Establish New Degree

A faculty committee prepares a Notice of Intent to Plan a new degree following the guidelines established by Universities of Wisconsin Administration and described in Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 102 (formerly ACIS 1.0) Policy on Universities of Wisconsin Administration Array Management: Program Planning, Delivery, Review, and Reporting. (https://www.wisconsin.edu/uw-policies/uw-system-administrative-policies/policy-on-university-of-wisconsin-system-array-management-program-planning-delivery-review-and-reporting-2/) Following approval by the Dean and Provost, the Provost (or designee) submits the proposal to the Universities of Wisconsin Administration Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Educational Innovation (APEI) and to the Provosts at all Universities of Wisconsin institutions via pprnoticeofintent@uwsa.edu. (The Associate of Arts and Sciences Executive Committee acts as the Unit Executive Committee for purposes of developing AAS degrees.)

NOTE: 
Associate Degree programs should follow Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 115 (formerly ACIS 1.3) Associate Degree Standards: https://www.wisconsin.edu/uw-policies/uw-system-administrative-policies/associate-degree-standards/.

It is possible to create AAS degrees with specific majors. See the Guidelines For Associate Degree Approval: https://www.wisconsin.edu/program-planning/download/guidance/Associate-Degree-Approval-Guidelines-122020.docx.

Program Planning Resources may be found here: https://www.wisconsin.edu/program-planning/.

After receiving the entitlement to plan, a faculty committee prepares a full Request for Authorization to Implement (RAI) a degree following the guidelines established by Universities of Wisconsin Administration and described in Universities of Wisconsin Administrative Policy 102 (formerly ACIS 1.0) Policy on Universities of Wisconsin Array Management: Program Planning, Delivery, Review, and Reporting (See Appendix B) and completes the Propose New Program form in CourseLeaf. (The Associate of Arts and Sciences Executive Committee acts as the Unit Executive Committee for purposes of developing AAS degrees.) The faculty committee may consult the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), Graduate Studies, and/or other institutional offices for advice on program development.

If any courses or other degree requirements are outside the jurisdiction of the initiating faculty committee, then the draft proposal must be reviewed by the Interdisciplinary Unit(s) impacted by the creation of the new degree. The chair of the initiating faculty committee is responsible for sending (electronically) a complete proposal to the chair of the unit(s) impacted. As the proposal progresses through the approval process it must include written documentation from all of the unit(s) consulted.

The proposal may be revised based on the comments received. When a final proposal is approved by the initiating Interdisciplinary Unit Executive Committee, the proposal and all supporting documentation is forwarded to the Dean for review and approval. (The Associate of Arts and Sciences Executive Committee acts as the Unit Executive Committee for purposes of approving AAS degrees.) In the case of AAS degrees, the proposal should be reviewed by the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

The Dean (or Associate Provost) reviews the proposal and supporting documentation and then forwards all documentation to the Registrar and the Library for review and recommendation.

After review by the Registrar and the Library, the Dean has the option of approving the proposal, not approving the proposal, or requesting changes to the proposal. Approved proposals and supporting documentation are then routed to the appropriate governance committees. The Academic Affairs Council or Graduate Academic Affairs Council should be the last governance committee to review the proposal.

1. General Education Council – if the degree involves changes to the institution’s general education requirements.
   1. If the degree is an Associate degree, the GEC may approve the proposal.
   2. If the degree is a Bachelor’s degree and involves changes to the institution’s general education requirements, the GEC makes a recommendation on the proposal.
2. Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves a bachelor’s degree.
3. Graduate Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves a master’s or doctoral degree.

Following the AAC or GAAC review, an approved proposal is forwarded to the chair of the University Committee for action by the Faculty Senate. (Note: Step #6 and #7 may be pursued concurrently.) If not approved by the AAC or GAAC, the proposal is returned to appropriate dean(s).

The Dean(s) is/are responsible for presenting the proposal to the Faculty Senate. Traditionally, new degree programs are presented for two readings at Faculty Senate. If the Faculty Senate approves the proposal, it is sent to the Provost. If not approved by the Faculty Senate, the proposal is returned to the appropriate dean(s).

The Provost reviews the proposal. If approved, the Provost forwards the proposal to the Chancellor. (See Steps 10 and 11.) If not approved, the proposal is returned to the appropriate dean.

The proposal and recommendations are reviewed by the Chancellor, who approves or does not approve the new degree.

If approved, the Provost (or designee) submits all authorization materials, including the Request for Authorization to Implement a Degree, the Letter of Commitment, and the Cost and Revenue Projections for Newly Proposed Program spreadsheet to APEI via apei@uwsa.edu at least eight weeks in advance of the BOR meeting at which the institution requests that the proposal be considered.

If approved by the Universities of Wisconsin Associate Vice President, the proposal is submitted to the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents Education Committee and full Board for approval.

If the proposal is approved by the Board, it may be necessary for the Provost (or designee) to seek approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). ;Approval from the HLC may be required if the new degree represents a degree level the institution does not currently offer, represents a significant departure from current degree programs, or requires substantial financial investment or resources. For more information, see the HLC’s Institutional Change: Academic Programs webpage: https://www.hlcommission.org/Accreditation/institutional-change-academic-programs.html. HLC approval – such as that granting a new degree level – may require an HLC site visit.

If approved by the HLC or if no prior approval is required, the Provost notifies the faculty, the Office of the Registrar, and the Library that the new degree has been approved and when it should be officially implemented. The faculty works with the Registrar’s office to build the appropriate curriculum for the catalog. The faculty may consult the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), Graduate Studies, and/or other institutional offices for advice on program development.

When the program is ready for full implementation, and at least 4 weeks prior to full implementation, the Provost (or designee) submits a Notice of Implementation to APEI (apei@uwsa.edu), including the implementation year and term, the academic year in which the first review of the program will occur and the date by which the institution will submit the results of the first review to APEI, if HLC or other accrediting agency approval of the new program is required, and the desired CIP code for the new program. APEI will respond with formal notice and will notify Go Wisconsin Team and other System offices of the program’s implementation. Note that this step is necessary before the program will be added to the CDR or E-app.

The chair of the new program and the dean work with Marketing and University Communication and Enrollment Services to properly market the program and recruit students.