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    (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 Florida Statutes § 1007.33
    (2) Definitions. For the purposes of this rule, 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) “CIP to SOC Crosswalk” means the coding system developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics that links instructional programs to occupations. A CIP to SOC relationship indicates that programs classified in the CIP code category prepare individuals for jobs classified in the Standard Occupational Classification category or “SOC.” The crosswalk is located at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=55.
    (d) “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.
    (e) “College” means an institution within the Florida College System.
    (f) “Common Prerequisites Manual,” pursuant to Florida Statutes § 1007.25(5), means courses and course substitutions required for each baccalaureate degree program found in Florida’s public universities and colleges. The manual is found at https://www.flvc.org/partner-portal/common-prerequisite-manual.
    (g) “Completed proposal” means a college’s final submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for consideration by the State Board of Education.
    (h) “Division” means the Division of Florida Colleges.
    (i) “Initial proposal” means a college’s first submission of a baccalaureate program proposal to the Division for review.
    (j) “Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System” means that portion of the information center created and maintained by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, created pursuant to 20 U.S.C. § 9541, that collects and analyzes data related to postsecondary education. The system is found at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter.
    (k) “SACSSOC” means the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
    (l) “STEM” means science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
    (m) “Service district” means the geographical area served by a college identified in Florida Statutes § 1000.21
    (n) “Statewide Articulation Agreement” means the agreement provided for in Rule Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-10.024
    (3) Notice of intent. 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. BACC-01 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05712) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective August 2015. 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 1544, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399.
    (a) The notice of intent will remain valid for two (2) years from its receipt by the Division.
    (b) 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 Florida Statutes § 1007.33(5), anew, beginning with submission of a new notice of intent.
    (4) Alternative proposals and objections by a Florida state university or regionally accredited private college or university. 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 regionally accredited private college or university 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) Proposals for a baccalaureate degree. 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-05713) which is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule effective August 2015. 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 1544, 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 a Baccalaureate Accountability Report, BAAC-03, for each baccalaureate degree program. The Baccalaureate Accountability Report, Form No. BAAC-03 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-05714), effective August 2015, 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 1544, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. 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) FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 1007.33. History—New 8-8-10, Amended 9-16-12, 8-26-15.