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Office of the Provost :  Academic Program Proposals : 

Approval Process for New Joint Undergraduate Degree Programs

  1. A new joint undergraduate degree program proposal is developed within a department or program within the College/School, and a detailed conceptual framework of the proposal has been created.
    New joint undergraduate degree 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 – 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. 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 Board of Regents approval process.
    The proposal contact person will work with others involved with the proposal to prepare the Regents-required documents.
    Documents/Forms:
    The degrees awarded in the new joint undergraduate degree program are undergraduate degrees that already exist, i.e., no new degree is awarded. Regents-required documents for a new joint undergraduate 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 Vice Provost for Academic Affairs for final review and approval.
  6. 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.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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 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.

    Contact:
    Danny Anderson will serve as liaison between the board office and department representative for all Lawrence Campus proposals
    Approximate Time Required:
    Up to 1 week

    NOTE: Official program approval is communicated via the Board of Regents minutes. The Assisant 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.

  13. New program begins
    Approximate Time Required:
    8-16 months to complete the entire process