As the university continues to expand its academic programs in response to the President's Strategic Plan, academic officials will work in concert with Vice Provost Andrew Blanchard, Associate Provost James Marquart, Associate Provost Thom Chesney, and Assistant Provost Serenity King to prepare proposals for new degree and certificate programs and requests for approval from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the University of Texas System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Below is a list of the most commonly used templates and forms that should be submitted.
New Certificates
- Academic Certificate Template (Word)
- As outlined in Policy Memorandum 07-III.21-94 (Academic Certificate Programs), academic certificates "must be approved by the Academic Senate, following review by the Committee on Educational Policy and either the Graduate Council or the Council on Undergraduate Education, as appropriate. An assessment plan must accompany every proposal request for an academic certificate program. In addition, all graduate academic certificate programs that require more than 15 semester credit hours of graded, organized courses, and all undergraduate academic certificate programs that require more than 20 hours of graded, organized courses, are subject to review and prior approval by The University of Texas System and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board."
- Please submit the completed certificate template to Assistant Provost Serenity King, and subsequent to her review Ms. King will route the request through the internal approval process.
- Professional Certificate Template (Word)
- Professional Certificates (non-credit) must follow the procedures outlined in the Provost's memorandum to the School Deans. [memo1072]
- Please submit the completed certificate template to Assistant Provost Serenity King, and subsequent to her review Ms. King will route the request through the internal approval process.
- Certificate Assessment Plan Form (Word)
- This assessment plan must accompany every proposal request for an academic or professional certificate.
New Programs
- THECB Template for new PhD or MS/PhD Program (Word)
- This form must be routed through the Provost's Office, the Graduate Council, CEP, and the Senate for approval before it can be sent to UT System. Once UT System receives the proposal, the staff reviews it at staff level. System then sends it to the THECB which reviews it at their staff level. THECB then schedules an on-site visit comprised of three external reviewers. The external committee provides the institution, System, and THECB with its report. The institution responds to the external committee's report in the original proposal and resubmits to System. System reviews it at the staff level again and, if it is approved, puts it on the agenda for approval by the full Board of Regents. If approved by the Board of Regents, the proposal is routed to THECB for approval at the full board level. The approval process can last from six months to a year or more for new doctoral programs. For tips, please review the THECB staff review document and the Graduate Education Advisory Council's 18 Characteristics of Texas Doctoral Programs.
- THECB Template for Bachelor's or Master's Program (Word)
- This form must be routed through the Provost's Office; the Graduate Council or Council on Undergraduate Education, as appropriate; CEP; and the Senate for approval before it can be sent to UT System. UT System reviews it at the staff level. If approved, UT System sends it to the THECB which also reviews the request at staff level. For budget assistance, please refer to the 2008-2009 Formula Funding Coefficients document.
New Departments
- THECB Substantive Administrative Change Request Form (Word)
- This form needs to be submitted for requests to create new departments. This form must be routed through the Provost's Office, CEP, and the Senate for approval before it is sent to UT System.
Preliminary Authority Request
- THECB Preliminary Authority Request Form (Word)
- Every five years, UT System and THECB request updates to an institution's Table of Programs. At this time, institutions may request preliminary authority for a specific CIP code/subject area to submit a degree proposal within the next five years. This request form must be routed through the Provost's Office; the Graduate Council or the Council on Undergraduate Education, as appropriate; CEP; and the Senate for approval before it can be sent to UT System.
SACS Substantive Change
- SACS Commission on Colleges Substantive Change Prospectus (PDF)
- Some changes, such as online programs or off-site locations, need approval from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, our primary accrediting agency. In such cases, this prospectus must be completed. Some changes require only prior notification rather than prior approval. Please refer to the SACS Policy on Substantive Changes for complete details.
For assistance in completing or submitting any of these forms, please contact Assistant Provost Serenity King (Mail Station AD23, 972.883.6749).
Updated: October 31, 2008
