Administrative Policy: Academic

University Approval of New Credit‐Bearing Educational Program

Policy Number: 3349-AC-202
Effective Date: 03/20/2017
Updated: –03/01/2026
Reviewed: —
Responsible Department: Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Applies To: All University Employees
Approval Authority: Office of the VPAA

A. Purpose

This policy establishes an institutional process for the approval of new credit‐bearing educational programs; makes explicit the criteria by which proposals are evaluated; fosters consultation for planning across academic and service units representing shared resources of the University; lays out the procedures to be used for the preparation of materials and steps for approvals; and ensures thorough and timely review of proposals.

B. Scope

This policy applies to all requests for new credit-bearing academic degrees, programs (including tracks), and certificates or requests for modifications to existing credit-bearing academic degrees, programs (including tracks), and certificates.

C. Definitions

“Blended/Hybrid Degree Program” refers to a program that blends online and traditional modes of course content delivery; a substantial portion of the degree requirements (but no more than 49%) is available online, and there are a reduced number of face‐to‐face meetings.
“Credit‐bearing Certificates” refers to a formal physical award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program. Certificate programs may be stand‐alone or be embedded within a degree program (see “Incorporated Certificates”).
“Distance Learning Program” refers to a program in which more than fifty percent of the required courses are completed online.
“Modifications” refers to new titles for programs, tracks, or concentrations; transition of program delivery to hybrid/distance education; 25% or greater change to program curricula; new locations (e.g., multi-sites), and changes to program CIP codes.
“Program” for the purposes of this policy refers to a set of academic courses and educational experiences leading to an academic degree, credit‐bearing certificate, or track.
“Program Director” refers to a member of the faculty charged by his/her College Dean to oversee the preparation of the proposal for the program under development.
“Stakeholders” refers to individuals, organizational units, or agencies who will affect or be affected by a new educational program. Stakeholders include program faculty, department chairs, college units, college deans, University shared resources, academic administrative leadership, the NEOMED Board of Trustees, the Ohio Department of Higher Education, associated program and university accrediting agencies, prospective employers, and current and prospective students.
“Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs” refers to the Chief Academic Officer of the University (Provost).

D. Body of the Policy

New educational programs develop from the expertise and authority of the faculty and are contingent upon final authority of the respective college dean(s), the University Administration, the NEOMED Board of Trustees, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Proposals for new educational programs must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate University authorities in accordance with this policy and the New Credit-Bearing Educational Program documents and its Exhibits.
Every new educational program must have a home college. Before initiating any steps for University program approval, the Dean of the College in which the new program will be proposed must appoint a Program Director who will guide the development of a Program Proposal (hereafter “Proposal”) and submit it through the University approval process.
Colleges must have a set of standards and internal procedures for developing, reviewing, and approving new or modified educational programs that are consistent with this policy. Prior to initiating the University approval process, the Dean of the College in which a new program will be housed must confer with the Provost to determine if any statutory or accreditor approval is required.
Colleges may not advertise, recruit or admit students to new or modified programs prior to formal approval by the University administration, the NEOMED Board of Trustees, the Ohio Department of Higher Education and, where applicable, the Higher Learning Commission.
Proposal Preparation
1. Proposals must include a Proposal Signature Page, a Program Development Plan, and a Pro Forma (requisite templates are provided in the Exhibits), as well as any additional supporting materials deemed necessary.
2. Departmental and College authorities, as well as Stakeholders must be consulted to provide input for the development of Proposals. At a minimum, Stakeholder consultations must include:
  1. The Department Chair of faculty member who will serve as Program Director; chairpersons must approve the role of Program Director.
  2. The Department Chair(s) of faculty member who will contribute to the curriculum of a new or modified program; such faculty must receive permission from their corresponding chairperson(s) to participate.
  3. The Department Chair(s) of any department(s) that may contribute resources, or that should be aware of new program development or changes for any reason, should be informed and invited to participate in developing and reviewing Proposals.
  4. The Dean of the College in which the new program will be proposed, prior to initiating any steps of the approval process.
  5. The Dean of any College on which the Proposal may have an impact.
  6. The Executive Directors (or equivalent position) of University Shared Resource units that will contribute to the program or may expend resources or incur costs to implement or support the program, as indicated in the Pro Forma. Consult the Academic Management Partnership (AMP) Committee’s “new program checklist” for University Shared Resource units.
Criteria for Program Approval
1. All new Proposals will be evaluated by collegiate faculty, the Dean(s) and the Provost using the following criteria:
  1. Departmental Faculty will evaluate Proposals based on:
    1. Program alignment and department priorities;
    2. Anticipated enrollment for financial adequacy of given Pro Forma;
    3. Sufficiency of faculty engagement (availability, qualification and interest);
    4. Program sustainability (financially viable with sufficient resources);
    5. Space requirements; and
    6. Appropriateness/consequences of financial model.
  2. The collegiate Faculty and Dean(s) will evaluate Proposals based on:
    1. Institutional and market need and demand;
    2. minimum program requirements and appropriate number of credit hours;
    3. duplication or possible negative impact on existing program offerings;
    4. alignment with the mission and strategic plan of the College in which the new program will be based; and
    5. demonstration of faculty and other Stakeholder engagement in the development of the Proposal.
  3. The collegiate Dean and Provost will evaluate Proposals based on the relative competitive need for the program regionally and statewide alternatives, and clear budgetary/financial models detailing program development and/or expansion costs (i.e., monetary and human capital investment).
  4. In addition, the Provost will evaluate the Proposal based on:
    1. alignment with the University mission and strategic plan;
    2. the ability to enhance existing program offerings, such as integration with priorities in the Colleges of the University;
    3. the potential for new revenue generation; and
    4. the impact on institutional resources to sustain the program.
2. Other factors may be considered in the evaluation of Proposals.
Proposal Review and Approval
1. The Program Director is responsible to submit and guide the Proposal and Pro Forma through the following approval process: Sequence for Proposal Review and Approval
  1. Faculty of the College;
  2. College Dean;
  3. Graduate Faculty Council (applicable only for new graduate degree or certificate programs);
  4. Provost;
  5. University President; and
  6. NEOMED Board of Trustees.
2. If additional approvals external to the University are required before a new program may be implemented, the Provost will engage the College Dean and Program Director for the program approvals required by the State of Ohio and/or University accrediting agencies. External Approvals may include the following:
  1. NEOMED Approvals;
  2. Professional boards;
  3. Ohio Department of Higher Education; and
  4. Accrediting Agencies