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Section
II: SACS Core Requirement
II-7. The institution
a. offers one or more degree programs based
on at least 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the associate
level; at least 120 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the baccalaureate
level; or at least 30 semester credit hours or the equivalent at the post-baccalaureate
level.
b. The institution offers degree programs
that embody a coherent course of study that includes a cohesive sequence
of courses, are compatible with its stated purpose, and are based upon
fields of study appropriate to higher education.
c. The institution offers undergraduate degrees,
a substantial component of which comprises a general education program
at the collegiate level that ensures breadth of knowledge and is based
on a coherent rationale. For degree completion in associate programs,
the component constitutes a minimum of 15 semester hours or the equivalent;
for baccalaureate programs, a minimum of 30 semester hours or the equivalent.
Credit hours are to be drawn from and include at least one course from
each of the following areas: humanities/fine arts; social/behavioral sciences;
and natural sciences/mathematics. The courses do not narrowly focus
on those skills, techniques, and procedures specific to a particular occupation
or profession.
d. The institution may make arrangements
for some instruction to be provided by other accredited institutions or
entities through contracts or consortia. The institution itself, however,
provides instruction for all coursework required for at least one degree
program at each level at which it awards degrees or provides an alternative
approach to meeting this requirement. The alternative approach is approved
by the Commission on Colleges. In all cases, the institution demonstrates
that it controls all aspects of its educational program.
JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE
Yes, East Tennessee State University
is able to provide a portfolio of evidence supporting compliance.
STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE
A. Semester Credit Hours
East Tennessee State University's associate degree programs
require a minimum of 60 semester credit hours (ETSU Undergraduate Catalog,
Associate Degree Requirements) and baccalaureate programs require
a minimum of 120 semester credit hours (ETSU Undergraduate Catalog,
Bachelor Degree Requirements). These policies are in accordance with
those of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR Manual, Undergraduate
Degree Requirements). All post-baccalaureate degree programs require
a minimum of 30 semester credit hours (ETSU Graduate Catalog, see individual
degree programs; ETSU Quillen College of Medicine Catalog, Requirements
for the Degree Doctor of Medicine).
B. Course Of
Study
East Tennessee State University's major program requirements,
including the composition and sequence of courses, conform to commonly
accepted standards and practices of collegiate institutions (see individual
programs in ETSU Undergraduate, Graduate, and Quillen College
of Medicine Catalogs). Degree programs at ETSU, approved by the
Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission
(THEC), are compatible with its mission and appropriate to higher education
(TBR Manual, Enabling Legislation). Courses of study, and the
sequencing therein, are the responsibility of the faculty (SACS Standard
IV-1a and IV-11).
All post-baccalaureate and undergraduate degree programs
are evaluated either by peer review or by accreditation. Peer reviews
of degree programs are completed in accordance with a published cycle
(ETSU Program Review Calendar) and with procedures (ETSU Guidelines
for Academic Program Review) mandated by the THEC Performance Funding
Program. All programs eligible for accreditation at ETSU undergo periodic
accreditation reviews (ETSU Accreditation) that also are recognized
by the THEC Performance Funding Program. The findings of these reviews
are used to make program improvements through budget and staffing decisions,
curriculum refinements, and faculty development activities (ETSU Performance
Funding Report).
The appropriate sequence of courses required by degree
programs at ETSU is ensured by a system of course-level assignment---lower
division (1xxx-2xxx), upper division (3xxx-4xxx), and graduate (5xxx-7xxx).
Assignments are based on assessment of the faculty in the discipline,
with consideration of course content and prerequisite learning, and are
approved through the curriculum process (ETSU Curriculum Process Manual).
Some courses, designed for interaction between undergraduate and graduate
students, are listed as 4xx7/5xx7. Graduate students enrolled in these
courses (5xx7) are expected to complete requirements above those required
by undergraduates. In 1999-2000, the TBR mandated a system-wide audit
to ensure commonality in course levels and to facilitate greater uniformity
in course transfers. While other TBR universities were required to change
the levels of a large number of courses, ETSU was asked to alter the levels
of only four courses. We consider the outcome of this audit as validation
that ETSU maintains the appropriate assignment of course levels (ETSU
Course Leveling in Response to TBR Audit).
C. General Education
To earn a baccalaureate degree at ETSU, students must
earn a minimum of 120 credit hours, which must include a minimum of 32
hours of general education (TBR Manual, Undergraduate Degree Requirements).
