Coverage.
Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and the University of Idaho are covered by these policies. North Idaho College, the College of Southern Idaho and Eastern Idaho Technical College are also covered since post-secondary programs intended for transfer come under the purview of the Board.
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Idaho postsecondary institutions meet the educational and workforce needs of the state through academic planning, alignment of programs and courses, collaboration and coordination. It is the intent of the State Board of Education (the "Board") to optimize the delivery of academic programs while allowing institutions to grow and develop consistent with an appropriate alignment of strengths and sharing of resources. This policy anticipates the use of academic plans to advise and inform the Board in its work to plan and coordinate educational programs in a manner that enhances access to quality programs and courses, while concurrently increasing efficiency, avoiding duplication and maximizing the cost-effective use of educational resources. As part of this process, the Board intends to more clearly identify, reinforce and strengthen the respective statewide missions of the institutions governed by the Board. The provisions set forth herein are intended to serve as fundamental principles underlying the delivery of postsecondary education pursuant to collaborative and cooperative agreements, or memorandums of understanding, between and among the institutions.
The Board acknowledges and supports the role of oversight and advisory councils to assist in coordinating, on an ongoing basis, the operational aspects of delivering postsecondary education within a service region in accordance with the terms of the memorandums of understanding entered into between the institutions and consistent with this policy.
This policy is not applicable to programs or courses offered at a distance through electronic means, correspondence or continuing education courses, or dual enrollment courses for secondary education.
1. Definitions
a. Statewide Mission
A statewide mission denotes that the institution is assigned by the Board to offer and deliver a program in order to meet a particular educational and workforce need in all regions of the state. A statewide mission describes an institution's responsibility for instructional programs that are unique with regard to academic focus. A unique program or course is defined as an academic or vocational program or course, which is offered by and available at only one of the institutions under the governance of the Board. Statewide missions are assigned to institutions by the Board through the role and mission statements.
b. Regional Mission
A regional mission describes an institution's responsibility for instructional programs pertaining to identified educational and workforce needs of primary service regions (identified in Section III, Subsection L. of the Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures). Because similar educational and workforce needs may exist in multiple service regions, programs that are part of an institution's regional mission may be duplicated by other institutions within other service regions.
2. Responsibilities Related to Statewide Missions
Programs/Courses Related to Statewide Missions
It is the responsibility of each institution assigned a statewide mission by the Board to assess and ensure the delivery of all statewide mission programs and courses necessary to meet the educational and workforce needs associated with the statewide mission throughout the state.
3. Responsibilities Related to Regional Missions
Programs/Courses Related to Regional Missions
It is the responsibility of each designated institution within a primary service region (identified in Section III, Subsection L. of the Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures) (a "designated institution") to assess and ensure the delivery of all educational programs, courses and services necessary to meet the educational and workforce needs within its primary service region. Delivery of educational programs and services will include the provision of programs and courses that are regional in nature by the designated institution and partnering institutions and the provision of programs and courses that are identified as statewide missions by institutions assigned a statewide mission responsibility.
4. Academic Planning Process
a. General Provisions
(1) Each institution will create and maintain an eight (8) year rolling, academic plan that describes the programs, courses and services to be offered by the institution and by other public, postsecondary institutions governed by the Board to respond to the educational and workforce needs of the state, or a service region, as appropriate (with respect to each institution, the "Plan"). Plans should be developed pursuant to a process of collaboration and communication with and among the other institutions within the state.
