Must an institution report new campuses?

Short answer

Yes. Institutions must promptly notify ITAA of new campuses or additional locations that affect governance, curriculum, certification or quality-assurance arrangements. Separately, institutions must comply with any national, state/provincial or local reporting or approval rules that apply where the campus operates.

What ITAA expects institutions to report

Notify ITAA when a new location or campus will:

• operate under a different governance, award title or institutional identity;
• use a materially different curriculum, assessment or QA system;
• issue certificates or diplomas under a different name; or
• change the scope of ITAA accreditation (for example, adding locations that deliver most of an approved programme).

Where multiple sites meet ITAA’s One Institution ’ Multiple Campuses criteria, they may be covered by a single accreditation licence if governance, curriculum and QA are unified. If not, ITAA treats them as separate institutions for accreditation purposes. (See Sources.)

Legal and government reporting obligations

ITAA accreditation does not replace statutory registration, licensing or other government approvals. Institutions remain solely responsible for compliance with all applicable laws and for notifying relevant regulators where required. In some jurisdictions (for example, for institutions participating in national student aid programmes) regulators require notification or approval of new branch campuses or locations, particularly where a new site will deliver a substantial portion of an eligible programme.

Practical steps for institutions

1. Check local law and the relevant national regulator or qualifications authority for campus/branch reporting rules.
2. Notify ITAA promptly with full details: campus address, governance arrangements, programmes to be offered, QA oversight and certificate wording.
3. Provide evidence that the campus will follow the institution’s QA, assessment and awarding arrangements, or apply for separate accreditation if it will operate independently.
4. Update public information so students and stakeholders have accurate details about campus status and award validity.

Consequences of not reporting

Failure to report may lead ITAA to review an institution’s accreditation status for misuse or misrepresentation, and separate government action may follow where statutory reporting obligations were breached. Institutions are responsible for any unlawful issuing of qualifications or inaccurate public statements.