3.1.b Coursework for Degrees [CR]

An institution seeking to gain or maintain accredited status offers all coursework required for at least one degree program at each level at which it awards degrees. (For exceptions, see SACSCOC policy Core Requirement 2.3: Documenting an Alternative Approach.)

Judgment

x Compliance o Non-Compliance

Narrative

UL Lafayette provides instruction for all coursework required for all its degrees, except for those two programs where instruction is shared with another university as part of a consortia agreement (discussed below). Sample degree plans at each level offered by the institution include:

· Sample Bachelor’s Degree Plan

· Sample Master’s Degree Plan

· Sample Doctoral Degree Plan

There are two exceptions where instruction is shared with another university as part of a consortia agreement. Evidence of the individual course offerings and the full curricula for all degree programs may be found in the University Catalog and the schedule of classes. In all cases, the University maintains control of all aspects of its programs through partnerships, consortia agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

The University offers two programs in partnership with other institutions: the MSN through the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN), and the EdD through a consortium of Southeastern Louisiana University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

MS in Nursing. Since 1986, the University’s MS degree in Nursing has been offered through an affiliation with the Intercollegiate Consortium for a Master of Science in Nursing (ICMSN), an academic partnership among McNeese State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, Nicholls State University, and UL Lafayette. The original MOU detailed how the universities would maintain control over the ICMSN:

A Council of the Intercollegiate Consortium (CINC) will assure that the policies of the consortium are reflective of the interest of the member institutions and responsible to the needs of the nursing profession. Membership on the CINC will consist of the chief academic officer, the dean of the college/school of nursing, and one graduate nursing faculty representative from each participating institution.

The four universities in this consortium work together to provide a comprehensive curriculum that prepares professional nurses at an advanced level of theoretical and clinical practice in order to address present and potential health needs of south Louisiana, by mentoring students in the specialty concentrations of Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Education. This program is offered 100% online, and can be completed in five semesters of full-time study, including 600 precepted clinical hours. UL Lafayette provides 100% of the instruction to its Family Nurse Practitioner students. In the case of the Nursing Education program, UL Lafayette provides all the core courses, while Education-specific courses are shared with the other institutions. Although the curriculum must be approved by all members of the consortium, all courses must also be approved by UL Lafayette independently, via the Graduate Council and the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

In the past, the program was accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Since Fall 2008, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the program. The most recent accreditation date is March 4, 2013, and the next on-site visit is scheduled for spring 2023.

EdD in Educational Leadership. The EdD in Educational Leadership is offered through a consortium of Southeastern Louisiana University and UL Lafayette. The 2005 Memorandum of Agreement defines the academic partnership between the two institutions with the collaborative effort supporting open articulation for student mobility and matriculation. The EdD program allows a student to pursue one of four concentrations: Curriculum Leadership, Exceptional Learner, Higher Education Administration, and K-12 Leadership Education. UL Lafayette doctoral candidates enrolled in this program take all of their courses on the UL Lafayette campus with UL Lafayette instructors. All courses in the curriculum have been approved by the UL Lafayette Graduate Council. A student’s Dissertation Committee must be constituted of at least three members of the Graduate Faculty, with at least one member from the collaborating university.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU)

UL Lafayette maintains agreements with other universities to facilitate educational opportunities for students and faculty, including study abroad. Each agreement defines a cooperative effort between the two institutions, and establishes procedures and terms for the exchange of students, faculty, and research initiatives, including procedures for the transfer of academic credit. UL Lafayette has a defined process for developing MOUs with international universities that stems from faculty initiatives and involves shared governance. A complete list of agreements is published on the website.