Deactivate or Discontinue Online Modality

As programs continually review quantitative and qualitative information related to program outcomes and viability, it is sometimes necessary to deactivate an online modality for an existing program. The formal policies that govern this process are:

• RIT Policy D01.6 (Policy on Academic Program Review, Reduction, Discontinuance, or Transfer, Section IV (Academic Program Discontinuance)
• RIT Policy E20.0 (Impact on Faculty Due to the Discontinuance or Reduction of Academic Programs)

Prior to formally removing an online modality from an existing program, the online modality can be deactivated. Requests to deactivate an online modality for existing programs must be approved by July 15 or the online modality will be included in the recruitment cycle for the following academic year.

When an online modality is formally discontinued, it will be removed from the New York State Education Department’s Inventory of Registered Programs and the program can no longer be offered online.

Deactivation of an online modality means that incoming enrollment to the online program is suspended for a period of time, but the modality is NOT removed from the NYSED Inventory of Registered Programs. Deactivation of an online modality should not result in the termination of tenured or tenure-track program faculty.

In order to deactivate an online modality for an academic degree or certificate program, the College Dean must:

• Discuss the intention to deactivate with the program director and the college curriculum committee
• Discuss the intention to deactivate with Enrollment Management in order to explore implications on enrollment, and request a letter of support
• Formally notify the Office of the Vice Provost, using this deactivation template which includes the following information:
  • Program title and award
  • Effective deactivation date
  • Estimated completion date for currently enrolled students, and confirmation that existing students will be able to complete their program of study on time and without hardship
  • Rationale for deactivation
  • Rationale which explains why the deactivation is not expected to have an adverse effect on enrollment or student placement
  • Letter of support from Enrollment Management

Discontinuance of an online modality means that the online modality is removed from the NYSED Inventory of Registered Programs. Discontinuance must be guided by these RIT Policies:

• RIT Policy D01.6 (Policy on Academic Program Review, Reduction, Discontinuance, or Transfer, Section IV (Academic Program Discontinuance)
• RIT Policy E20.0 (Impact on Faculty Due to the Discontinuance or Reduction of Academic Programs)

Prior to bringing a discontinuance proposal forward for an online modality, the college typically requests that the online modality be deactivated - giving existing students time to complete the program online.

• Complete the steps in the Deactivation Process section above.
• Confirm that RIT Policy E20.0 has been followed, regarding the impact of program discontinuance on faculty.
• Complete one of the following NYSED application forms:
  • General Academic Programs (which do not lead to licensure or certification)
  • Professional Programs (which DO lead to licensure or certification)

• Send the completed NYSED application to the Office of the Vice Provost via email.
• The Office of the Vice Provost will review the application, obtain approval from the Provost, and submit the discontinuance request to NYSED. 

Once the deactivation or discontinuance request for the online modality has been approved, the Office of the Vice Provost will send an official campus notification to the applicable campus departments and the applicable Dean/Associate Dean, and the following actions will occu

• The deactivated modality will be removed from RIT’s Application for Admission.
• The program’s web page and catalog page will be updated to remove the "Online Option Available" identifier and related language.