Academic Program Proposals

Overview

Academic program proposals are required for many curricular actions, including the creation of new academic programs, the revision of existing programs, the addition of a distance education format, and the deactivation or discontinuance of a program. To support our faculty in their development of these proposals, the Office of the Provost’s curriculum team offers a variety of resources and services. The generalized workflow below provides guidance on what to expect at every stage. Click on each step to learn more.

• Idea
  When a faculty member generates an idea for a new program or a programmatic revision, they should reach out to their Department Chair and Dean for approval to move forward. These initial conversations might address resource allocation and strategic alignment within the School or College.
• Consultation
  Consultation sessions are hosted by either the Office of the Provost, the Graduate School, or the School/College. During these sessions, curriculum staff will share expectations and best practices for proposal development. They will also walk through the forms required for submission.
• Proposal Development
  Faculty complete the initial drafts of their academic program proposals during this period. They are encouraged to reach out to curriculum staff in the Provost’s Office, the Graduate School, or their School or College to facilitate the completion of the forms. These offices might help in answering questions regarding market analysis, transfer paths, or enrollment projections. The instructional designers in CELT are also available to support the curriculum development and assessment portions of your proposal.
• Pre-Review
  Prior to submission to the appropriate shared governance bodies, a curriculum staff member will conduct a pre-review of the proposal. These checks will make sure forms meet the basic compliance standards and include all materials required for SUNY and NYSED.
• Shared Governance Review
  Once pre-review is finished, the appropriate curriculum committee will review the intellectual content of the proposal. Interdisciplinary programs will require review by the respective curriculum committee of each School/College involved. Combined graduate/undergraduate bodies will require review by both undergraduate and graduate curriculum committees. Faculty will revise proposals as needed based on committee feedback.
• Final Dean’s Office + Provost’s Office Reviews
  The program’s respective Dean’s Office and the Provost’s Office will conduct final reviews of the proposals. These offices will remedy any outstanding issues before finalizing the submission package.
• Submission to SUNY/NYSED
  The Provost’s Office sends the academic program proposal to SUNY for the first review. Once approved by SUNY, they will forward the proposal to NYSED for the final review. Upon receipt of approval from NYSED, the new or revised program can be launched on campus.

Learn More

• Learn More about New Degree Programs
  The creation of a new degree program involves additional steps for proposal development, including the submission of a Program Announcement (for undergraduate programs) or a Letter of Intent (for graduation programs) and the coordination of an external review. Please expect a lengthier timeline to complete this type of proposal. Once your program idea is approved by your School/College, contact the Provost’s Office or use the Consultation Scheduler to schedule your consultation.
• Learn More about Program Revisions
  Changes to a program over time might require the submission of a SUNY revision proposal. In order to determine whether your program is in compliance, you must check the curriculum that was last registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Click here for more information.
• Learn More about Deactivating or Discontinuing a Program
  The temporary suspension or the permanent termination of a program requires submission of a SUNY academic program proposal. This process is similar to the protocol for developing all other academic program proposals. The deactivation/discontinuance plan should be approved by the School/College before a proposal is submitted to the Provost’s Office. Following a review of the paperwork, the Provost’s Office will share this proposal with the University Senate Executive Committee before final submission to SUNY. For further information, please contact us  or refer to the resources page for the form.

Get Started

Unsure which form you need to complete for your academic program proposal? The Academic Program Proposal Decision Assistant can help you get started! 

Once your idea is approved by your School or College, please contact us for more information or use the Consultation Scheduler to schedule your consultation with a member of the Provost's Office.

Reminder: All academic program proposals must be approved by NYSED before their content is advertised. Insitutions cannot enroll students into a new program until it is registered by NYSED.