UW–Madison delivers some academic programs and courses at additional locations that are geographically separate from the UW–Madison campus. This policy defines the parameters for such programs to ensure they are equivalent to campus-based programs and to comply with accreditation and federal regulations.
A facility that is geographically apart from the main campus, where instruction takes place and it is possible for students to do one or more of the following:
There is no base or threshold number of students or distance from the campus necessary for a facility to qualify as an additional location under this definition.
An additional location typically does not have a full range of administrative and student services staffed by the facility's personnel. Such services may be provided from the main campus or another campus.
A facility may provide access to instruction requiring students to be present at a physical location that receives interactive TV, video or online teaching. It is considered an additional location when 50% or more of a distance delivery program is available through one or more of these modalities at that facility. Note: This requirement does not apply for locations in which there is a general computer lab that students might use for distance delivery courses.
An additional location has active status when students are enrolled. Its status is inactive when students are not enrolled. The status can change between active and inactive without approval from HLC. However, a location may only be classified as inactive with no student enrollment for a maximum of two consecutive years. At that point, HLC will require the institution to close the location.
Academic units that offer off-campus academic programs and courses at another location. This policy excludes distance education programs, as well as study-abroad, field trip courses, internships, externships, and practica which do not total 50 percent or more of an academic program.
The U.S. Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission require an institution to report academic activities/engagement at additional locations. Failure to report additional locations may result in adverse action against the institution.
Academic activities/engagement delivered outside the State of Wisconsin are also subject to the approval of agencies that govern higher education in those states or membership in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. Off-campus academic activities that are delivered outside of the United States require additional documentation and approval steps.
Distance education programs are not considered to be additional locations, but are required to have governance approval under different policy provisions.
Approval of an additional location is part of Lumen Programs Proposals. In addition to campus governance, UW System Administration, the HLC, out-of-state agencies, or international agencies may require additional approvals. The program faculty may need to prepare additional documentation to advance those approvals. Data, Academic Planning and Institutional Research will assist program faculty and staff with the process for working through all necessary approvals and reporting requirements for other agencies.
The primary purpose for governance approval is to assure good communication for those across the university that need to be aware of additional locations, to assure the programs are appropriately administered to support student success, and to comply with federal regulations and accreditation standards.
The program and/or sponsoring dean’s office will need to prepare materials if an HLC site visit is required and may need to support additional costs. A program review will be required five years after implementation.
09-01-2008, 12-28-2017, 05-24-2023
