New Program Proposal Tips

Content and Purpose

• How does this program complement the current offerings in the department and college? How does it fit with the mission and goals of the college?
• What are the learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, competencies, and dispositions?
• Identify all relevant professional accreditations or other standard that would be required.

Demand

• What is the demand for this program? Who would enroll? What do labor statistics, discipline/professional data, and Enrollment Management data tell us about the need for the program?
• What other programs exist in SUNY and the region? What are their enrollments?
• What faculty expertise is required? Do we currently have that expertise?
• What existing resources would be utilized? What additional resources would be required?

Implications

• Will this replace an existing program? How will this affect currently enrolled students and students planning to transfer?
• What is the related SUNY Transfer Path? What community colleges have related programs that could lead to this new program?

Campus Collaboration and Communication

• Consult with Enrollment Management, Advisement and Transition, Registrar’s and Career Services during the inquiry phase.
• Identify courses/content needed from other departments on campus and consult as needed.
• Consider possible ways this program may affect other departments, or programs within your department and meet with those colleagues. For example, will it take enrollment from another program?

Preparing Materials for the Proposal

• Review the entire process (see reverse) and consult with Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Office for assistance as needed.
• Review the campus forms in Curriculog and the SUNY forms as relevant.
• Identify any new courses or course alterations that will accompany proposal. New Course form and/or Alteration of an Existing Course form will be required for each course added/altered and should be submitted at the same time as the program proposal.
• A four-year program schedule showing a sample student plan semester by semester is required.
• Provide support documentation from departments affected by the proposal.

Entering the Proposal Into Curriculog

• Review the entire form before starting
• Turn on information help
• Review Curriculog Help online

Monitoring the Proposal

• Curriculog allows you to see where your proposal is in process 
• Committee Chairs or others may contact you for clarification or information, so watch your email
• Feel free to ask questions along the way

Approval and Timeline

• It may take 1-2 years to complete all approvals and begin a program.
• Active dates for a program are outlined in the Curriculum Change Guide. 
• Accreditation processes may affect timeline.

Elements for Implementation

When a program is approved, the following offices are notified to ensure implementation:

• Registrar’s Office must build all courses and the program in Banner
• Admissions must activate program at SUNY level
• Institutional Research and Analysis must verify HEGIS, SUNY and other codes
• Advisement and Transition must look at articulation tables for transfer courses
• Associate Provost for Academic Affairs office build in the College Catalog
• Marketing builds/edits department web page as needed
• Extended Learning notifies Open SUNY as relevant

Marketing and Enrolling

• Until we have received approval from NYSED, we cannot market or advise students on a new program
• If another program will end, the department must work with students to identify a plan for completion and determine an appropriate deactivation date for the outgoing program.

New Program Proposal Process

1. Submit Program Announcement (Undergraduate) or Letter of Intent (Graduate) Form
2. Department Curriculum Committee
3. Department Chair
4. Dean
5. Provost
   • While waiting on SUNY PA or LOI response, departments can continue their proposal through the campus process. They can also work on the full SUNY paperwork. A New Program Proposal will be submitted.
     1. Department Curriculum Committee
     2. Department Chair
     3. School Curriculum Committee
     4. Dean
     5. College Curriculum Review Committee (undergraduate program) or
        Graduate Faculty Executive Committee (graduate program)
     6. Provost
6. Program Announcement or Letter of Intent is sent to SUNY. There is a 30 day vetting period where other SUNY institutions can provide feedback. If no concerns, or when concerns are resolved, full proposal is sent to SUNY.
7. SUNY PA or LOI has no issues or concerns are resolved and Campus has approved New Program Proposal
8. Associate Provost submits to SUNY
9. SUNY submits to New York State Education Department
10. Campus Implementation
12. Campus Implementation
    • All committees/faculty informed by Provost electronic memo
    • Course changes to Banner System
    • Course changes to College Catalog
    • Degree Work Changes as appropriate