Types of New Degree Program Proposals
Department chairs who plan to submit proposals for new degree major programs are asked to meet with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs one-year prior to the planned date for submitting the proposal to the campus review processes (two years prior to the anticipated implementation date).
New degree program form is also available in Curriculog.
There are three versions of proposals to submit new degree programs to the Chancellor's Office:
Use the *New Degree Program* form in Curriculog, a paperless curriculum management system.
You will first submit a projection and the form will later be routed back to you for submission of the detailed proposal. Please work with the University's Curriculum Analyst.
Use the *Pilot Degree Program (New) form in Curriculog, a paperless curriculum management system.
The fast-track process shortens the time to implementation by allowing proposals to be submitted at the same time that the projection is proposed to the Trustees. Fast-track proposals still undergo system-level review, and the fast-track does not move the proposal through an expedited review process.
Fast-track proposals that meet the criteria that are submitted to the Chancellor's Office, which raise no major issues can be acted on by the Board of Trustees if submitted on:
- 1st Monday in January
- Potential for full approval in July
- 2nd Monday in June
- Potential for full approval in December
Notification of WASC
After campus and Chancellor's Office approvals of new degree program proposals, the Office of Academic Programs will submit the new degree program to Stanislaus State's accrediting body, WASC Senior College and University's (WSCUC) through their “screening form”. Their review will ensure that the program does not represent a significant departure from the institution’s offerings since the last reaffirmation of accreditation visit. If the program does this, a Substantive Change Review will be required.
Traditional Track
- Originator
- Technical Review
- Program / Department Curriculum Committee (Projection)
- Department Chair (Projection)
- College Curriculum Committee (Projection)
- College Dean (Projection)
- Office of Professional, Community, and Global Engagement (Projection)
- Submit Projection to Board of Trustees (Curriculum Analyst)
- Projection Review by Chancellor's Office and Board of Trustees
- Originator (Develop Detailed Proposal)
- Technical Review
- Program / Department Curriculum Committee (Detailed Proposal)
- Department Chair (Detailed Proposal)
- College Curriculum Committee (Detailed Projection)
- College Dean (Detailed Proposal)
- Office of Professional, Community, and Global Engagement (Detailed Proposal)
- University Educational Policies Committee (Undergraduate) (Detailed Proposal)
- Graduate Council (Graduate) (Detailed Proposal)
- Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs (Detailed Proposal)
- Faculty Budget Advisory Committee (State-Support) (Detailed Proposal)
- Senate Executive Committee (Detailed Proposal)
- Academic Senate (Detailed Proposal)
- Provost's Recommendation (Detailed Proposal)
- President (Detailed Proposal)
- Submit WSCUC (WASC) Screening Form
- Submit Detailed Proposal to Chancellor's Office (Curriculum Analyst)
Fast Track Programs
In the traditional proposal process, a campus must submit for Trustee approval a proposed degree projection on the campus academic plan; and subsequent to Trustee approval of the projection, the campus may begin developing a degree proposal that will be submitted to the Chancellor’s Office for system-level review and approval. In the traditional process, proposals are to be submitted in the academic year preceding planned implementation.
As adopted by the Board in July 1997, the fast-track process shortens the time to implementation by allowing proposals to be submitted at the same time that the projection is proposed to the Trustees. Fast-track proposals still undergo system-level review, and the fast track does not move the proposal through an expedited review process.
To be proposed via fast-track, a degree program must meet all of the following six criteria:
- The proposed program could be offered at a high level of quality by the campus within the campus’s existing resource base, or there is a demonstrated capacity to fund the program on a self-support basis.
- The proposed program is not subject to specialized accreditation by an agency that is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or it is currently offered as an option or concentration that is already recognized and accredited by an appropriate specialized accrediting agency.
- The proposed program can be adequately housed without a major capital outlay project. Major capital outlay construction projects are those projects whose total cost is $610,000 or more (as adjusted pursuant to Cal. Pub. Cont. Code §§ 10705(a); 10105 and 10108).
- It is consistent with all existing state and federal law and Trustee policy.
- It is either a bachelor’s or master’s degree program.
- The proposed program has been subject to a thorough campus review and approval process.
Two deadlines:
- The first Monday in January—for July approval
- The second Monday in June—for December approval
IF the proposal raises no major issues, it can be acted on by the Board of Trustees.
When submitting an update to the campus academic plan, please note any fast-track degree proposals and include a very brief description of the program and a rationale for offering it through the fast-track process.
Pilot Track Programs
- Originator
- Technical Review
- Program / Department Curriculum Committee
- Department Chair
- College Curriculum Committee
- College Dean
- Office of Professional, Community, and Global Engagement
- University. Educational Policies Committee (Undergraduate)
- Graduate Council (Graduate)
- Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Faculty Affairs Budget Advisory Committee (FBAC)
- Senate Executive Committee
- Academic Senate
- President
- Student Success and Community Partnership Specialist
- Chancellor's Office (Curriculum Analyst)
Useful Resources
The following additional documents will assist faculty and administration in developing new degree programs:
- Policies and Procedures for New Degree Programs
- New Degree Program Proposal Supporting Documentation
- Securing State and National Labor Workforce Information
- Student Demand
- Expected Number of Majors and Graduates - SampleTemplate
- Declared Undergraduate Majors and Degree Production - Sample Template
- Working Professional Survey Sample Template
- Community College Student SurveySample Template
- Stanislaus State Student SurveySample Template
- High School Students Survey - Sample Template
- Sample cover letter for surveys
- Employment Opportunities
- External Reviewers
- Letter of Support for New Programs
- Faculty Profile (Curriculum Vitae)
- Accreditation of New Programs
- Order of Approval
- WASC Substantive Change Proposal
- Note: Postsecondary Educational Institutions and Programs Accredited by Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies Recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Website
- Degree Designation
- Assessment Plan
- Assessment Plan Characteristics
- Sample Assessment Plan:
- Assessment Plan Characteristics
Updated: February 06, 2024