Create a Certificate

Overview

A certificate is a credential appearing on a student’s transcript that provides basic exposure to clearly defined skills or knowledge aimed at enhancing professional competency. Policies concerning certificate requirements exist at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Creating a new certificate begins with Provost pre-approval. Following pre-approval and necessary committee and Provost approvals, the proposed certificate must also be reviewed by the Board of Trustees, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). It typically takes 6-9 months for a new certificate to be created.

Before you Begin

Familiarize yourself with the university’s policies concerning undergraduate and graduate certificates.

Process Details

To create a new certificate the originating academic unit should:

1. Request Provost Approval to Commence Planning

   Submit to the Provost a request to commence planning for the new certificate using the following template:

   1. Planning Request Memorandum

   The Provost reviews planning requests throughout the year.

2. Submit Proposal into CIM

   Upon Provost approval to commence planning, input the proposed certificate into the Curriculum Inventory Management System (CIM) for review and approval by appropriate unit, college and university committees. A CIM training guide is available for assistance. Please attach the approved planning request memorandum to the CIM form.

   University committees (graduate and undergraduate) meet once a month and usually review all proposals received by the first of that month. The undergraduate committee does not meet in the summer months.

3. Request Provost Approval and Board of Trustees Review

   Upon university committee approval, submit to the Provost the following items to request Provost approval and Board of Trustees review:

   1. Approval Request Memorandum

   2. Approved Curriculum Model

   The Provost reviews approval requests throughout the year. However, the Board of Trustees meets only seven times per year.

4. Request Alabama Commission on Higher Education Review

   Upon Board review, work with the university’s ACHE Coordinator to prepare and submit the following item for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education:

   1. Non-Degree Program Form

   The Commission meets four times per year.

Process Completion

After approvals, the Registrar will build the new certificate in Banner to ensure it is operable; this usually occurs within a month of final approval. Answers to common questions about the end of the creation process follow:

• When will the new certificate appear in the Bulletin?

  The certificate will appear in the next Bulletin if it is created by the Registrar prior to May 1st.

When can the originating unit begin advertising the certificate?

The originating unit can begin advertising the new certificate noting “Pending ACHE approval” after the non-degree program form is submitted to ACHE and ACHE sends a receipt. ACHE meets quarterly to consider new programs. After ACHE approval, the program can be advertised without the disclaimer.

• When can the new certificate be awarded?

  In the semester that it is built by the Registrar.

Questions about process completion should be sent to the ACHE Coordinator.