To maintain accreditation, SBVC must adhere to the various policies of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).  One of those policies is titled "Substantive Change" and is directly related to the Distance Education offerings at the college.

If a program or certificate can be completed by taking 50% or more of the required units through courses approved for distance education delivery, then the ACCJC requires that a Substantive Change Proposal be submitted.

In 2012, SBVC submitted such a proposal because 15 degrees, 21 certificates, and all four General Education pathways met that 50% threshold.  But a college's curriculum is a fluid process.  In the last 18 months, 7 certificates and 25 degrees either have crossed that 50% threshold or are so close that the ACCJC needs to be aware of the fact.  So SBVC is in the process of submitting another Substantive Change Proposal.

Below you will find a link to the 2012 Substantive Change Proposal as well as a link to the 2014 Substantive Change Proposal that has been submitted to the ACCJC.  The Commission's Committee on Substantive Change  approved the Proposal at its March, 2014 meeting.  Then we anticipate that the Proposal will be approved by the full Commission at its June, 2014 meeting.

The primary purpose of including this information on the college's website is transparency.  SBVC's Online Program committee wants its work to be open and transparent so that there can be increased accountability.  

2014 Substantive Change Proposal

2012 Substantive Change Proposal