SECTION 4.9: CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

CONTENTS: SECTION 4.9

INTRODUCTION
FINDINGS OF THE REPORT ON CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS
4.9 CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9
4.9.1 CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9.1
4.9.2 CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9.2
COMPLIANCE TABLES: SECTIONS 4.9—4.9.2
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTIONS 4.9—4.9.2

INTRODUCTION

In serving both its own needs and interests and those of the larger community, Sam Houston State University has long appreciated the value of relations with other institutions. For example, the University has a long-standing contractual arrangement with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to offer selected academic programs leading to either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees for inmates housed at various correctional units throughout the state. It also has agreements with local school districts with which it places student teachers from its Teacher Education Programs.

Because of recent demographic shifts among Sam Houston State University students—especially an increase in the number of non-traditional students and those who commute from the North Houston area—the University has entered into a consortial relationship with several other regional institutions to offer both undergraduate and graduate degree programs at The University Center in the Woodlands, some forty miles south of the main campus. In so doing, it seeks not only to serve its students better, but also to support its mission of working with "other consortia . . . to exchange ideas, to share mutual concerns, and to foster intellectual growth" (1998-2000 Undergraduate Catalogue 94). In both its consortial relationships and contractual agreements, the University adheres strictly to SACS criteria.

FINDINGS OF THE REPORT ON CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

In the report on Consortial Relationships and Contractual Agreements which follows, the Self-Study Steering Committee addresses "must" statements from Section 4.9 of the SACS Criteria for Accreditation and, in the order in which the statements appear in the Criteria, reports on the University’s compliance or noncompliance with these imperatives. Following the "must" statements and findings, the Committee makes recommendations and/or offers suggestions, according to the University’s compliance status.

4.9 CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

1. A member institution which enters into . . . consortial relationships or contractual agreements must have sufficient control of relationships/agreements so as to maintain compliance with the Criteria when offering educational programs through such arrangements (Criteria 53).

2. All consortia and contracts must be evaluated regularly (Criteria 53).

3. If an institution plans to participate in consortial relationships or enter into contractual agreements for educational programs, it must follow reporting policies and procedures related to substantive change (Criteria 53).

The Steering Committee determined that the University complies with these criteria.

During the past year, Sam Houston State University has entered into a consortial relationship with five other institutions of higher education—The University of Houston, The University of Houston-Downtown, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University, and Texas Southern University—to work in conjunction with the North Harris Montgomery Community College District to offer both undergraduate and graduate programs at The University Center, located thirty-nine miles south of Huntsville. All of the schools involved in this agreement have been working with the Commission on Colleges to establish the appropriate procedure for filing a joint substantive change in accordance with SACS regulations.

All consortial agreements and all contract agreements are regularly and systematically evaluated according to the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, The Texas State University System.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9

Having determined that the University complies with all of the imperatives in this section of the Criteria, the Steering Committee makes no recommendations.

4.9.1 CONSORTIAL RELATIONSHIPS

1. A member institution seeking to participate in a consortium degree or certificate program must enter into such a relationship only with regionally accredited institutions offering degrees or certificates at the same level (Criteria 53-54).

2. Exceptions must be approved by the Commission in advance of the formation of or participation in the consortium (Criteria 54).

3. The member institution must maintain the quality of all courses/programs offered through the consortium (Criteria 54).

4. Educational courses/programs offered through a consortial relationship must be related to the teaching purpose of the institution and comply with the Criteria (Criteria 54).

The Steering Committee established that the University complies with these imperatives.

Sam Houston State University’s consortial effort is limited exclusively to agreements with regionally accredited institutions within the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; these institutions offer degrees at the same level as those offered by SHSU.

Because all degree programs offered at The University Center are carefully scrutinized for consistency of quality by academic department chairs and/or coordinators, as well as by deans of the respective colleges, a clearly recognized procedure is already in place to establish and maintain quality in all academic programs at The University Center. In addition, all academic courses being offered at The University Center by Sam Houston State are firmly tied to the teaching purpose of the University and also comply with the rules and regulations of the Criteria.

There are no exceptions within the consortial agreement.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9.1

Having determined that the University complies with all of the imperatives in this section of the Criteria, the Steering Committee makes no recommendations.

4.9.2 CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS

1. Educational services and programs offered through a contractual agreement with another institution or organization must support the purpose of the institution (Criteria 54).

2. The member institution must maintain the quality of programs/courses offered through the contract and ensure ongoing compliance with the Criteria (Criteria 54).

The Committee determined that the University complies with these criteria.

All academic contractual agreements entered into by Sam Houston State University with another institution or organization are reviewed by appropriate administrators to ensure that those agreements support the mission of the University and also comply with the Criteria. A prime example of such an agreement is the long-standing arrangement between SHSU and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to offer selected degree programs leading to either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees for inmates housed at various correctional units throughout the state. These classes are taught by members of the SHSU faculty, and the curriculum is determined by the individual departments that offer the courses. An Interagency Contract, approved by the President of Sam Houston State and the Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, outlines the specific details surrounding the agreement.

On occasions during the past decade, the College of Education and Applied Science has had a contractual agreement with the Huntsville Independent School District to employ teacher/educators to assist with the University’s Teacher Preparation Program; however, over the past two or three years those agreements have expired, and at the present time none have been renewed.

During the spring semester of 1998, the University began to explore the possibility of creating contractual agreements with specific international educational organizations. Those preliminary discussions are ongoing as this report is being written; if any formal contractual agreements are reached within the time-frame of this self-study, additional information regarding possible agreements will be updated in the Addendum to the Self-Study Report itself.

3. If an institution enters into a teach-out agreement with another institution, it must submit the agreement to the Commission for approval (Criteria 54).

Because Sam Houston State University has not entered into any teach-out agreement with another institution, this criterion does not apply to the self-study.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTION 4.9.2

Having determined that the University complies with all of the imperatives in this section of the Criteria, the Steering Committee makes no recommendations.

COMPLIANCE TABLES: SECTIONS 4.9—4.9.2

4.9.1: Consortial Relationships

Imperative	Statement of Compliance	Supporting Documentation
1. A member institution seeking to participate in a consortium degree or certificate program must enter into such a relationship only with regionally accredited institutions offering degrees or certificates at the same level.	Compliance	The University Center Documents (Available in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs) The University Center Agreements (Available in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs)
2. Exceptions must be approved by the Commission in advance of the formation of or participation in the consortium.	Compliance	The University Center Documents (Available in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs)
3. The member institution must maintain the quality of all courses/programs offered through the consortium.	Compliance	The University Center Documents (Available in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs)
4. Educational courses/programs offered through a consortial relationship must be related to the teaching purpose of the institution and comply with the Criteria.	Compliance	The University Center Documents (Available in the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs)

4.9.2 Contractual Agreements

Imperative	Statement of Compliance	Supporting Documentation
1. Educational services and programs offered through a contractual agreement with another institution or organization must support the purpose of the institution.	Compliance	Interagency Contract Rules and Regulations, The Texas State University System
2. The member institution must maintain the quality of programs/courses offered through the contract and ensure ongoing compliance with the Criteria.	Compliance	Interagency Contract Rules and Regulations, The Texas State University System
3. If an institution enters into a teach-out agreement with another institution, it must submit the agreement to the Commission for approval.	Not Applicable

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS: SECTIONS 4.9—4.9.2

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