(1) The program director is required to notify the board of any proposed substantive change affecting the nursing education program. Substantive changes include, but are not limited to:

(a) changes in legal status, control, ownership, or resources of the institution;

(b) change in accreditation or approval status;

(c) major curriculum revisions;

(d) change in degree offerings or program options;

(e) additional geographic sites or locations; and

(f) an expansion involving:

(i) an increase in the number of students served by a program that equals or exceeds the numerator in the student to faculty ratio requirements for clinical settings set by the board and national nursing accrediting agency standards; and

(ii) the increase in (1) (f) (i) requires at least one of the following:

(A) addition of one or more faculty to the program;

(B) addition of clinical experiences at clinical agencies not currently used by the program; or

(C) addition of clinical experiences at clinical agencies currently used by the program, but utilizing nontraditional times or nontraditional instructional methods.

(2) The board will review the special reports at their January or October board meetings. For programs under the jurisdiction of the Montana Board of Regents, the board will make a recommendation to the Montana Board of Regents concerning the substantive change. If the board does not complete its review and recommendations in January or October, it shall do so at its next quarterly meeting.

(3) The substantive change report must document how, if at all, the change affects the program's compliance with the board's statutes and rules.

(4) Continued approval of the program is contingent upon the program director's apprising the board of substantive changes.

(5) The program director shall contact the board office to determine whether a particular change constitutes a substantive change for submitting a report to the board.

(6) Fourteen copies of the special report must be sent to the board office for distribution to board members and staff. No further information will be considered by the board if not submitted at least 30 days before the meeting.

(7) For proposed program expansion, at least the following information must be included:

(a) purpose and classification of program;

(b) availability of qualified faculty;

(c) budgeted faculty positions;

(d) availability of adequate clinical and academic facilities for the program;

(e) evidence of financial resources adequate for the planning, implementation, and continuation of the program;

(f) anticipated student population and impact or relationship to current student population, including plans for student academic and financial support;

(g) tentative timetable for planning and initiating the program;

(h) consideration of how the proposed expansion may affect the existing nursing programs in the state, and indication that plans and the feasibility study regarding the proposed expansion have been shared with the directors of existing Montana programs;

(i) population data within the past three years and workforce supply and demand data from the past year documenting the need for the program change as it relates to plans for total state resources and nursing education needs within the state;

(j) curriculum modifications required to accommodate the targeted student population; and

(k) evidence showing the program's NCLEX pass rates being at or above the national average for at least three of the last five years.

(8) Program expansion means offering additional degrees, adding geographic sites and locations, or otherwise expanding the program.

(9) The board shall approve the request prior to initiation of any requested change.

(10) Any additional information requested by the board must be provided by the program in the period and manner specified by the board.