Academic Program Proposals

Instructions for proposing a new academic program and for changing an existing program are below. If you have questions about this material, contact Patrick Doble at schdcehd@umn.edu.

Submission timeline

New programs and Major program updates need to be submitted no later than the December Curriculum Council meeting for Fall semester and February for Spring semester.

Minor updates should be submitted to the Curriculum Council no later than February 1st. for Fall semester and September 15th for Spring semester.

*Program updates with a fall effective term are preferred. Significant changes effective spring term should be avoided.

In order to allow time for CC members to fully consider each proposal, program proposals must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which they will be reviewed.

New and major changes to existing programs need to be approved by the Provost and then the Board of Regents. These include but are not limited to:

• new degree programs, minors, sub-plans, and certificates;

•  discontinued programs, minors, sub-plans, and certificates;

• name changes to programs, minors, sub-plans, and certificates;

• online and distance delivery of new or existing programs;

• collaborations with other national or international institutions of higher education;

 anything deemed significant by the Office of the Provost.

Before submitting a new or major revision please contact Patrick Doble at schdcehd@umn.edu.

Proposing a new program or sub-plan

(See also Revised programs below.)

First: The department chair must have a conversation with the dean to discuss priorities, finances, and support of the proposed program. The outcome of this conversation should be included in the Department Chair Review Form.

Second: The Review and Consultation forms should be sent to schdcehd@umn.edu to be circulated to CEHD department chairs. All new programs and subplans must be sent for external consultation. Please submit the External Consultation form to start this process.

As of November 8, 2016, Graduate Programs need to include a Curriculum plan with the Review and Consultation forms.

Others outside CEHD should be consulted without the Review & Consultation forms by the proposer.

Interdisciplinary or cross-college programs must include a Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement addressing revenue and workload issues and including explicit language for dissolution of the program.

Third: The complete proposal should be submitted to the Curriculum Council (CC) via this Google form for review and approval. The CC may request additional information or changes.

Complete proposals for new programs must include the following:

• Review and Consultation forms, including any correspondence with entities outside our college.

• Copy of the Coursedog entry. Below are templates for what is required for programs in Coursedog. Please consult with your department scheduler before filling out the template.

Undergraduate

• Undergraduate

Graduate

• Doctoral

• Graduate free standing minor

• Masters

• Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate and Licensure Endorsement (See the University’s Administrative Policy “Adding New Post-Baccalaureate Academic Plans” on the UWide Policy Library site.)

All proposals must be entered in Coursedog before review by the CC.

Submit entire program proposal packet to via this Google form for review.

If you have any questions, contact schdcehd@umn.edu.

Fourth: Once the CC has given final approval to the program, the proposal will be submitted to either the Provost’s Office or the Graduate Education Council (GEC), whichever is appropriate.

Revising an existing sub-plan

Changes to existing programs require approval by the Curriculum Council (CC) and the Provost’s Office. Doctoral program changes will require approval by the Graduate Education Council (GEC), Masters program changes will not be reviewed by the GEC.

Complete proposals for revising a program or sub-plan include the following:

• Memo from department chair which includes:

1. A brief summary of the impact the revision(s) will have on the department’s annual budgeting and planning in the context of the mission of the department and college

2. Faculty vote and the faculty’s response specific to need for the change(s).

• Supporting documentation for the type of change requested (optional)

• If it a licensure program they will need a memo from the Office of Teach Education

• Copy of Coursedog entry indicating brief summary which students the revision will affect:

Example: Will the revision be for all students or only for the student Admitted from the submission term forward?

Complete proposals for discontinuing a program or sub-plan include the following:

•  Memo from the department chair

1. A brief summary of the impact the revision(s) will have on the department’s annual budgeting and planning in the context of the mission of the department and college

2. Faculty vote and the faculty’s response specific to need for the change(s).

• Supporting documentation for the request (this is optional)

• If it a licensure program they will need a memo from the Office of Teach Education

• A copy of the Coursedog entry. The following question will need to be answered in Coursedog.

  • The rationale for discontinuing admission to the program

  • Last-term students can be admitted to the program

  • Approximate term that students may no longer graduate from the program

  • Transition plan (If students are currently enrolled, what is the process for either moving students to a new plan or facilitating completion of the existing plan)

  • Catalog instructions (Add any text you would like displayed in the catalog, such as directing students who are interested in this program to search for a related one instead)

All proposals must be entered in Coursedog before review by the CC.

Submit the entire program proposal packet via this Google form for review.