BAAC-04, for each active baccalaureate degree program.

(a) The College-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-03 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15157), effective February 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be accessed at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(b) The Program-Level Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-04, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15158) effective February 2023, is hereby incorporated by reference and may be accessed at http://fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/baccalaureate-degree-proposal-process.stml or by writing to the Division at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1244, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

(c) Annually, the Division shall notify the colleges of the due date for Baccalaureate Accountability Reports at least sixty (60) days prior to the due date.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1007.33(6), 1003.491(5) FS. Law Implemented 1007.33, 1003.491(5) FS. History–New 8-8-10, Amended 9-16-12, 8-26-15, 10-27-20, 2-21-23.