Step 1: Develop Proposal for New Major/Degree

Faculty and staff members suggest ideas for new programs. Ideas are reviewed by the Provost's Council and developed into a long range curriculum development plan.

A preliminary proposal is developed by the faculty representing the new program or a provisional program director committee (format, ACIS). Coordination is provided by the associate vice chancellor.

Intent and feasibility are determined for planning the new program. During development, a provisional program director is named by the vice chancellor. The provisional program director should work with the Provost's Office.

The preliminary proposal is forwarded to the CIC for information.

The preliminary proposal is forwarded to the AAAT for information.

The PRC reviews the proposal from an all-university viewpoint, in terms of relationship to mission and existing offerings, and makes a recommendation to the Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Senate endorses the new program, and notifies the chancellor.

The chancellor requests a recommendation from the vice chancellor. The vice chancellor consults with the AAAT and makes a recommendation to the chancellor.

With the chancellor's approval, the Provost's Office submits the proposal to UW System with a cover memo which addresses program identification; relation to mission, strategic plan, goals, and objectives; need; and relation to other programs in the System and region.

UW System Office of Academic Affairs consults with other system institutions to ascertain how the proposal fits into program array and whether revisions need to be made to the proposal. The UW System Office of Academic Affairs approves or denies the request.

If approved, the university must develop a more extensive proposal with curriculum (ACIS). UW System assigns an academic planner to the program, who along with the Provost's Office representative and the provisional program director are members of program review committee that will continue development of the program through implementation.

Step 2: Program Development and Authorization to Implement

The provisional program director, in consultation with appropriate deans/colleges, selects and organizes provisional program committee. Using the recommended formats in ACIS, the provisional program committee develops a full proposal.

The associate vice chancellor assists with the development of the proposal in terms of format, timing, processing, and editing, and provides advice and assistance on concerns for overlap, duplication, cost, relation to other offerings or studies which may be of value during development.

The appropriate college-level approval body reviews the proposal in terms of relationship to mission and existing offerings, need, and financial feasibility. The dean's signature indicates approval.

The proposal is sent to two outside consultants for review and feedback. Consultant reports become part of the final program documentation reviewed by UW System.

The Curriculum and Instruction Committee, from an all-university perspective, reviews the proposed curriculum (30 copies to the Provost's Office). Consideration is given to the quality of the proposed program and to the meeting of university standards in terms of balance of offerings, groupings of courses, credits, and appropriateness of courses within the program. Recommendations for approval of the proposed program are sent to the vice chancellor.

The final program proposal is forwarded to the PRC for information.

The vice chancellor consults with AAAT and others in preparation of a final recommendation to the Chancellor (15 copies to the Provost's Office).

The chancellor reviews the recommendations of the provost and prior approving bodies and approves, modifies or rejects the proposal.

The three-person program review committee consisting of program representative, Provost's Office representative, and the UW System Academic Planner (ACIS) works to finalize the proposal for presentation to the Board of Regents.

With the approval of the chancellor, outside consultants and the program review committee, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at UW System submits a recommendation, with supporting documentation, to the Board of Regents.

The Board of Regents takes action on authorization to implement the program. Two readings of a new program are required with action being taken at the second meeting.

Step 3: Implementation

The provost notifies the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in writing of the actual implementation date/term.

Step 4: Joint Program Review and Evaluation

The UW System Program Review Committee will administer the first review approximately five years after initiation of a new program.