NEW PROGRAMS OVERVIEW PHASE I: INTRODUCTION OF NEW OFFERING Ideas for new minors or concentrations will go simultaneously to the Provost's Office and either the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) or the Graduate Curriculum and Policy Committee (GCPC) depending on the level of the offering. The purpose of this step is to initiate a request for an institutional commitment to moving a new minor or concentration into the New Programs review process as well as to identify early in the process the requisite governance and/or regulatory steps necessary to begin to offer the proposed program. Following the submission of the Phase I application, a meeting with the individual(s) who are sponsoring the new offering with the Provost (or designee), the Vice President of Enrollment Management, and the respective governance committee chair will occur. The decision about whether or not the program moves forward beyond Step I rests with the Provost (or designee). If the Provost (or designee) determines that this new offering is approved to proceed:
PHASE II: DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW The faculty sponsor begins to build out the curriculum in consultation with the Chair of GCPC or the Chair of UCC. Undergraduate degrees, programs, and/or majors shall also consult with the Director of General Education who serves as Chair of the General Education Curriculum Committee (GECC). Once a curricular framework is in place, the Provost's Office, Enrollment Management, and Finance Office will conduct market research, an assessment of staffing needs, and other financial commitments necessary to successfully deliver this program to market. If the new program is part of an existing department, program, school or division, this body should vote on approving the program. Once approved by the department/program/school/division, the sponsor(s) should bring the full curriculum forward to UCC/GECC or GCPC for basic review including course sequencing, learning outcomes mapping, confirming faculty/programs contacted/consulted, minimizing course overlap. This is to make certain that the curriculum is as close to its final form to avoid changes that could financially impact the program. PHASE III: NEW PROGRAM ADVISORY BOARD REVIEW Upon receipt of the completed New Programs Phase II documents and UCC or GCPC curriculum forms, the Chair of New Programs Advisory Board shall distribute documents to the New Programs Advisory Board for their review at least one week in advance of a New Programs Advisory Board meeting. PHASE IV: GOVERNANCE Once reviewed and feedback is considered by the sponsors, the Chair of the New Programs Advisory Board shall forward the proposal documents reviewed by NPAB to the Chair of either UCC or GCPC. PHASE V: EXTERNAL APPROVALS (if needed) In some circumstances, programs may require external approvals either through the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and/or the New England Commission of Higher Education. A determination of this requirement will occur during Phase I or II of this process and will impact the timeline to implementation and other application requirements. |
NEW PROGRAMS FORMS Please utilize the form below that most accurately describes the offering that you wish to propose.
Program sponsors should also utilize UCC and GCPC New Programs forms as the curricular forms associated with New Program proposals depending on the proposed offering.
NEW PROGRAMS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIP New Program Advisory Board Membership (2024-2025)
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