Effective date: October 2016
Last updated: September 2026 

GVSU maintains institutional oversight of additional locations, including academic controls, regular evaluation, faculty and instructional resources, student and academic support services, facilities and technology, assessment, and financial and administrative capacity. 

The following outlines the process for adding a new additional location offering an academic program, changing the program offerings at an existing additional location, or closing an existing additional location. This is in accordance with GVSU procedures and applicable Higher Learning Commission (HLC) requirements. 

GVSU's Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) must be notified in advance of any proposed activity involving an additional location, including:  

• New location establishment  
• Changes to an existing location 
• Relocation 
• Inactivity 
• Closure 

The ALO will determine applicable HLC notification or approval requirements and coordinate required submissions to HLC. 

Definition 

An additional location is defined as a physical facility that is geographically separate from the main campus (Allendale), within the same ownership structure of the institution, where instruction takes place and GVSU students engage in one or more of the following: 

• Complete 50 percent or more of the courses in an educational program leading to a GVSU degree, certificate, or other recognized educational credential. 
• Complete 50 percent or more of a degree completion program, even if the degree completion program provides less than 50 percent of the courses leading to the degree. 
• Complete 50 percent or more of a distance delivery program on site through interactive technology. 

A general computer lab used by students to access distance education courses does not, by itself, constitute an additional location, except at correctional facilities. 

There is no minimum number of students or minimum geographic distance from the main campus required for a facility to qualify as an additional location. 

Process to Develop New or Change Additional Locations  

To change or establish an additional location, a proposal must be developed in partnership with the GVSU ALO and in conjunction with all impacted academic and non-academic personnel. The proposal must include a well-developed rationale, appropriate academic/program plans, a needs analysis, timeline, and a resource plan (i.e., financial, personnel, facilities/technology). This proposal requirement is part of GVSU's internal review process and is intended to support appropriate institutional oversight and, when applicable, HLC notification and review. 

New Additional Locations 

GVSU must notify HLC and receive acknowledgment that HLC has added the location to its database before initiating the new additional location. 

No new additional location may begin operation until GVSU has completed its required institutional review, and the applicable HLC notification and acknowledgment process is completed. 

Changes to Existing Additional Locations 

Changes to an existing additional location, including changes to its name, status, location type, programs offered, or other information maintained by HLC, must be reviewed through the GVSU internal process. 

Relocation of an existing additional location to a new geographic location requires prior HLC approval. If the additional location offers a degree or certificate program, GVSU must also include a teach-out plan for students at the original location, if applicable.  

Closure and Inactivity of Additional Locations 

A request for closure of an additional location must identify all potential impacts on enrolled students and include a teach-out or other completion plan when required by HLC. HLC notification is required for closure of an additional location 

Suspension of operations at an active additional location for more than one semester also requires notification to HLC.  

Notification of a site being inactive must be made to the ALO and Office of the Provost prior to the inactivity. An additional location may remain inactive for a maximum of two consecutive years. After that period, HLC requires the institution to either reactivate the location, with students present, or close the location.