College Student Academic Services

Procedure for Approval of New Undergraduate Programs

When a new program or other action requires approval beyond the University, the proposal must first be approved within the University by the following groups or individuals:

  • Degree Requirements sub-committee of CUSA (usually meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month during the academic year)
  • Committee on Undergraduate Studies and Advising (CUSA) (meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month during the academic year)
  • College Academic Council (CAC) (meets the 2nd Tuesday of most months during the academic year)
  • Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
  • Provost of the University

Once the Provost has approved the proposal, it follows the procedure outlined in the Board of Regents Policy Manual:

Board of Regents Policy Manual [Academic Affairs 7.d.(2)(b)] stipulates that Board approval is required for the establishment of new degree programs.

New Academic Units and Academic Programs (9-18-97)

(1) Actions that Require Approval by COCAO and President and Chief Executive Officer: The following types of action require approval by the Council of Chief Academic Officers and the President and CEO of the Board of Regents. Action is approved when the campus receives written notice from the President and CEO.
(a)Concentrations (also called "minors"): A concentration may not exceed 24 credit hours at the baccalaureate level; 12 credit hours at the master's level; 18 credit hours at the doctoral level. Graduate certificate programs are not considered concentrations, and are determined at the campus level. (6-24-99)
(b) Changing the name of an existing unit or degree title or consolidating two or more units or degrees in one unit or degree.
(c) Approval of academic concentrations (or “minors”) is motivated by: (1) a desire to ensure sufficient resources to offer a quality program and (2) a need to monitor the proliferation of new programs within the Regents system. In many cases, development of a new concentration is the first step in the creation of a full degree program, hence the need for review and approval. In cases where degree programs already exist, neither or these two motivations apply. Hence, institutions do not need approval to establish an academic concentration in an area of study with a previously Board approved degree program. (6-24-99)
(2) Actions Requiring Approval by the Board: The following types of actions require approval by COCAO, COPS and the Board of Regents:
(a) New schools, departments, and those institutes and centers requiring new state funding. (11-16-00)
(b) New degree programs.
(c) Extension of an approved degree program to a higher degree level, e.g., Associate Degree to Bachelor’s Degree.
(d) New major under an existing degree name.

When the Board considers the establishment of a new degree program or major, information regarding its need, quality, cost and means of assessment become paramount. Appendix G of the Board of Regents Policy Manual outlines the policies, procedures and criteria the Board utilizes when reviewing requests for new academic degrees and majors. The following format and guidelines should be followed in a proposal for a new degree or major.

2. NEW PROGRAM PROPOSALS

a. Procedures and Timelines for New Program Proposals.

(1) Institutions may submit proposals for new degrees and majors to the Council of Chief Academic Officers and the Director of Academic Affairs for consideration at any regular meeting of the Council.

(2) Proposals shall be reviewed and considered as a first reading by the Council at its next regularly scheduled meeting. During the review, Council members may question the representative of the proposing institution regarding the proposed program.

(3) The Council shall review and consider the proposal as a second reading at its subsequent regularly scheduled meeting.

(4) The Council of Chief Academic Officers shall convey its recommendation in writing at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council of Presidents.

The Council of Chief Academic Officers shall make one recommendation based on a majority roll call vote according to the following voting categories:

(i) Recommended – Proposed program merits implementation according to institutional and State priorities.
(ii)Not Recommended -- Proposed program does not merit Board approval at this time.

(5) The Council of Presidents shall review and consider the proposal at its next regular meeting following action from the Council of Chief Academic Officers.

(6) The Board of Regents will approve or disapprove the proposal at its next regular meeting subsequent to the receipt of a recommendation from the Council of Presidents

(7) The Board of Regents will consider budget requests for new programs no earlier than the June Board meeting following the approval of the new program proposal.

The specific information/format/forms required by the Board of Regents can be found in Appendix G of the Regents Policy Manual: www.kansasregents.org/download/aca_affairs/policymanual/appendices.pdf