(2) Plans will be submitted to the Office of the Idaho State Board of Education ("OSBE") for review and approval by the Idaho State Board of Education (the "Board") in accordance with a schedule to be developed by the Chief Academic Officer of the Board (the "CAO"). Plans will be submitted first to the Council for Academic Affairs and Programs ("CAAP") at least sixty (60) days prior to submission to OSBE for review, discussion and coordination among CAAP members. Upon submission of the Plans to OSBE, the CAO will review the Plans for the purpose of optimizing through collaboration and coordination among the institutions the cost-effective delivery of quality programs and courses, access to such programs and courses, the avoidance of duplication of programs and courses and the efficient use of resources. The CAO will provide recommendations to the Board for enhancements, if any, to the Plans, no later than thirty (30) days prior to approval by the Board. The Plans will be used to advise and inform the Board in its work to plan and coordinate educational programs throughout the state. Each institution will be responsible for updating its Plan as follows:
(a) Plans pertaining to the delivery of programs and courses for baccalaureate degrees and postgraduate degrees will be updated and submitted to CAAP and OSBE every two (2) years in accordance with a schedule to be developed by the CAO and in accordance with the timelines set forth above.
(b) Plans pertaining to the delivery of programs and courses for associate level degrees or professional-technical degrees or certificates may be updated and submitted to CAAP and OSBE on an as needed basis in accordance with a schedule to be developed by the CAO. Plans for these programs and courses will be approved by the CAO.
The CAO will develop an academic plan form to be used by institutions as a guide for providing the information requested herein.
b. Statewide Mission Planning Process
(1) Statewide Mission Plan
Each institution assigned a statewide mission will create and maintain a Plan that describes the programs and services to be offered to respond to the workforce and educational needs of the state relating to the institution's statewide mission. Each plan will include at least the following:
(a) A needs assessment that identifies the ongoing and future workforce and educational needs of the state relating to the institution's statewide mission.
(b) A description of the statewide mission programs and courses to be delivered throughout the state by the mission owning institution and the resources to be employed.
(c)A description of the statewide mission programs and courses offered, or to be offered, by institutions not assigned the statewide mission.
(d) A summary of the terms of memorandums of understanding ("MOU"s), if any, entered into between the statewide mission owning institution and partnering institutions pursuant to Section 4 below. If it is anticipated that the program or course will be offered within three (3) years of approval of the Plan, the description will include a summary of the anticipated costs of delivery and the resources and support required for delivery of the programs and courses, including facility needs and costs.
(2) Statewide Mission Program or Course in a Service Region
If a statewide mission owning institution identifies a need for the delivery of a statewide mission program or course within a service region, and that program or course is not identified, or anticipated to be identified, by the designated institution in its Plan, the statewide mission owning institution will communicate with the designated institution (in accordance with a schedule to be determined by the CAO) for the purpose of including the same in the designated institution's Plan. It is intended that statewide mission programs or courses be included in the designated institution's Plan, as updated, and that the statewide mission owning institution and the designated institution collaborate and coordinate during the planning process. To facilitate this process, the statewide mission owning institution will deliver to the Chief Academic Officer of the designated institution and OSBE a description of the program or course intended to be delivered, including a plan for the delivery of the program or course, a timeline for delivery of the program or course, the anticipated costs of delivery and the resources and support required for delivery, including facilities needs and costs.
(3) MOU with Designated Institution
If an institution having a statewide mission program or course has submitted the information set forth in Subsection 2 above to a designated institution and OSBE in a timely manner (in accordance with a schedule determined by the CAO) for inclusion in the designated institution's Plan, then the designated institution will identify the program or course in its Plan and enter into an MOU with the statewide mission owning institution for the delivery of such program or course in accordance with this policy. If, prior to the submission of an updated Plan by the designated institution, it is determined by the Board that an emergency need has arisen for such program or course in the service region, then upon Board approval the statewide mission owning institution and the designated institution will enter into an MOU for the delivery of such program or course in accordance with the provisions of this policy.
c. Regional Planning Process
(1) Designated Institution Plan
The designated institution in a primary service region (identified in Section III, Subsection L. of the Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures) will create and maintain a Plan that describes the programs and courses to be offered to respond to the educational and workforce needs of its primary service region. It is intended that designated institutions communicate and collaborate with other institutions located outside of the service region in developing its Plan. If, in the course of developing or updating its Plan, the designated institution identifies a need for the delivery of a program or course within its service region, and the designated institution is unable to provide the program or course, the designated institution will coordinate with an institution located outside of the service region (a "partnering institution") to deliver the program or course in the service region. This will be done pursuant to an MOU to be entered into between the designated institution and the partnering institution in accordance with Section 4 below. Each Plan developed by a designated institution will include at least the following:
(a) A needs assessment that identifies the ongoing and future workforce and educational needs of the region.
