Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 9 - Education- Mississippi Community College Board › Part 3 - Programs › Chapter 5 - Establishing a Campus or Center › Rule 9-3-5.1 - Establishing a Campus or Center

Current through June 25, 2024
The Mississippi Community College Board's procedures for
				  establishing a campus or center are as follows:
A.
Introduction
The definitions of a campus, a comprehensive center, an
				  extension center and an off-campus site are provided within these Guidelines.
				  As one of the powers and duties bestowed upon the Mississippi Community College
				  Board (State Board) in Section
				  37-4-3(6)(1),
				  these definitions have been established to serve as a mechanism for community
				  and junior college's to qualify for state appropriations. Upon the initial
				  approval of these Guidelines, the State Board shall study and determine which
				  definition best fits each particular location within each community and junior
				  college district. Subsequent to the initial approval, college's may request a
				  change in status or a change in status shall be determined by the Mississippi
				  Community College Board.
A college's decision to request the establishment of a new
				  location or to request a change in the status of an extension center or an
				  off-campus site shall be interpreted to mean that both the short range and long
				  range educational needs of the specific area can be met best through the
				  requested expansion or the establishment of a new location.
It is the intent of the State Board that all requests meet
				  the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
				  on Colleges under the initial application process, reaffirmation of the
				  accreditation process, or by the substantive change process, as may be
				  appropriate to the request.
B.
Definitions
Campus: A campus is a permanent location, which offers an
				  extensive range of educational programs consisting of academic, technical and
				  vocational, which lead to an associate of arts, associate of applied science or
				  vocational certificate; as well as, continuing education, adult basic
				  education, workforce training and community service. Complete instructional and
				  student support services are provided on a campus. A campus is staffed
				  primarily with full-time professional personnel, and the facilities are owned
				  by the community or junior college district. There is at least one campus in
				  each community or junior college district. However, in accordance with Section
				  37-4-3(6)(e)
				  no new community or junior college branch campus shall be approved without an
				  authorizing act of the legislature.
Comprehensive Center: A comprehensive center is a permanent
				  location, which offers a broad range of educational programs and services. A
				  comprehensive center offers both credit and non-credit courses in multiple
				  instructional areas that may include academic, technical, and vocational
				  instruction, workforce training and other instruction for professional
				  development and /or lifelong learning. A comprehensive center will have
				  permanent facilities owned or shared by statutory agreement through which the
				  community or junior college is guaranteed utilization. The facilities must be
				  sufficient to carry out the stated mission. Library services and student
				  support services must be comparable to those services located at the main
				  campus. "The number of full-time faculty members must be adequate to provide
				  effective teaching, advising and scholarly or creative activity" (SACS #11, p.
				  12). There may be one or more comprehensive centers in a community and junior
				  college district or none at all.
Extension Center: An extension center is a permanent
				  location, which offers a partial range of educational programs and services. An
				  extension center may be solely academic, solely technical/vocational, or a
				  combination of these types of curricula. An extension center is established for
				  a specific, stated instructional mission. Library services and student support
				  services are limited directly to serve the type and number of student's.
				  Facilities may be owned or leased by the community or junior college district.
				  There may be one or more extension centers in a community or junior college
				  district or none at all. "The number of full-time faculty members must be
				  adequate to provide effective teaching, advising and scholarly or creative
				  activity" (SACS #11, p. 12). There may be one or more extension centers in a
				  community and junior college district or none at all.
Off-Campus Site: An off-campus site is a location, which
				  provides a very limited selection of course offerings (usually academic) that
				  support the instructional mission of a campus or center. Such a site provides
				  minimal library and student support services. Facilities generally are not
				  owned by the college, but may be leased. The existence of an off-campus site
				  does not imply commitment to maintain or to continue operation. A community or
				  junior college must obtain approval from the State Board on a
				  semester-by-semester basis to offer courses at an off-campus site in accordance
				  with §
										37-29-69
				  of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated.
C.
Criteria For The Establishment
				of A New Campus
Pursuant to Section
				  37-4-3(6)(e)
				  of the Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated, the following definition and
				  regulations will be used by the State Board when reviewing a community or
				  junior college's request for establishing a new campus.
Definition of Campus: A campus is a permanent location, which
				  offers an extensive range of educational programs consisting of academic,
				  technical and vocational, which lead to an associate of arts, associate of
				  applied science or vocational certificate; as well as, continuing education,
				  adult basic education, workforce training and community service. Complete
				  instructional and student support services are provided on a campus. A campus
				  is staffed primarily with full-time professional personnel, and the facilities
				  are owned by the community or junior college district. There is at least one
				  campus in each community or junior college district. However, in accordance
				  with Section
				  37-4-3(6)(e)
				  no new community or junior college campus shall be approved without an
				  authorizing act of the legislature.
Community or junior colleges will request State Board
				  approval for the establishment for any new campus.
If the State Board agrees with the initial request, it will
				  support the college's request for legislative action.
D.
Criteria For The Establishment
				of a New Permanent Facility
A new permanent facility is defined as a facility, building,
				  or structure that is used by the college to offer credit courses, where such
				  courses have not been previously taught and is not a part of a previously
				  defined campus, comprehensive center or extension center and is constructed,
				  purchased, acquired, leased or rented by the college with a reasonable
				  expectation that such classes will be taught at this facility for more than
				  twelve (12) months. Prior to constructing, purchasing, acquiring, leasing, or
				  renting a new permanent facility where academic, career, or technical classes
				  are taught for credit, approval from the State Board must be received.
The general guidelines the State Board will use for approval
				  of such a permanent facility are as follows:
1. The permanent facility must be at least
				twenty-five (25) miles from that college's or another community or junior
				college's permanent location. However, under certain extenuating circumstances,
				such as where there is a heavy population density, and the educational needs of
				the population are not being met, consideration will be given to such new
				permanent facilities.
2. The
				college shall have the necessary funds allocated to the permanent facility's
				operation to ensure that a quality educational program can be offered at this
				location. The college shall provide the State Board proof of adequate funding
				along with the source of that funding.
3. The college requesting approval of a new
				permanent facility shall provide the State Board with a copy of the long range
				plan for this facility, a list of anticipated classes or programs to be taught
				at this facility, and staffing plans.
4. Courses taught at a new permanent facility
				will not be approved for state reimbursement unless the State Board approves
				the establishment of a new permanent facility.