Create a Degree Program
Overview
A degree program is a credential at the baccalaureate, master, or doctoral level (e.g., History, BA; Accountancy, MAcc; Building Construction, PhD). Creating a new degree program begins with Provost pre-approval. Following pre-approval and necessary committee and Provost approvals, the proposed degree program must also be reviewed by the Board of Trustees, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). It typically takes 10 - 18 months for a new degree program to be created.
Before you Begin
Familiarize yourself with the university’s standards for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Process Details
To create a new degree program the originating academic unit should:
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Request Provost Approval to Commence Planning
Submit to the Provost a request to commence planning for the new program, including a memo justifying the request, a financial projection, and a market study. Templates are provided below for the memo and projection. The market study can be requested from the Executive Director of the Biggio Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning.
The Provost reviews planning requests throughout the year.
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Submit Proposal into CIM
Upon Provost approval to commence planning, input the proposed program 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.
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Request Provost and Board Approval
Upon university committee approval, submit to the Provost the following three items to request Provost and Board of Trustees approval:
Approved Curriculum Model
The Provost reviews approval requests throughout the year. However, the Board of Trustees meets only seven times per year.
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Request Alabama Commission on Higher Education Approval
Upon Board approval, work with the university’s ACHE Coordinator to prepare and submit the following items for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education:
The Commission reviews program proposals four times per year.
Note: To ensure program viability, the Commission requires a Post-Implementation Report seven years after initial implementation. Over the seven-year period the minimum number of average graduates per program type must be met: 7.5 for bachelor's degree programs, 3.75 for master's degree program, and 2.25 for doctoral programs.
Process Completion
After approvals, the Registrar will build the new program 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:
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When will the new program appear in the Bulletin?
The program will appear in the next Bulletin if it is created by the Registrar prior to May 1st.
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When will the program appear on the Admissions Application?
After the Registrar builds the program (following ACHE approval).
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When can the new program be awarded?
In the semester that it is built by the Registrar.
When can the originating unit begin advertising the program?
The originating unit can begin advertising the new program noting “Pending ACHE approval” after the program proposal 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.
Questions about process completion should be sent to the ACHE Coordinator.