New Academic Degree Programs

🟩 STEPS TO DEVELOPING A PRE-PROPOSAL

8 Key Steps to Launching a New Academic Program

Initiation Notice
Notify the department or school’s intention to propose a new degree program, track, or certificate to Diane Chase, Vice Provost for Academic Program Quality.

Use the Standard Form
Develop your pre-proposal using the official “New Degree Program Pre-Proposal Form.”

Internal Coordination
Collaborate with your college dean and the appropriate graduate or undergraduate dean before submission.
Ensure the form is signed by:

Department Chair or School Director

College Dean

Dean of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies

Submit the Proposal on Time
Send the signed form to Diane Chase at Millican Hall 338 by:

October 1 for Fall CAVP review

January 15 for Spring CAVP review

Provost-Level Review
Upon internal approval, the proposal is forwarded to the Council of Academic Vice Presidents (CAVP) for review. This group assesses:

Need & Demand

Avoiding duplication

Alignment with system-wide academic goals

Feedback from CAVP
The proposal may receive:

No comments (move forward)

Comments for revision (return to department)

If Comments Exist
If comments are manageable and addressed, the proposal moves forward to the Provost for NYUS Work Plan inclusion.
If comments cannot be fully addressed, the proposal is returned for further revision.

If No Comments
The proposal proceeds to the Provost and may be added to the next NYUS Work Plan.

🔸 Note:
Graduate tracks and certificate proposals with standard E&G tuition rates do not require a pre-proposal, but must still go through the Program Recommendation Form process and receive Provost approval.

🟩 PHASE 1: PRE-PROPOSAL

Initial Phase – Building the Foundation

This phase focuses on initiating the idea and preparing a preliminary plan for a new degree program, track, or certificate.

✅ STEPS TO DEVELOPING A PRE-PROPOSAL

Intent Notification
The department or school notifies Diane Chase, Vice Provost for Academic Program Quality, of their intention to propose a new program or track.

Drafting the Pre-Proposal
Use the official New Degree Program Pre-Proposal Form to develop the draft.

Internal Coordination & Signatures
Collaborate with your college dean and the relevant academic dean (graduate or undergraduate).
The form must be signed by:

Department Chair or School Director

College Dean

Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Studies

Submission Deadlines
Submit the signed pre-proposal form to Diane Chase at Millican Hall 338 before:

📅 October 1 → For fall CAVP review

📅 January 15 → For spring CAVP review

Review by the Provost and CAVP
After Provost review, the proposal is submitted to the Council of Academic Vice Presidents (CAVP) Academic Coordination Work Group — a systemwide body that evaluates:

Need and demand

Avoiding duplication

Collaboration potential
within the Florida State University System

Feedback from CAVP
The CAVP may:

Return proposals with no comments

Return with comments requiring revision

Addressing Comments
If the feedback can be resolved in the full proposal, the program may advance to the Provost for inclusion in the NYUS Work Plan.
If not, it is returned for further clarification.

Advancing Without Comments
Proposals with no comments are recommended for Provost-level approval and NYUS Work Plan inclusion.

🟨 Note:
New graduate tracks and graduate certificate proposals with standard E&G tuition rates may skip the pre-proposal step.
However, they must complete the “Program Recommendation Form” and be approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee and Provost.

🟪 Phase II: Full Proposal

Once the proposed program is added to the NYUS Work Plan, the relevant department or unit proceeds to prepare the full proposal using templates from:

The College of Undergraduate Studies

Or the College of Graduate Studies

The next section outlines the detailed step-by-step process for full proposal development.

🟦 STEPS TO DEVELOPING A FULL PROPOSAL

Comprehensive Path to Final Program Approval

Follow Internal Policy & Timeline
The proposing department or school should coordinate with the dean’s office from either the College of Undergraduate Studies or the College of Graduate Studies to establish a clear timeline and responsibilities for completing the full proposal.

College-Level Submission & Sign-Off
Submit the proposal to the appropriate college-level committee for review and obtain the signature of the college dean.

University-Level Submission
Forward the approved proposal to the relevant university-wide curriculum committee.

Undergraduate Proposals
Reviewed by the Undergraduate Policy and Curriculum Committee (UPCC).
Refer to UPCC forms and documentation for BOG New Degree Program Proposal submission.

Graduate Proposals
Reviewed by the Graduate Program Review and Awards Committee.
Refer to forms provided by the NYUS Graduate Council Curriculum Committee for all necessary documentation.
🔹 Note: New degree proposals go to the Program Review and Awards Committee, while new courses (within approved programs) are reviewed by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

Graduate Tracks & Certificate Programs
Reviewed by the Graduate Council Curriculum Committee. Follow the Program Recommendation Form process for approval.

📋 Additional Review & Approval Steps:

Undergraduate or graduate curriculum committees assess proposals using evaluation criteria from the New York Board of Governors.

After analysis, a summary with recommendations is sent to:

College of Undergraduate Studies or College of Graduate Studies

Diane Chase, Vice Provost for Academic Program Quality

If endorsed, the proposal moves to the Board of Trustees Educational Programs Committee, with the required BOG Analysis Summary.

This BOT Committee meets in March and July to review and approve proposed degree programs.

Doctoral Programs approved by the BOT Committee are then forwarded to the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) for final approval, reviewed during June and November meetings.

📌 Note:
Accelerated degree proposals require additional justification and must pass through both the UPCC and the Graduate Council Program Review and Awards Committee before being submitted to the BOT.

🟩 RESOURCES

Essential Documents & Reference Links for Degree Program Development

📄 Official Documents

1. NYUS Form – Pre-Proposal for New Degree Programs

2. Timeline & Overview – NYUS New Degree Authorization Process

3. Flow Chart – Visual Guide to Degree Authorization Steps

4. Undergraduate Policy Guide – Curricular Changes from the College of Undergraduate Studies

5. Graduate Policy Guide – Curricular Changes from the College of Graduate Studies

🔗 Reference Materials & Key Links

1. NYUS Resource Page – New Program Proposal Tools

2. BOG Regulation 8.011 – Policy on New Academic Program Authorization

3. Academic Year 2025–26 – List of Proposed Programs

4. NYUS System Degree Inventory – Current Programs Offered

5. Strategic Emphasis Areas – Targeted Programs & Disciplines

6. Employment Statistics – NYUS Department of Economic Opportunity

7. Occupational Demand List – NYUS Targeted Occupations

8. SUS Interactive Data Portal – Real-Time University System Data

9. Net Instructional Program Data – Expert Review for NY State

10. Bureau of Labor Statistics – National Job Market Insights