Establish, Merge, or Discontinue an Academic Unit
Academic Action
Establish, merge, or discontinue an interdisciplinary, disciplinary or other unit following UW-Green Bay and Universities of Wisconsin policies and procedures.
Curricular Requirements
Not applicable.
Originator of Process
Faculty Members Concerned, Dean, or Provost
Approval Process
Form K – Establish, Merge, or Discontinue an Academic Unit The initiator of the process should consult with the Associate Provost to discuss the appropriate paperwork.
Approvals/Recommendations Needed:
A – Approval Needed
R – Recommendation
I – Information Only
| R | Faculty Concerned |
| A | Dean(s) |
| R | Registrar |
| R | Academic Affairs Council |
| R | Personnel Council |
| R | University Committee |
| A | Faculty Senate |
| A | Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs |
| A | Chancellor |
| I | Universities of Wisconsin Administration |
| I | University of Wisconsin Board of Regents |
Approval Process
The initiator(s) of the process prepare(s) a proposal including a detailed rationale to establish, merge, or discontinue an interdisciplinary, disciplinary, or other academic unit following the instructions provided on Form K - Establish, Merge, or Discontinue an Academic Unit. The initiator of the process should consult with the Associate Provost to discuss the appropriate paperwork.
If the proposal is initiated by faculty, after all faculty concerned have had an opportunity to comment on the proposal, the proposal is forwarded to the Dean. If the proposal is initiated by the Dean or Provost, all faculty members concerned must review the proposal and submit their recommendations in writing to the initiator.
If establishing, merging, or discontinuing an academic unit will impact faculty outside of the initiating committee, the proposal must be reviewed by the interdisciplinary unit(s) that will be impacted. 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 documentation from all of the unit(s) consulted.
The Dean reviews the proposal and supporting documentation and may request additional information. He then forwards all to the Registrar for review and recommendation.
After review and recommendation or non-recommendation by the Registrar, the Dean has the option of approving the proposal, not approving the proposal, or requesting changes to the proposal. After it is approved by the Dean, the proposal, with supporting documentation, is forwarded to the Academic Affairs Council and Personnel Council.
Following the AAC and Personnel Council review, the proposal and supporting documentation are forwarded to the chair of the University Committee for action by the Faculty Senate.
The Faculty Senate acts on the proposal and informs the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the result of the vote.
If the proposal is approved by the Faculty Senate, the Provost reviews the proposal and, if approved, forwards it to the Chancellor for final institutional approval. If not approved by the Faculty Senate, 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 academic unit and returns the proposal and supporting documentation to the Office of the Provost.
If approved, the Provost Office notifies the Dean, faculty, University Committee, SOFAS, and Registrar that the new unit has been formed and the effective date of the action.