The stages of development and approval are additive, with various points of emphasis at each stage in the process. In addition to reviewing the content on this page, proposers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Office of the Provost Academic Program Review website.
Program development
When developing a new undergraduate program, it is recommended to reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Education for assistance. New academic program proposals must articulate:
- Admission and Degree requirements
- Need and demand of the program
- Efficiency and effectiveness of degree completion
- Support and resources for students
- Statement of mission
- Support and resources for students
- Statement of mission
Departments can use the Coursedog Program Proposal Worksheet to guide the organization of this information.
Early consultation
Consultation is essential within the college, among other colleges, with institutional units, and across campus.
The CCC reviews new Undergraduate programs on the Twin Cities campus.
- Bachelor’s programs
- Minor programs when disciplinary overlap has been identified and not resolved
Consultation Process Guidance (Adding or Changing Academic Plans)
Establishing new academic plans – and revising existing plans – involves a process designed to identify stakeholders and provide them the opportunity to review and provide feedback.
Procedures for the development, review, and recommended action on proposals for new or changed academic plans are the responsibility of departments, colleges, and campus systems. Proposals must be fully vetted at the local level(s), based on those procedures, prior to the proposal and recommended action are forwarded to the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP) for review.
Early consultation within the college, among other departments and colleges, with institutional units, and across campus is strongly recommended. The EVPP staff also are available to provide guidance throughout the process.
Consultation, Review, and Approval Levels
Why do we need to consult with other colleges and units?
- Consultation fosters cross-campus communication and collaboration, ensures cross-college and institutional support, and identifies and addresses concerns of overlap between academic plans.
- EVPP-level review includes an assessment to identify areas where consultation among units is or may be necessary, and the decision to recommend approval is dependent upon evidence of support.
What does consultation involve?
- Consultation is advised even if units believe that the content of the proposed academic plan falls squarely within their mission and expertise.
- Units proposing a new or revised academic plan(s) should consult with other units to determine whether the University already offers a substantially similar plan.
- When a proposal lists coursework from other colleges, consultation should include assurance that the proposed courses are active, are expected to be taught in future, and do not restrict enrollment (or will be available by permission).
- When the faculty of the proposed academic plan span colleges, consultation should include the discussions about the expected impact on faculty workload (e.g., teaching and advising responsibilities), faculty members willing to be involved, and department/college approval for their involvement.
- If the name of the new academic plan is similar or may be perceived duplicative, the college of that academic plan should be consulted.
How does consultation take place?
- Consultation takes different forms and depends on the communication that exists between and among units. Early conversations and/or email exchanges among collegiate and campus leaders in the early stages of program development can assist in garnering official evidence of consultation (letters or emails of support) once the academic plan is in the final review and approval stages.
- For new major program proposals on the Twin Cities campus, in addition to early consultation among colleges and units as described, the Campus Curriculum Committee (CCC) will review proposals once they make their way to the EVPP-level review phase. The CCC will review all letters of support and evidence of consultation as part of their process.
Letters or emails of support should include at minimum:
- The specific name of the proposed academic plan.
- Indication that the proposal was reviewed by a specified leader on behalf of the collegiate unit. It must be clearly stated that the leader communicated with specified individuals in the college and is communicating support on behalf of the college.
- A clear statement of support from the collegiate unit.
Please contact Anne Barnes ([email protected]) in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost for questions or assistance related to new program consultation.
Process for new programs
Academic department and college approve the new program proposal in Coursedog and submit the sample plan(s) by the deadlines listed.
Proposal Type Effective Term Undergraduate BoR Review Fall* January 1 BoR Review Spring April 1 Updates Fall* April 1 Updates Spring October 1 *Program updates with a fall effective term are preferred. Significant changes effective spring term should be avoided. - Office of Undergraduate Education review
- CCC Review
- Send evidence of consultation and any relevant documents to the CCC to Jessica Kuecker Grotjohn at [email protected].
- CCC reviews new programs and responds within two weeks.
- Board of Regents Review
- APAS development
Undergraduate Degrees at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities:
Descriptions of undergraduate degrees were developed by the Twin Cities Campus Curriculum Committee to assist in our review of new program proposals on the Twin Cities Campus. The degrees could be offered by any college and the descriptions are intended to provide direction for faculty and units when considering the development of a new undergraduate academic program.
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
B.A. degrees provide coursework within a specific discipline but also allow for breadth of coursework across diverse areas. Through program elective courses, students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary connections. B.A. degrees often include a second language requirement.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
B.S. degrees provide coursework within a specific discipline and also allow for depth of coursework within the sciences. Coursework exposes students to analytical, quantitative, or investigative methods. B.S. degrees also may have an applied or professional component. Program elective courses are often specified to provide more depth in the discipline.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
B.F.A. degrees generally are highly specialized and provide coursework for students who plan to pursue a professional career in the visual arts, design, or the performing arts. Program elective courses are often specified to provide more depth in the field.
Disciplinary Named Degrees
These degrees are titled Bachelors of [Discipline] and provide coursework in the specific discipline. Program elective courses are often specified to provide more depth in the discipline.
Disciplinary overlap and disputes
Given the increasing interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum, the CCC expects there will be occasional overlap in content across the curriculum. For example, different units may see the same content through distinct lenses or may approach similar learning goals using different methods. For cases where these differences are distinct, the CCC will approve the new course even if overlap is found.
For cases of overlap where there is no compelling argument that the new course is distinct, the CCC will discuss the merits of the new course and make a recommendation to the provost.
Review timeline
Once the complete course proposal reaches the provost queue in Coursedog, and the Word or PDF syllabus has been emailed to the CCC staff person, the proposal is distributed to one of several CCC review teams. Courses are sent to the review teams weekly. When the review team arrives at a decision (typically within one week), the proposer is notified. The CCC meets to review any proposals that require full committee discussion.
Types of CCC decisions:
- Approval - Course is approved
- Provisional Approval - Course has minor revisions that must be made prior to full approval. Once requested changes are made, the course will be approved.
- Revise and Resubmit - The CCC has concerns that must be addressed and reviewed prior to full approval. Revisions will be re-evaluated by the CCC.