(b) A description of the academic programs and courses to be delivered in the service region, or outside of the service region, by the designated institution and the resources to be employed.
(c) A description of regional mission programs and courses offered, or to be offered, in the service region by partnering institutions, including any anticipated transition of programs or courses to the designated institution.
(d) A description of statewide mission programs and courses to be offered in the service region by the statewide mission owning institution or by the designated institution.
(e) A summary of the terms of MOUs, if any, entered into between the designated institution and partnering institutions pursuant to Section 4 below. If it is anticipated that the program or course will be offered within three (3) years of approval of the Plan, the description will include a summary of the anticipated costs of delivery and the resources and support required for delivery of the programs and courses, including facility needs and costs.
(2) Program and Course Offerings by Partnering Institutions
If a partnering institution identifies a regional mission program or course not identified, or anticipated to be identified, in the designated institution's Plan, and the partnering institution wishes to offer such program or course in the service region, the partnering institution may communicate with the designated institution for the purpose of including the program or course in the designated institution's Plan. In order to include the program or course in the designated institution's Plan, the partnering institution must demonstrate the need within the service region for delivery of the program or course, as determined by the Board (or by the CAO in the case of associate level or professional-technical level programs or courses). In order to demonstrate the need for the delivery of a program or course in a service region, the partnering institution will complete and submit to the Chief Academic Officer of the designated institution, to CAAP and to OSBE, in accordance with a schedule to be developed by the CAO, the following:
(a) A study of business and work force trends in the service region indicating anticipated, ongoing demand for the educational program or course to be provided.
(b) A survey of potential students evidencing demand by prospective students and attendance sufficient to justify the short-term and long-term costs of delivery of such program or course.
(c) A complete description of the program or course requested to be delivered, including a plan for the delivery of the program or course, a timeline for delivery of the program or course, the anticipated costs of delivery, the resources and support required for delivery (including facilities needs and costs), and program or course syllabuses
(3) Designated Institution's Opportunity to First Offer a Program or Course
If,
(a) (i) the partnering institution has submitted the information set forth in Subsection 2 above to the Chief Academic Officer of the designated institution in a timely manner (in accordance with a schedule to be determined by the CAO) for inclusion in the designated institution's Plan, (ii) a need is demonstrated by the partnering institution for such program or course in the service region, as determined by the Board (or by the CAO in the case of associate level or professional-technical level programs or courses); or
(b) Prior to the submission of an updated Plan by the designated institution, it is determined by the Board that an emergency need has arisen for such program or course in the service region, then, the designated institution must within six (6) months (three (3) months in the case of associate level or professional-technical level programs or courses) determine whether it will deliver such program on substantially the same terms (qualitatively and quantitatively) described by the partnering institution. In the event the designated institution determines not to offer the program or course, the partnering institution may offer the program or course according to the terms stated, pursuant to an MOU to be entered into with the designated institution. If the partnering institution materially changes the terms and manner in which the program or course is to be delivered, the partnering institution will provide notice to the Chief Academic Officer of the designated institution and to the CAO of such changes and the designated institution will be afforded the opportunity again to review the terms of delivery and determine within three (3) months of the date of notice whether it will deliver such program on substantially the same terms.
d. Program Transitions
In order to appropriately balance (i) the ability of institutions to grow and develop programs and courses in accordance with their statewide mission or according to their service region mission, (ii) the desire that programs and courses be delivered to meet workforce and educational needs, and (iii) the reduction of costs and alignment of educational resources, it is the intent of the Board that, to the extent possible, designated institutions, partnering institutions and statewide mission owning institutions plan and coordinate the delivery of programs and courses anticipated to be offered by such institutions, but not currently identified in the designated institution's, partnering institution's or statewide mission owning institution's Plans. This should be achieved first in the process of developing an institution's Plan.
