This procedure outlines actions Ensign College staff follow to close a program or branch campus. The procedure aligns with the recommended processes outlined by the NWCCU. The goal of this procedure is to ensure that a decision to close a program or branch campus has the minimal impact on students, faculty, and staff.
1. Decision
a. Any decision to close a program or branch campus requires vetting and approval of the Curriculum Committee and President’s Executive Council.
2. Identify the nature of the teach out from among the following options:
a. Internal teach-out plan wherein Ensign College will provide reasonable opportunity for all students to graduate in alignment with the catalog expiration policy or the 24–26-month period outlined by NWCCU.
b. Teach-out agreement wherein Ensign College partners with another institution to provide the needed path to graduation. Use of a teach-out agreement will require communication and approval from NWCCU prior to implementation.
3. Determine the teach out schedule
a. For internal teach outs, the Academic Leadership Team will be responsible to develop a reasonable teach-out schedule. The schedule will list the semester that each course will be taught to provide a reasonable path to graduation for all remaining students. Students will be notified of the schedule. A reasonable schedule means that students can be expected to progress at a similar pace as recommended in their program catalog. Students cannot be expected to take more than the 15-16 credits in each semester. For external teach-out agreements, college leadership will work with partnering institutions to ensure that students have access to a reasonable course sequence.
4. Student communication plan
a. Students must be notified of the decision that their program or branch campus will be closing. Email will be used as the official means of communicating this decision. The communication must also explain the teach-out schedule. Students should also be notified of other options that may be possibilities, including potential transfer schools or alternative credentials. Students will be invited to connect with college staff to discuss their individual circumstances and best paths towards graduation. All students will be provided with a schedule of when the remaining classes will be offered.
5. NWCCU submission
a. If the closure is built on an internal teach-out plan, NWCCU will be notified by a portal update. The update includes changing the status of the program, a brief description of the teach-out plan, and the implementation date.
b. Teach-out agreements with other institutions will require prior approval and communication with NWCCU. The full process to complete a teach-out agreement is outlined in the NWCCU Policy “ Procedures to Close a Program, Branch Campus, or Institution .”
6. Submission through Curriculum Committee
a. The Curriculum Committee will serve as the tracking mechanism for the full process. The decision to close a program or campus is documented through the committee. The teach out-plans or teach-out agreements will be catalogued by the Curriculum Committee. All NWCCU communications will be initiated by the Curriculum Committee.