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Approval Process for New Joint Graduate Degree Programs

  1. A new joint graduate degree program proposal is developed within a department or program within the College/School. A detailed conceptual framework of the proposal has been created, and is reviewed with representatives of Graduate Studies (GS).

    GS representatives will have discussed with the proposal developers the process, including time protocols and required documentation, through which the proposal must proceed in order to be approved by GS and the Kansas Board of Regents.

    New programs involving multiple Schools/College will require that each School/College involved approve the proposal in identical language.

    Contact:
    For proposals involving academic programs at the KU – Lawrence Campus, the Graduate Studies contact is Christine Kosirog, Office of Graduate Studies, 4-7332, ckosirog@ku.edu.
    For proposals involving academic programs at the KU – Medical Center Campus, the KUMC process contact is Dr. Allen Rawitch, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of Graduate Studies, 6-1258; arawitch@kumc.edu
  2. After the initial conversations in step 1, the College/School Dean, using the Academic Program Proposal – Provost Summary form, will submit the proposal to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for consideration, review, and approval.

    Contact:
    Danny Anderson, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs

    Internal: Provost will review the proposal and may circulate the proposal summary to deans/chairs in other schools/College for review and comment.

  3. Following review and receiving comments from deans in other Schools/College, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs will inform the College/School Dean that the proposal is approved, approved with modification(s), or rejected.
    Approximate Time Required:
    4-6 weeks
  4. Upon approval of the proposal, the proposal contact person will access the appropriate Regents-required documents for the GS and the Board of Regents review processes.
    The proposal contact person will work with GS staff to prepare the Regents-required documents.
    The degrees awarded in the new joint graduate degree program are graduate degrees that already exist, i.e., no new degree is awarded. Regents-required documents for a new joint graduate degree program include: Approximate Time Required:
    1-2 months
  5. Upon completion of the Regents-required documents, the College/School Dean will submit the proposal, which includes the Regents-required documents, with his/her endorsement, to the appropriate College/School Assembly(ies) for review and approval.
  6. Upon approval by the College/School Assembly(ies), the College/School Dean will send the proposal to the Office of Graduate Studies, who will forward the proposal to the appropriate GS committee for review and approval. A proposal representative will present the case for the proposal and answer related questions.
    Contact:
    Christine Kosirog, Office of Graduate Studies
    Approximate Time Required:
    1 month
  7. Upon approval by the committee, the Office of Graduate Studies will submit the proposal to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for final review and approval.
    Contact:
    Danny Anderson, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  8. Upon completion of the final review and approval, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs will forward the documents to the Assistant to the Provost, directing that they be sent to the Board office.
    Contact:
    Jenny Mehmedovic, Assistant to the Provost
  9. The Provost Office will submit the completed proposal to the Board office via online system and email.
    Contact:
    Jenny Mehmedovic, Assistant to the Provost
    Approximate Time Required:
    Up to 2 weeks
  10. The Board Academic Affairs staff will review the proposal and possibly suggest revisions/modifications. If all Regents-required documents have been submitted and are in order, the program proposal is placed on the Council of Chief Academic Officers (COCAO) agenda.
    Contact:
    Danny Anderson, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
    Approximate Time Required:
    Up to 1 month
  11. First reading - review and consideration by COCAO at its monthly meeting. A KU representative should be available at that meeting for questions.
    Contact:
    Danny Anderson will serve as liaison between the board office and department representative for all Lawrence Campus proposals
    Approximate Time Required:
    1 month
  12. Second reading by COCAO and recommendation from COCAO to the Council of Presidents (COPS)
    Contact:
    Danny Anderson will serve as liaison between the board office and department representative for all Lawrence Campus proposals
    Approximate Time Required:
    1 month
  13. Review and consideration by COPS at its next monthly meeting. Recommendation from COPS to the Board of Regents
    Contact:
    Danny Anderson will serve as liaison between the board office and department representative for all Lawrence Campus proposals
    Approximate Time Required:
    1 month
  14. Approval/Disapproval by the Board of Regents at next monthly meeting.

    The Provost Office will send notice of Regents approval/disapproval to the College/School Dean(s), the program contact(s), the Graduate School, the University Registrar, and University Relations.

    If the proposal is approved, the Assistant to the Provost will draft an email notice, attach the necessary program documents for the University Registrar and University Relations, and forward the notice to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for issuance.

    If the proposal is disapproved, the Assistant to the Provost will draft an email notice and forward the notice to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for issuance.

    (Note: Official program approval is communicated via the Board of Regents minutes. The Assistant to the Provost will forward to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and the College/School Dean(s) the official approval when the Board minutes are available.)
    Approximate Time Required:
    Up to 1 week
  15. New program begins
    Approximate Time Required:
    10-18 months to complete the entire process