03.02.99.R0.01 Program Development and Curriculum Approval Process
Effective September 1, 1996
Revised October 2002
Supplements System Policy 03.02 and Regulations 03.02.02

1. This procedure describes the university’s institution-wide process to coordinate programmatic and curriculum changes.

2. The university has an approval process for all program development and curriculum matters.

a. Programmatic changes include:

(1) new degree programs (substantive and nonsubstantive), and
(2) expansion of authority (requests to offer more than 50% of a degree program off-campus via face -to-face instruction or technology-based instruction).

b. Curriculum matters are defined as requests for:
(1) changes in program requirements,
(2) addition of new courses to the course inventory,
(3) changes to existing courses such as course description, requisites, value, and number,
(4) course reinstatement,
(5) cross-listing, and
(6) course deletion.

c. In all situations, the primary responsibility for the quality of the educational program resides with the faculty.

d. The administration and faculty are responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring of academic programs recommended and approved by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

e. In developing academic programs and making curriculum changes, the university will follow standards of good practice and guidelines established by the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) http://sago.tamu.edu/ the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) (http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/CBRules) and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) http://www.sacscoc.org/criteria.asp. The university will avoid the unwarranted proliferation of course offerings and degree programs. The development of new academic programs will be considered only after the university has completed a needs assessment and has identified resources to support the programs. The university will proceed only after careful review by appropriate faculty and administrative bodies including the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council and Deans Council; approval by the TAMUS Board of Regents; and any necessary review and approval by the THECB and SACS.

f. Faculty Senate review, required on all curriculum and program changes, may be expedited upon request.

3. Program Development: For new degree and expansion of authority program requests, the following guidelines shall be followed:

a. Preliminary approval: A concept paper of 3-4 pages is to be prepared, responding to the following items:
(1) Program description: Describe the program and justify the need for such a program (market analyses, listing of other programs in the state, employment opportunities for students, etc.);
(2) Resources: Identify current resources to be utilized and what additional resources will be needed. Include faculty; library resources; secretarial support and other personnel; operating costs, including travel, supplies, printing, postage and equipment needs; and any other associated costs;
(3) Benefits: How would the constituencies involved benefit from this program, i.e., university, faculty, students, area industries, businesses, educational entities, citizens, special groups, and others?
(4) Other considerations: Identify any other factors that should be considered in making an assessment as to whether there should be a major commitment by this university to pursue the establishment of the program.

b. Presentation to department head and departmental faculty: The initial concept for a new program shall be presented to the department head and departmental faculty for review and feedback. Following that presentation, the concept paper, along with departmental recommendations, will be forwarded to the appropriate dean.

c. Presentation to Deans Council: The concept paper shall be presented to the respective dean who may:
(1) personally present it to the Deans Council or
(2) ask the proposer to present it.

d. Deans Council Action: The council will evaluate the concept paper and consider such factors as need, available resources, impact on other programs, institutional role and scope, possible response of The Texas A&M University System, political climate and any other pertinent factors. The council will respond in one of the following ways:
(1) Approve the program identified in the concept paper,
(2) Decide not to pursue the matter, or
(3) Request additional information so that either actions (1) or (2) above can be taken.

e. Provost/VPAA Action: The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (P/VPAA), with advice from the Deans Council, will do one of the following:

(1) If preliminary approval is not given to the program identified in the concept paper, the P/VPAA will notify the appropriate dean and department head of the decision.

(2) If preliminary approval is given, the P/VPAA will notify the appropriate dean and department head to prepare a substantive or non-substantive degree program request in accordance with approved Coordinating Board format http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/CBRules and The Texas A&M University System Academic Program Guidelines http://sago.tamu.edu/ and submit the proposal through the curriculum approval process. The Office of the P/VPAA will notify the A&M System Office that a program request is being prepared.

f. Recommendations: At each step of the internal review process, the appropriate individual(s) will recommend approval or disapproval and provide a rationale for the recommendation. The decision as to whether or not a proposal is sent to the A&M System Office resides with the university president.

g. Any substantive change must be reported to the Executive Director of the Commission on Colleges in advance of the admission of students. (See Commission document: “Substantive Change Policy for Accredited Institutions.”) The report to the Executive Director is prepared by the Associate VPAA.

4. Curriculum Change Approval Process. In addition to the process for new program requests described above, the curriculum change process for all other requests shall be initiated by the faculty within the academic department and prepared in appropriate format available from the Coordinator of Schedule, Catalog and Curriculum in the Registrar’s Office.

a. After being reviewed and approved by the department, requests are acted upon by the respective College Executive Council. Upon approval by the College Executive Council, requests are forwarded to Provost Office.

b. The Provost Office forwards the appropriate requests to the following governing bodies for review and recommendations:

(1) Faculty Senate--all requests,
(2) Council on Teacher Education--teacher certification requests only and
(3) Graduate School--only graduate requests.

After recommendations are received from these councils, the Deans Council reviews all of the curriculum requests, taking into consideration prior recommendations, and makes recommendations to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. 5. Following presidential approval, programmatic and curriculum requests requiring system approval are submitted by the Provost Office to the Texas A&M University System staff for appropriate action.

6. Approved programmatic and curriculum requests (as defined in #2) above are submitted, in the required format, to the TAMUS Board of Regents and, thereafter, to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as appropriate.

7. Following Coordinating Board approval, curriculum requests are incorporated into the next academic year’s Undergraduate Catalog and/or Graduate Catalog and degree audit information.

References: Prior ETSU Policy B-112 dated December 16, 1992; revised March 12, 1997; revised October 2002
THECB http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/CBRules
TAMUS http://sago.tamu.edu/
SACS http://www.sacscoc.org/criteria.asp
A&M-Commerce Flow Chart and Timeline (Provost Office)
A&M-Commerce Curriculum Change Formats (Registrar’s Office)

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CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs