A Proposal for Procedures for Approving New Degree Program ...

A Proposal for
Procedures for Approving New Degree Program Proposals
at UCDHSC
* * D R A F T * * * *
In accordance with Regents Policy 4-J, each campus is to develop its own set
of procedures for approving new degree program proposals within the
guidelines given in the policy. In this proposal we follow the check-list
prepared by Laura Goodwin and applify some specific steps. In what follows
we are only concerned with section A of the check-list, dealing with the
Campus Process.
1. Department and School/College Proposal Preparation and Review
a. Strategic Planning Process
The conceptual basis of a new degree program should be discussed with
all interested parties and with general approval should be made part of the
stategic plans of those entities which have them. At a minimum, the dean
of the school/college shall report the interest in developing the new
program to the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
(VCASA) so that it may be incorporated in the campus annual academic
planning report.
b. Development
The department/program prepares the proposal using the Guidelines for
Program Proposals in Regent Policy 4-J. When the proposal is nearly
finalized, the dean is informed and in turn notifies the VCASA and
provides a tentative timeline. The VCASA starts a case file for the
proposal and appoints an administrator to guide the proposal
through the approval process.
c. Approval Process
Each entity that must approve the proposal shall submit the approval
in written form to the administrator in charge of the proposal, who
will place it in the case file. The written statements should include
any concerns and/or suggestions that arose in the deliberations and
these letters should be available to all parties whose approval is still
required.
If appropriate, the faculty of the originating department/program review
and approve the proposal. If the proposed new degree program involves
more than one school/college, faculty in all involved schools/colleges

eview and approve.
A faculty committee representing the school/college of the originating
department/program (a standing committee when one exists) reviews and
approves the proposal. Of particular concern to this committee will be the
impact of the new degree on the school/college.
If the proposed program involves more than one school/college, Deans of
all involved schools/colleges review and approve.
The Dean of the originating school/college reviews and approves the
proposed new degree program. The Dean appends to the proposal a
written commitment that appropriate resources are available for the
adequate operation of the program.
2. External Consultant's Evaluation (for Graduate and Professional programs
above the level of the baccalaureate)
The Dean and program faculty select a highly qualified, independent
evaluator to review the quality of the proposed curriculum, the
qualifcations of the faculty to offer the program, and the adequacy of
resources to support the program.
The VCASA approves the choice of the external consultant.
The Dean(or administrator in charge) sends the proposal to the external
consultant.
Upon receipt of the external consultant's report, the Dean or designee
prepares a written response, describing any changes made in response
to the evaluation or explaining why suggested changes were not made.
The Dean appends to the proposal the external consultant's report and
the Dean's response.
3. Campus Review*
Undergraduate degree proposals are reviewed and approved by the
Undergraduate Council. (Until such time when the Undergraduate
Council is formed and functioning, the Faculty Assembly Educational
Policy and Planning Committee shall carry out this function.)
Graduate degree proposals are reviewed and approved by the Graduate
Council. The Graduate School Dean reviews and approves the new degree
program.
This level of review is mainly concerned with academic standards and the
impact of the new program on other schools and colleges.

*When a new program may have a possible impact at the Health
Sciences Center, faculty representatives from HSC will be requested
to sit with these groups in the review and approval process. If these
representatives determine that the new program will have a
considerable impact at HSC, then full approval by HSC will be sought.
In the event that the proposal originates jointly with HSC, full approval
by HSC is automatically required.
4. Vice Chancellor Review
5. Chancellor's Review
These two review levels are essentially those outlined in the check-list.
Throughout the approval process, whenever a faculty group and a
corresponding administrator are in disagreement about the whole or any
part of the proposal, it is the responsibility of the administrator in charge of
the proposal to take the issue to the next level of review. This entity must
resolve the problem to the satisfaction of both parties before it can
proceed to consider approval.