In the event (i) a statewide mission owning institution intends to develop the capacity to offer a statewide mission program or course within a service region currently being offered by the designated institution or a partnering institution, or (ii) a designated institution intends to develop the capacity to offer a program or course that is being offered within its service region by a partnering institution (other than a program or course offered by a statewide mission owning institution), the statewide mission owning institution or designated institution, respectively, will identify its intent to develop the program or course in the next update of its eight (8) year Plan.
(a) In order for the statewide mission owning institution, or the designated institution, to offer a program or course that is currently offered by another institution (the "withdrawing institution"), the statewide mission owning institution, or the designated institution, must demonstrate its ability to offer the program or course.
(b) Except as otherwise agreed between the institutions pursuant to an MOU, the statewide mission owning institution, or the designated institution, will allow the withdrawing institution a minimum three (3) year transition period (thus creating three (3) to five (5) years' notice pursuant to a two (2) year update process) to allow the withdrawing institution to withdraw its program or course. If, upon notice from the statewide mission owning institution, or the designated institution, the withdrawing institution wishes to withdraw its program or course region prior to the end of the three (3) year transition period, the withdrawing institution will seek to enter into a transition MOU with the statewide mission owning institution, or the designated institution, as appropriate, to begin delivery by the statewide mission owning institution or designated institution at a date prior to the end of the three (3) year transition period, but in no event earlier than two (2) years from the date of notice (unless otherwise agreed by the statewide mission owning institution or designated institution). Included within the transition MOU will be an admissions plan between the institutions providing for continuity in student enrollment during the transition period.
e. Discontinuance of Offerings
Unless otherwise agreed between a statewide mission owning institution and the designated institution pursuant to an MOU, if, for any reason, a designated institution offering programs or courses in its service region that supports a statewide mission program of another institution, wishes to discontinue the offering(s), the designated institution will use its best efforts to provide the statewide mission owning institution at least one (1) year's written notice of withdrawal. In such case, the statewide mission owning institution will carefully evaluate the workforce need associated with such program or course and determine whether it is appropriate pursuant to its regional mission to provide such program or course. In no event will the statewide mission owning institution be required to provide such offering(s).
Unless otherwise agreed between the partnering institution (whether statewide mission owning, or otherwise) and the designated institution pursuant to an MOU, if, for any reason, a partnering institution offering programs or courses in a service region wishes to discontinue the offering(s), the partnering institution will use its best efforts to provide the designated institution at least one (1) year's written notice of withdrawal. In such case, the designated institution will carefully evaluate the workforce need associated with such program or course and determine whether it is appropriate pursuant to its regional mission to provide such program or course. In no event will the designated institution be required to provide such offering(s).
f. Existing Programs
Programs and courses being offered by a partnering institution (whether statewide mission owning, or otherwise) in a service region prior to July 1, 2003, may continue to be offered pursuant to an MOU between the designated institution and the partnering institution, subject to the transition and notice periods and requirements set forth above.
g. Applicability of Section III. G. - Instructional Program Approval and Discontinuance
The requirements of this Subsection 4. Academic Planning Process relating to the approval and discontinuance of programs and courses are intended to apply in addition to the requirements of Section III. G. - Instructional Program Approval and Discontinuance. To the extent the provisions of Section III. G. - Instructional Program Approval and Discontinuance are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Subsection 4. Academic Planning Process, such provisions will remain in full force and effect. In the event of conflict, the provisions set forth herein will apply.
