Office of Academic Compliance
Academic compliance refers to policies, procedures, and practices in place to ensure that actions regarding degree and certificate programs – from the content of the offerings, to how and where they are delivered – adhere to institutional, state, accreditation, and federal requirements and standards.

Approval Guides by Type of Action

This section sets forth general guidance on new programs and modifications requirements. An overview of approvals required for the most common types of actions is available in the Approvals Process Matrix.

Degree Programs

New Degree Programs

A degree program is a defined, integrated course of study that leads to the award of a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree, which is listed on the student diploma.

Changes to an Existing Degree Program

Certain changes to existing degree programs separate from those regarding adding or modifying a concentration, minor, or track, require institutional review and approval by the Office of the Provost and may also require approval by the Faculty Senate, the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Closing a Degree Program

Closing a degree program involves both ceasing admissions and halting delivery of the degree, and requires advanced planning and internal and external approvals.

Certificate Programs

New Certificate Programs

A certificate is a formal program of study that leads to the award of a transcripted credential. Certificate programs may be for-credit or non-credit. All new certificate programs require internal UVA approvals.

Changes to an Existing Certificate Program

Certain changes to existing certificate programs require institutional review and approval by the Office of the Provost and may also require approval by the State Council for Higher Education of Virginia and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Closing an Existing Certificate Program

Closing a certificate program involves both ceasing admissions and halting delivery of the certificate, and requires advanced planning and approvals.

Other Actions

Organizational Changes and All Other Actions

Several organizational changes and activities require compliance with institutional, state, regional accreditation, and federal policies, including creating, modifying or closing.

Off-Campus Instructional Sites

An off-campus instructional site refers to a location that is geographically separate from the University’s main campus in Charlottesville, VA, where instruction related to a credit-bearing degree or certificate program takes place.

Concentrations, Minors, and Tracks

Concentrations, minors, and tracks are transcripted collections of coursework through which students gain specialized knowledge in a particular field or discipline.