Petition related to Additional Location

Commission-accredited schools must petition for approval prior to implementing substantive changes regarding additional locations (formerly called extension sites) that offer at least half of a degree (Policies and Procedures IV.E). Schools are to complete the relevant portion of this form, per additional location, for each petitioned change (i.e., submit one petition form per change). In completing this form, please include links to additional documentation as requested or as deemed helpful. Your Commission staff liaison will contact you if there are any questions regarding your submission.

This petition form covers the following types of substantive changes: (1) adding or expanding a location to offer half or more of a degree (IV.E.1), (2) closing an approved location that offers a complete degree (IV.E.2-3; cf. note below), (3) expanding an approved location from master's to doctoral degree (IV.E.1), (4) reducing an approved location to offer less than a complete degree (IV.E.2; cf. note below); and (5) relocating an approved location that offers half or more of a degree (IV.E.2-3). A petition for adding or relocating an additional location is not required if the majority of instruction at that location is delivered online (IV.F.2).

NOTE: If the school is not on probation and currently has at least two approved locations, then closing or reducing any additional location that does not presently offer a full degree (i.e., 25-99%) would require only notification to and acknowledgement from Commission staff (see IV.E.2). Closing a school's main campus and ceasing permanent operations or relocating a school's main campus and continuing operations in a new location requires the submission of a different petition form (viz. "Petition for Closing a School or Relocating the Main Campus"). Adding, closing, reducing, or relocating an additional location that offers at least one-fourth but less than one-half a degree requires only notification to staff, not this petition to the Board (see VI.A.6); adding/closing/relocating an additional location that offers less than one-fourth of a degree requires neither notification nor petition. All forms are available on the petitions and notifications webpage.

6.       What resources are available at this location:

NOTE: Policies and Procedures IV.E.1 requires a focused visit within six months of opening an additional location that offers at least half a degree—unless the school meets these three exemption criteria in III.D.4: (1) has at least two approved additional locations offering half or more of a degree [three approved locations if school has not completed at least one accreditation cycle or has had recent public sanction], (2) is accrediting in good standing, and (3) has not been the subject of any recent Board actions raising concerns about its locations.

8.       What resources are available at the new location:

NOTE: Policies and Procedures IV.E.1 requires a focused visit within six months of opening an additional location that offers at least half a degree—unless the school meets these three exemption criteria in III.D.4: (1) has at least two approved additional locations offering half or more of a degree [three approved locations if school has not completed at least one accreditation cycle or has had recent public sanction], (2) is accrediting in good standing, and (3) has not been the subject of any recent Board actions raising concerns about its locations.

When finished, please submit this petition to the ATS Accrediting Records Coordinator by hitting the "submit" button below. You can expect an automated confirmation email within a few minutes. There is no fee for this (or any) Commission petition. Please do not send any paper copies or any emailed attachments; submit only this completed, online form (including any links to additional information requested).

NOTE: Petitions for additional locations are typically decided by the Board of Commissioners within a few months (see submission deadlines on ATS petitions and notifications webpage). If the school is adding or relocating an additional location and does not meet the three exemption criteria described in Policies and Procedures IV.E.1, the Board will require a focused evaluation visit within six months of the start of the new location.