COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
SYSTEM PROCEDURE

Bachelor Degrees

SP 9-30b

EFFECTIVE: April 26,2016
REVISED: June 29, 2018
REVISED: March 11, 2020

APPENDICES REVISED: August 5, 2021

REFERENCES: Board Policy (BP) 9-30, Approval of Educational Programs; C.R.S. 23-60-201; C.R.S. 23-60-211; and C.R.S. 23-1-133

APPROVED: 

/ Joseph A. Garcia /
Joseph A. Garcia
Chancellor

Application

This procedure applies to Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees offered by the Colleges within the Colorado Community College System (CCCS or System). This procedure defines the bachelor degrees, approval process, program designations, and minimum standards as they have been approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE).

Bachelor Degrees

The Board has approved the following bachelor degrees:

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree (B.A.S.)
A Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree is generally a career-oriented degree that is typically designed to build on the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) that provides workplace skills. The B.A.S. degree focuses on providing hands-on experiences and incorporating job-related skills into the classroom, and is offered as a focused approach to give students real-world skills and applicable concepts geared toward their specifically chosen career paths.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree (B.S.N.)
A four-year academic degree designed to build on the Associate of Science in Nursing (A.S.N.). It is limited to 120 credits.

1. A Registered Nursing degree without designation is designed to transfer into nursing degree programs.

2. A Registered Nursing degree with a program designation is designed to transfer into a specific four-year program aligned with a Statewide Articulation Agreement.

Program Principles

Bachelor degrees within CCCS should be developed and implemented based on the following principles:

1. New bachelor degree program requests are to be submitted using the Request for Degree Approval and Substantive Change Application form developed for the Higher Learning Commission and CCCS.
2. Colleges will require that a minimum 31 of the 120 credits for the bachelor degree be credits earned at the institution itself, through arrangements with other accredited institutions, or through contractual relationships approved by the Higher Learning Commission. The bachelor degree program will incorporate the core course requirements unless a waiver has been granted by CCHE.
3. Additional general education courses that are required will be selected from the System’s existing course inventory.
4. General education requirements will be consistent with the State Faculty Curriculum Committee Style Guide.
5. Existing faculty load and salary guidelines will apply to faculty teaching upper-division bachelor degree courses unless otherwise approved by the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs.
6. Bachelor degrees should be designed as a stackable credential, with the intent that students first complete their associate degree or certificate prior to enrolling in the bachelor degree program. It is understood that there may be exceptions to this practice, primarily due to students who transfer from other institutions or other programs outside CCCS.
7. Evidence demonstrating projected student interest and employer demand for graduates will be documented and based on valid, reliable and comprehensive data.
8. Program tuition for upper-division courses will be established for each new degree program and based on the additional costs incurred to operate the new program. A rationale will be developed for the tuition rate. The State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) must approve upper-level tuition rates.

Revising this Procedure

CCCS reserves the right to change any provision or requirement of this procedure at any time and the change shall become effective immediately.

APPENDICES

1. Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Application Checklist
2. Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Application Checklist

Appendix A

Bachelor of Applied Science Degree Application Checklist

Completion of the listed materials and documentation will provide the needed information required by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) in reviewing and approving Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degrees.

Prior to completing the application materials, it is highly recommended that the institution review the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) guidance, “Two-Year Institutions Seeking to Offer the Baccalaureate Degree: Considerations of Readiness,” found on the HLC website.

Pre-approvals must be obtained from the College President and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs. Once all items have been completed on the checklist below, the application materials should be submitted to the CCCS Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs Office, in order to begin the official approval process.

Note: The key below indicates whether the requirement is System/Board, CCHE or accreditation (Higher Learning Commission).

Pre-Approvals Needed:

• Pre-Approval from College President ¹
• Pre-Approval from System Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs¹

List of Approvals Needed before B.A.S Degrees can be Offered:

• Approval by college Curriculum Committee¹
• Approval of new courses by State Faculty Curriculum Committee, college Vice Presidents, and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs¹
• Approval of program from System Office (Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs) ¹
• Approval by State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) ¹
  Reference C.R.S. 23-60-211
• Notice to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) ²
  Reference C.R.S. 23-60-211
• Approval by Higher Learning Commission (HLC) ³
  Reference HLC Guidelines for Two-Year Institutions Seeking to Offer the Baccalaureate Degree: Considerations of Readiness.
• Approval by U.S. Department of Higher Education (DoE)
• Approval by U.S. Department of Veterans Administration
• Program Accreditation Approval (if necessary, Reference HLC Guidelines)

Estimated Timeline for Approval
This process takes approximately 13-16 months to complete. It breaks down as follows:

Document Requirements:

• Complete the HLC Substantive Change Application for Colorado Community College System B.A.S Degrees. Please request copy of the application form from the CCCS Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs.

Key Assessments to be included or attached to the application for System Office and SBCCOE approval:

• Assessment to ensure program is cost-effective for students, the Community College System, and the state ^1,3
• Workforce Demand Assessment ^1,3
• Student Demand Assessment ^1,3
• Assessment of accreditation and licensing requirements ^1,3
• The program’s projected budget, including estimated revenues and expenses associated with the program ^1,3
• The program’s projected facility and equipment costs, including estimated licensing, and maintenance costs, if applicable ^1,3
• The effect of the proposed program on existing programs in terms of finances, enrollment, and staffing ^1,3
• Faculty and staffing needs analysis ^1,3
• Analysis of student support services, including library resources ^1,3
• Other assessments, as appropriate

Appendix B

Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree Application Checklist

Pre-Approvals Needed:

• Pre-Approval from College President
• Pre-Approval from Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs

Notices Required:
At least 90 days prior to requesting State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE) approval, the College must provide notice to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE).

Meeting Required:
The SBCCOE shall provide the following information to CCHE in a joint meeting to solicit the Commission’s input:

• Student and workforce demand
• Cost effectiveness for students
• Accreditation and licensing requirements

List of Approvals Needed before B.S.N. Degrees can be Offered:

• Approval by college Curriculum Committee
• Approval of new courses by State Faculty Curriculum Committee and Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs
• Approval from System Office
• Approval by the SBCCOE
• Program Accreditation Approval

Document Requirements:

• Complete the form(s) required by the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs and include data regarding current partnerships with existing B.S.N. programs and plans to continue such partnerships.

SBCCOE Considerations for Approving a B.S.N. Degree

• Student and workforce demand
• Cost effectiveness for students
• Accreditation requirements
• Licensing requirements