New Programs, Program Changes, Other Academic Initiatives
The process for implementing new programs, program changes and other academic affairs changes can take up to two years or more, depending upon the notifications or approvals required.
In order to streamline this process and meet all necessary deadlines, the Academic Affairs Programs and Initiatives (AAPI) advisory workgroup was created. The workgroup is comprised of the individuals at the institution working in roles with responsibility in achieving the notifications, approvals and other elements required prior to implementation.
The role of the advisory workgroup is to provide information specific to the proposed change as well as continued support to department heads throughout the various stages of notifications and approvals. The advisory workgroup does not have voting authority.
Notification and approvals may include any combination of the following and may need to clear one notification or approval before moving to the next:
- ACHE Notification or Approval
- Academic Advisement
- Admissions and Recruitment
- Alabama State Department of Education
- Assessment Planning
- Board of Trustees
- Budget Requests
- Courseleaf
- Financial Aid
- Graduate or Undergraduate Catalog
- Graduate or Undergraduate Curriculum Committees
- International House and Programs
- Online Learning
- President's Cabinet
- Programmatic Accreditor Approval
- SACSCOC Notification or Approval
- SACSCOC Substantive Change Review
A current list of representatives for each of these areas can be viewed here.
Changes Included in This Process
Please click on the drop-down menu items below to view the types of items included in this process.
- New combination of courses using current content (courses currently offered) and level
- 25%-49% new content (courses not currently offered)
- 50% or more new content (courses not currently offered)
- Significant departure from current program offerings
- New program requiring students to possess prior learning as a condition of admission
- Establishing new minors
- Establishing new microcredentials
- Addition of a concentration, track, option or specialization
- Changing the length of a program by 25% or more
- Changing the length of a program by less than 25%
- Changing the length of a program by 25% or more AND expected time to completion changes by more than one term
- Option change that affects more than 25% of the program’s curriculum
- Dual Majors (current programs)
- Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s programs (current programs)
- Change to an existing option
- Changing the CIP Code of an option from the existing degree
- Changing award nomenclature at same IPEDS level
- CIP code change of doctoral program
- Closing a program or certificate
- Changing the IPEDS level of a certificate
- Elimination of established method of delivery (Face-to-Face, Distance Education or Competency Based Education)
- Title change (Program, Certificate, Concentration)
- Title change (Minor or Micro Credential)
- CIP code change (Program, Certificate, Concentration)
- CIP code change (Minor or Micro Credential)
- Nomenclature change (other than doctoral)
- Reopening a previously closed program within 5 years of closure
- Reopening a previously closed program more than 5 years of closure – submit as a new program
- Consolidating two or more programs
- Splitting a program
- Curriculum change in existing offering of 25-49%
- Curriculum change in existing offering of more than 50%
- Curriculum change in existing offering of 75% or more – must submit as a new program
- Joint degree program (single program award with names, seals and signatures from two or more non-SACSCOC institutions)
- Joint degree program (single program award with names, seals and signatures from two or more SACSCOC institutions)
- Updating current courses
- Addition of a method of delivery (50% or more beyond student choice – competency based education, distance education and face to face instruction)
- Direct Assessment Competency Based Education (50% or more)
- Direct Assessment Competency Based Education (25-49%)
- Cooperative Academic Arrangement with Title IV Entities
- Cooperative Academic Arrangement with Non-Title IV Entities (25-50% program content)
- Cooperative Academic Arrangement with Non-Title IV Entities (less than 25% program content)
- Non-Instructional Academic Unit (Addition, Elimination or Modification)
- Unit of Research (i.e. Centers, Institutes, etc.)
- Unit of Public Service
- Unit of Administration
- Instructional Academic Unit (Addition, Elimination or Modification)
- Changes to major units of instruction (Division, College, School, etc.)
- Changes to minor units of instruction (departments)
- Dual Enrollment Site
- Courses at a new location
- Changing programmatic accreditor
- Voluntary withdrawal from programmatic accreditation
The process for all program changes and initiatives includes an informal or planning phase and a formal or proposal phase as outlined below. The process is general in nature but includes guidance by the AAPI advisory workgroup when the decision is made to implement the change.
Informal or Planning Phase
This part of the process will include discussion among faculty, with the department head, dean, the provost and possibly others.
The following should be used as a guide for planning purposes and contains guidance on timing for implementation of the most common types of proposals. Proposal-specific deadlines will be provided after the AAPI meeting.
For planning guidance on timing for other types of proposals, please call or email Kim Presson, Executive Director of Accreditation during the informal discussion phase of program planning.
Timelines for Common Proposal Types
Timeline for Fall 2026 Implementation
Timeline for Fall 2027 Implementation
Timeline for Fall 2028 Implementation
To aid in planning, use the following matrix for guidance.
Process/Notification/Approval Matrix
Formal/Proposal Phase
The following steps should be taken when a decision is made to move the new program, program change or other academic affairs change forward.
Department Head completes and submits the appropriate form to dean (see below)
- Dean discusses proposed change at Extended Dean’s Council meeting
- Department Head attends AAPI advisory workgroup meeting
- Advisory workgroup members and department head discuss timeline and necessary process, approvals and forms specific to the proposed change.