The ETSU general education program comprises a core of 41-44 credit hours
(ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, Core Curriculum; SACS Standard IV-14)
plus an additional eight courses in areas of academic proficiency, which
include oral communication, using information technology, and writing
(ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, Requirements Reinforcing Academic Proficiencies;
SACS Standard IV-14). Students earning associate degrees must complete
at least 60 credit hours, of which 18 hours are general education requirements
(ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, Minimum General Education Requirements
for All Associate Degree Programs).
The rationale for the general education program at ETSU
is specific and clearly described (ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, Philosophy
and Goals of the General Education Program) and based on a commitment
to a liberal education for all (ETSU Mission). The general education
program requires courses in Writing, Mathematics, Information Technology,
and a minimum of one course from each of six disciplinary programs (Science;
Heritage, Arts and the Artistic Vision; Identity, Ethics and Social Responsibility;
Institutions and Society; and Humanities). Thus, students must complete
at least three courses in the humanities/fine arts, one course in the
social/behavioral sciences, and three courses in natural sciences/mathematics
(ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, General Education Requirements).
These courses are specifically designed to serve general education and
thus, are not narrowly focused but rather address knowledge and skills
of broad usefulness to students' personal, professional, and civic lives
(SACS Standard IV-15).
D. Instructional
Arrangements
East Tennessee State University has no arrangement for
instruction to be provided by other accredited institutions or entities
through consortia. Further, ETSU offers no degree programs that are dependent
in part or whole on courses taught at other institutions or entities or
by faculty other than its own. However, the institution has provided
students with additional learning opportunities through instructional
contracts and agreements (SACS Standard IV-7). Students participating
in any of these programs must meet all ETSU degree requirements.
East Tennessee State University provides instruction
for all coursework required for degree programs at each level at which
it awards certificates and degrees (associate, bachelor's, master's, educational
specialist, doctor of education, doctor of philosophy, and doctor of medicine)
and graduate certificates (TBR Manual, Enabling Legislation).
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies ETSU
as a doctoral/research intensive institution (Carnegie Classification
of Institutions of Higher Education).
East Tennessee State University controls all aspects
of its educational program in accordance with policies of the Tennessee
Board of Regents (TBR) and the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (TBR
Manual, Enabling Legislation). The TBR, under the auspices of the
enabling legislation, has the power to prescribe curricula and requirements
for diplomas and degrees and the responsibility for all levels of academic
programming. The board's responsibilities extend to (a) the adoption
of changes in admission, retention, and graduation standards; (b) the
establishment, reorganization, or elimination of academic departments,
divisions, branch operations, extension services, and other academic units;
and (c) review of the level of productivity of existing programs. The
TBR delegates certain responsibilities to the chancellor or to institutions
under its control (TBR Manual, Undergraduate Academic Retention Standards).
Institutions have the authority to create new courses, terminate existing
courses, determine course content or design, and carry out curriculum
revisions less extensive than those the TBR has reserved to itself or
otherwise delegated (TBR Manual, Bylaws of the Board). Guidelines
and regulations for program revisions and degree requirements are established
by the TBR (TBR Manual, Program Review and Approval).
DOCUMENTATION
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SOURCE
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LOCATION
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002, Associate
Degree Requirements
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002, Bachelor
Degree Requirements
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Policy 2:01:00:00, Undergraduate Degree Requirements
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ETSU Graduate Catalog, 2001-2002, see individual
degree programs
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ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine Catalog,
2001-2002, Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Medicine
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002,see individual
degree programs
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ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine Catalog,
2001-2002
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Appendix 6:03:00:00, Enabling Legislation
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SACS Standard IV-1a
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SACS Standard IV-11
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ETSU Program Review Calendar, Office of Outcomes
Assessment
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ETSU Guidelines for Academic Program Review,
Office of Outcomes Assessment
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ETSU Accreditation, Office of Outcomes Assessment
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ETSU Performance Funding Report
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ETSU Curriculum Process Manual
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ETSU Course Leveling in Response to TBR Audit
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SACS Documentation Files
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002, Core
Curriculum and Requirements Reinforcing Academic Proficiencies
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SACS Standard IV-14
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002, Minimum
General Educational Requirements for All Associate Degree Programs
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ETSU Undergraduate Catalog, 2001-2002, General
Education Requirements
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ETSU Mission
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SACS Standard IV-15
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SACS Standard IV-7
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Carnegie Classification of Institutions of
Higher Education
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Policy 2:03:01:01, Undergraduate Academic Retention Standards
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Policy 1:02:08:00, Bylaws
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Tennessee Board of Regents Policies and Guidelines
Manual, Policy 2:01:01:00, Program Review and Approval
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