4. Memorandums of Understanding
a. A memorandum of understanding ("MOU") is an agreement between two or more institutions offering programs or courses within the same service region that details how such programs and courses will be delivered in a collaborative manner. An MOU is intended to provide specific, practical details that build upon what has been provided in each institution's eight (8) year, academic plan. When a service region is served by more than one institution, an MOU will be developed between such institutions as provided herein and submitted to OSBE for review and approval by the Board.
b. Each MOU is to be entered into based on the following guidelines, unless otherwise approved by the Board:
(1) For programs and courses offered by a partnering institution (whether a statewide mission owning institution, or otherwise) within a municipal or metropolitan area that encompasses the campus of a designated institution:
(a) Offerings will be conducted in facilities located on the campus of the designated institution to the extent the designated institution is able to provide adequate and appropriate facilities (taking into account financial, resource, and programmatic considerations), or in facilities immediately adjacent to the campus of the designated institution. Renting or building additional facilities will be allowed only upon Board approval, based on the following: (i) the educational and workforce needs of the local community demand a separate facility as demonstrated in a manner similar to that set forth in Subsection 4.c.(2) above, and (ii) the use or development of such facilities are not inconsistent with the designated institution's eight (8) year plan.
(b) Facilities rented or built by a partnering institution (whether a statewide mission owning institution, or otherwise) on, or immediately adjacent to, the "main" campus of a designated institution may be identified (by name) as a facility of the partnering institution, or, if the facility is rented or built jointly by such institutions, as the joint facility of the partnering institution and the designated institution. Otherwise, facilities utilized and programs offered by one or more partnering institutions within a service region will be designated as "University Place at (name of municipality)."
(c) Program or course offerings will not duplicate those currently offered at the campus of the designated institution. If courses necessary to complete a program are offered by the designated institution, they will be used and articulated into the program.
(d) For programs and courses offered by a partnering institution (whether a statewide mission owning institution, or otherwise) within a municipality or metropolitan area encompassing a campus of a designated institution, to the extent programmatically possible, auxiliary services (including, but not limited to, bookstore, conference and other auxiliary enterprise services) and student services (including, but not limited to, library, information technology, and other auxiliary student services) will be provided by the designated institution. To the extent programmatically appropriate, registration services will also be provided by the designated institution. It is the goal of the Board that a uniform system of registration ultimately be developed for all institutions governed by the Board. The designated institution will offer these services to students who are enrolled in programs or courses offered by the partnering institution in the same manner, or at an increased level of service, where appropriate, as such services are offered to the designated institution's students. The MOU between the designated institution and the partnering institution will outline how costs for these services will be allocated.
5. Oversight and Advisory Councils
The Board acknowledges and supports the role of oversight and advisory councils to assist in coordinating, on an ongoing basis, the operational aspects of delivering programs and courses among multiple institutions in a service region, including necessary resources and support and facility services, and the role of such councils in interacting and coordinating with local and regional advisory committees to address and communicate educational needs indicated by such committees. Such interactions and coordination, however, are subject to the terms of the MOUs entered into between the institutions and the policies set forth in this Section III, Subsection Z.
6. Resolutions
All disputes relating to items addressed in this policy will be forwarded to the CAO for review. The CAO will prescribe the method for resolution. The CAO may forward disputes to CAAP and if necessary make recommendation regarding resolution to the Board. The Board will serve as the final arbiter of all disputes.
7. Reporting
Once annually, OSBE, with appropriate input from the each institution, will develop a report of programs offered at all sites throughout the state by Board governed institutions, along with a summary of academic plans and MOUs.
8. Exceptions
This policy does not apply to courses and programs specifically contracted to be offered to a private, corporate entity. However, in the event that an institution plans to contract with a corporate entity outside of their designated regional assignment, the contracting institution will notify the designated institutions in the service region and institutions holding a statewide mission, as appropriate. If the corporate entity is located in a municipality that encompasses the campus of a designated institution, the Board encourages the contracting institution to include and draw upon the resources of the designated institution insomuch as is possible.
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