Governance Manual
Section 3: Undergraduate Academic Policies
Course and Program Modification Policies: State System of Higher
Education Program Approval Policy
Academic policy adopted March 19, 1985; amended October 9, 2003 by
Board of Governors (Policy 1985-01-A): Requirements for initiation or
change of credit-based academic programs
- Purpose
To
provide the chancellor and the Board of Governors, and the president
and council
of trustees of each University, the general criteria and policies
governing
Board of Governors’ requirements prior to initiation or change of a
credit-based academic program within a University or consortium of
Universities.
- Definitions
Certificate—A
credit-based credential designated on the academic record that
indicates
completion of a prescribed, coherent undergraduate or graduate
curriculum of at
least 12 credits.
Degree
Designation—Specific degree type, including but not limited to
bachelor of arts,
bachelor of science, master of arts, master of science, and doctor of
education.
Major
Academic Program—A sequence of courses, activities, and/or
experiences constituting
a major field of study, culminating in a credit-based degree or
certification.
Minor
when a Major Exists—A coherent program of study that consists of
most of the core
major courses, but fewer electives, and includes at least 18 credits.
Minor
when no Major Exists—A coherent program of study, consisting of
at least 18 credits,
in an area in which the university does not offer a major.
Other
Academic Program—A sequence of courses, activities, experiences
constituting a
track, concentration, focus, option, specialization, emphasis, or
equivalent
not leading to a degree or certification.
Program
Change—A change of program title, degree designation, or
certification or an addition
or deletion of degree designation, track, emphasis, or minor where a
major exists.
Program
Title—Name of a program, such as biology, mathematics, dance,
biotechnology,
and school psychology.
- Procedure
- Academic
program proposals shall be subject to action by, or notice to, the
Board of
Governors or chancellor, as follows:
- Board
of Governors Action
New
major program—Full proposal covering criteria in section B. of the
administrative
procedure required.
- Office
of the Chancellor Action
New
minor program when no major exists—Full proposal covering criteria
in
section B. of the administrative procedure required.
New
certificate program when no major or minor exists—Full proposal
covering
criteria in section C. of the administrative procedure required.
New
degree designation—Letter containing rationale and supporting
materials
required.
- Office
of the Chancellor Notification
New
minor when major exists, certificate when major or minor exists, track,
concentration,
focus, option, specialization, emphasis, or equivalent—Letter
required.
Other
program changes in the academic data file, including program name or
title
changes, termination, or moratorium—Letter required.
- No
program or degree requiring approval shall be advertised or offered
until the
University president receives written notice from the chancellor
verifying approval
by the Board of Governors or chancellor.
No program change shall be announced or
implemented without the appropriate action.
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