New Program Process
Relevant Policies
Review the applicable policy/policies for the proposal you are completing:
- University Policy for Bachelor Degrees(Policy 6-101)
- University Policy for Undergraduate Emphases (Policy 6-117)
- University Policy for Graduate Degrees (Policy 6-200)
- University Policy for Graduate Emphases (Policy 6-225)
- University Policy for Minors (Policy 6-101)
- University Policy for Undergraduate Certificates (Policy 6-116)
- University Policy for Graduate Certificates (Policy 6-224)
- USHE Policy for Approval and Modification of Programs and Units (R401)
- USHE Policy for Certificate and Degree Award Structures (R402)
New Academic Program Proposal (except for minors)
The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) New Academic Program Proposal must be completed and attached to your proposal in the "USHE Proposal" field in Coursedog. You will need to save the document to your computer and open it with Adobe Acrobat/Reader.
Download the USHE New Academic Program Proposal (Non-certificate)
Download the USHE Labor Market Analysis Guidance
Download the USHE New Certificate Proposal
Note: Additional information may be requested in order to evaluate any proposal or reports submitted.
Formatting:
- Narrative should be a formal style, using third person.
- For sections that do not apply, type N/A.
Program Planning
Identify a market need and institutional support for a new program before submitting a proposal.
- Market Analysis – Academic Affairs has partnered with Gray Decision Intelligence (Gray DI) to provide access to information on student demand, program competition, and wages, skills and jobs associated with academic programs.
- Campus Environment – Hold preliminary discussions with the appropriate college dean/s, the SVP of Academic Affairs or Health Sciences, and colleagues around campus to determine the impact of the new program on existing programs. Identify areas of overlap and resolve any concerns.
- State Impact – Investigate possible overlap with programs at other USHE institutions and determine whether the new program would negatively impact similar programs.
Letters of Position
- Department chair
- College dean
- Library (except for minors)
- Contact Mary Aagard for Marriott Library letters
- Contact Christy Jarvis for Health Sciences Center (HSC) Library letters
- Interdisciplinary programs (if applicable)
- Community/industry (if applicable)
- Impacted College(s)/Department(s) (similar programs, courses used, etc.)
Approval Process
Proposals should be through the department and college approvals at least 21 days prior to the Undergraduate or Graduate Council due dates.
- Submission
- Initial Review – please plan for up to 21 days at this step pending the number of proposals submitted
- Department/Faculty Committee approval
- College Committee approval
- Undergraduate Council review & advance *OR
Graduate Council review & advance * - Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs approval OR
Vice President for Health Sciences approval - Executive Committee/Academic Senate approval*
- USHE Peer Review Committee (PRC) review* (except for minors)
- Board of Trustees approval
- Board of Higher Education Notification
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities(NWCCU) Approval
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Note: NWCCU does not approve programs in October and April. Plan on a 4-week processing time outside of those months. Program proposals that include over 25% of courses that are new to the institution will require additional documentation and longer NWCCU processing times (up to 6 months).
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* 1-2 individuals will be asked to present proposals at the marked committee meetings and should be the same individuals listed in the Coursedog proposal.