Submitting forms and documents: Programs should NOT submit ARC-PA templated documents in PDF format unless so directed in the directions.. Documents should be submitted in the format in which they were designed.
Submission of Forms Using the Portal: When submitting the change forms below, programs may find revised directions concerning submitting the changes via the program's portal. The ARC-PA is in the process of updating these forms and the process for their submission. Not all forms are accepted via the portal. Contact the ARC-PA if unclear from the directions on the form.
Depending on the nature of the proposed program change, additional supporting materials may be required. If this is the case, these are described within the change request form.
Please note that failure by the program to provide the information as required may result in a reconsideration of the program’s current accreditation status or an earlier scheduling of the next site visit to the program.
Certain change requests, program progress reports and program responses due to the ARC-PA may be processed through an expedited review. Expedited reviews occur at times other than the March and September ARC-PA commission meetings and allow the commission to inform programs about the disposition of their submissions at times throughout the year.
Any change request except expansion to a distant campus or change in sponsorship might be handled by the expedited process. If the request is received during the window of time when the ARC-PA commissioners are preparing for a meeting or if the requested documentation is incomplete or requires additional material, it will be referred to a commission meeting for disposition.Change in Faculty(updated April 2012) (E 1.04 The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing of personnel changes in its positions of program director, medical director, or principal faculty within 30 days of the date of the effective change and must include a detailed plan and timeline to fill vacated positions.)
CV Template (updated 6.2012)
Expansion to Distant Campus (E1.08 The program must obtain ARC-PA approval at least six months prior to implementing any intended program expansion to a distant campus. ANNOTATION: Programs providing information about expanding to a distant campus do so using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA for this purpose. A site visit will be required as a component of the application process to expand to a distant campus.)
As noted in standard E1.08, the policy related to the timing of ARC-PA approval for a distant campus has been modified and now must occur six months, as opposed to nine months, in advance of having students at the distant campus.
The requirements for expansion to a distant campus, as excerpted from the application packet below and including the process diagram, are available here.
The diagram of the process is available here.
The application packet with all materials necessary to apply, including the guidelines for the feasibility study, is available here as a zip file. Separately as a convenience, the guidelines to be followed for the feasibility study are available here.
NOTE: For programs with a continuing accreditation status, the ARC-PA will not consider an application for expansion to a distant campus until the program has maintained five years of continuing accreditation without an adverse accreditation status. Guidelines related to eligibility for expansion for programs with a provisional accreditation status vary by the time that status was awarded. Programs should refer to correspondence sent to them about this topic.
Change in Credential Offered (E1.09a The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing, using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA, no less than six months prior to implementation of proposed changes in degrees or certificate granted at program completion.)
The Standards require that programs which do not currently offer a graduate degree must transition to conferring a graduate degree upon all PA students who matriculate into the program after 2020. The degree should be awarded by the sponsoring institution. Programs affiliating with a different institution for the masters degree should complete and submit this Change in Degree form.
Change in Graduation Requirements (E1.09b The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing, using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA, no less than six months prior to implementation of proposed changes in requirements for graduation.)
Change in Program Length (E1.09c The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing, using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA, no less than six months prior to implementation of proposed changes in program length.)
Change in Class Size / Maximum Aggregate Student Enrollment (4.2.2013)
NOTE: For programs with a continuing accreditation status, the ARC-PA will not consider a request for expansion in class size until the program has maintained five years of continuing accreditation without an adverse accreditation status. Guidelines related to eligibility for expansion for programs with a provisional accreditation status vary by the time that status was awarded. Programs should refer to correspondence sent to them about this topic.
(E1.09 d, e The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing, using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA, no less than six months prior to implementation of proposed changes of 10 students or greater, or of a 15% increase, in maximum entering class size/changes in maximum aggregate student enrollment that will result in an increase of 15 percent or greater in maximum aggregate student enrollment, as compared to the program’s most recent application for accreditation or as approved by the ARC-PA. )
Follow these directions and use the Portal in creating the supporting SCPE document.
Institutional Resource Budget Template for Change in Class Size
Decrease in program support (E1.09f The program must inform the ARC-PA in writing, using forms and processes developed by the ARC-PA, no less than six months prior to implementation of a substantive decrease in program support. Partial ANNOTATION: A substantive decrease in support for the program may refer to a decrease in allocated fiscal, human, academic or physical resources of 20% or greater.)
Change in Program Sponsorship (E1.10 The sponsoring institution must inform the ARC-PA in writing of the intent to transfer program sponsorship as soon as it begins considering transfer.)