Process for the Approval of a New Academic Major or Degree

The steps for planning and obtaining approval for a new major or degree program are outlined below. This approval process is based on the UW System's "Guidelines for Academic Program Planning and Approval" (ACIS 1.0 -- see especially "Key Issues to Address" section). Contact Jocelyn Milner, director of Academic Planning and Analysis, to assure that you are structuring your request so that academic approvals will flow as smoothly as possible.

For those planning a certificate program see guidelines for certificate programs.

For those planning new a distance education program or planning to convert an existing program to distance education delivery, also consult the UW System guidelines for distance education.

Stage I: Entitlement to Plan a New Program

  1. Department/program faculty formulate a brief request (2-3 pages) for a new program.
    NOTE: See UW-Madison Overview of Academic Approvals

  2. Dean and school/college APC consider the entitlement to plan proposal and, if approved, send the proposal for an entitlement to plan to the Provost. For graduate program proposals, the school/college Dean should also send a copy to the Dean of the Graduate School. Programs should develop a clear resource plan and budget and discuss it with the vice chancellor for administration and the provost.

  3. Undergraduate and professional program proposals will be considered by the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC). Graduate program proposals will be considered for approval by the Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (GFEC), and then by the UAPC if approved by the GFEC. If approved through this governance process, the Provost submits the proposal for entitlement to plan to the UW System Administration.

  4. UW-System Office of Student and Academic Affairs (ACSS) reviews the proposal and the UW System Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs sends the proposal to the Provosts of all other UW institutions for comment. Based on replies and its own analysis of how the proposed program fits into the System-wide program array, the Senior Vice President may grant the entitlement to plan.

Stage II: Authorization to Implement the New Program"
(when the entitlement to plan has been approved)

NOTE: See UW-Madison Overview of Academic Approvals

  1. The department/program faculty formulate a more extensive and specific "Plan to Implement" proposal. UW System occasionally updates the Plan to Implement guidelines. It is important to use the current guidelines.

    Note: It is UAPC policy to examine whether proposals for new undergraduate programs are clear on how students can complete the degree program in four years, or in a timely fashion if more than four years are necessary. Policy adopted May 18, 2000.

    Note: The UAPC endorses a requirement to assure that the resource needs and budget plan for the proposal are determined early in the planning stage, in consultation with the provost and the vice chancellor for administration (as of October 2004).

  2. Dean and school/college APC consider the entitlement to plan proposal. If approved, the Dean sends the Plan to Implement proposal to the Provost. For graduate program proposals, the school/college Dean should also send a copy to the Dean of the Graduate School.

  3. The Provost appoints a program review committee consisting of a chair from the UAPC, a GFEC representative for graduate programs, a representative of the program faculty, and an UW System representative. In addition, the provost requests at least two outside letters evaluating the program. The committee prepares a brief report including a recommendation on whether the program should be implemented.

  4. For undergraduate and professional program proposals, the UAPC reviews the proposal, the report of the program review committee, and the outside letters, and recommends further action to the Provost.

    For graduate program proposals, the GFEC considers the proposal. If the GFEC approves the proposal, the Dean of the Graduate School forwards the proposal to the Provost. Then, the UAPC reviews the proposal, the report of the program review committee, and the outside letters, and recommends further action to the Provost.

  5. If the outcome of this governance process is to recommend approval, the program director (or someone knowledgeable about the program) works with the Provost's Office and the UW System Administration to prepare an "executive summary" for the proposal.

  6. The Provost sends his/her recommendation to Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Affairs in UW System Administration, together with the proposal, the outside letters and the Executive Summary.

  7. The Provost, accompanied by the program director, presents the executive summary to the Board of Regents. The authorization to implement receives two readings at successive Regent's meetings. The first reading is for information and discussion and the second reading is for action. The Regents may approve or deny the proposal request.

Stage III: Joint Program Review
(approximately five years after the program is implemented)

  1. UW-Madison conducts an internal review of the program consisting of three components.

    1. The department or faculty members involved with the program prepare a self-study.

    2. At least two outside consultants evaluate the program.

    3. The Provost again appoints a three-person program review committee. If members of the original program review committee are available, they can be asked to serve. If not, the committee mirrors the composition described above in Stage II -- a chair from the UAPC, a GFEC member for graduate programs, a representative of the program faculty, and a representative of UW System Administration.

  2. The joint review materials are collected by the Provost's Office. For graduate programs, copies of all materials are sent to the Dean of the Graduate School.

  3. For undergraduate and professional program proposals, the UAPC reviews the self-study and the report of the review committee and recommends further action (continue or discontinue) to the Provost.

    For graduate program proposals, the GFEC reviews the self-study and the report of the review committee. If the GFEC makes a recommendation to continue the program, the Dean of the Graduate School forwards this recommendation to the Provost. Then, the UAPC reviews the joint review documents and final action to the Provost.

  4. The Provost makes a recommendation to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in the UW System Administration.

  5. The Senior Vice President notifies the institution of his/her decision regarding the program. (The Regents are informed for "information only".)

UW System "Guidelines for Academic Program Planning and Approval", ACIS 1.0