Establishing In-State Off-Campus Programs

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Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026, 11:56 AM

SIU Online and Extended Campus looks forward to partnering with more departments and welcoming new students to the Saluki family, both online and at locations across the U.S.

For clarity and ease of understanding, here’s how the process works at Southern Illinois University Carbondale:

  1. Initiation: The program begins by preparing and sending a "Permission to Investigate" memo* from the program, routed through the Dean, to the Executive Director of SIU Online and Extended Campus (SIU OEC).
  2. Consultation for Approval: SIU OEC will then consult with the Associate Provost for Academic Programs (APAP) to determine if regional approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) is necessary.
  3. Notification of Approval: Upon completion of consultations, SIU OEC will inform the program whether it has been approved to proceed with the investigation.

List of steps for if IBHE regional approval is needed or not needed.

IF IBHE REGIONAL APPROVAL IS NEEDED
  • Program will prepare and send a Permission to Open memo* from the program, through the Dean, to the Executive Director of SIU OEC.
  • Accompanying the Permission to Open memo will be the out-of-region RME (form found on APAP's website), the most recent assessment plan, and the PVC approval form.
  • SIU OEC will prepare and send an evaluation memo from the Executive Director to the APAP, including the out-of-region RME, assessment plan, and PVC approval form.
  • If approved, APAP will send out an Affected Officers memo to college/school, program, and other affected parties.
IF IBHE REGIONAL APPROVAL IS NOT NEEDED
  • Program will prepare and send a Permission to Open memo* from program, through the Dean, to the Executive Director of SIU OEC.
  • A completed Distance Education Moderate Extension (DEME) form* and Assessment Plan* will need to accompany the memo.
  • SIU OEC will prepare and send a Permission to Open memo from the Executive Director of SIU OEC, through the Associate Provost for Academic Programs, to the Provost.
  • If approved, SIU OEC will send out an Affected Officers memo to college/school, program, and other affected parties.

View Memo Templates and Forms

*All memos should be placed on departmental letterhead and signed before being submitted along with corresponding documents via email to ec.compliance@siu.edu.

In addition to the above approval process, there are many behind the scenes steps that need to take place in order to get a new site/program up and running. Once the Affected Officers memo goes out it will trigger many of these processes across the campus. The program should also expect to work closely with SIU OEC Compliance on various pieces such as memoranda of understanding/agreement, facility use license agreements, state licensure approval (for out-of-state), state approving agency approval, and more.