Academic Program and Organizational Approvals 

A degree program is a curriculum leading to the award of a bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree. A listing of the university's approved degree programs is maintained by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE).

Academic units exploring the development of a new degree program should contact academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu as early in the process as possible to discuss proposal development, review, and approval requirements. The Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) will advise and coordinate with the appropriate chancellor-led unit (CLU) contacts to effectively manage the review of the proposed program.

Required Approvals

Units proposing new degree programs should follow the required approvals within their CLU. Upon CLU approval, EVPAA will coordinate institutional review of new degree programs, which includes the following:

• Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA)
• President
• Committee on Academic and Student Affairs (CASA)
• Board of Governors (BOG)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), if necessary

Upon approval by the BOG, EVPAA staff will notify relevant institutional stakeholders of the outcome. EVPAA will manage the registration of the degree program in OSHE’s “Inventory of Program Offerings.”

Notice of Intent (NOI)

During the initial stages of degree program development, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for new programs once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed degree program to move forward. This NOI is separate and distinct from any notifications required by individual CLUs. NOI submission is required between September 1 and November 30 during the fall semester and between January 15 and May 15 during the spring semester to ensure adequate notice to institutional review and approval authorities.

Upon submission, the NOI will be distributed to (1) the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) and (2) chancellors/provosts across Rutgers. Submission of the NOI initiates a 30-day comment period during which EVPAA and chancellors’ offices may submit comments/feedback to the proposing unit. Academic units may continue degree program development during the 30-day comment period; however, the proposing unit must individually respond to comments/feedback received and document such responses in Section 7 (Response to Comments from CLUs) of the degree program proposal.

Templates

Proposing academic units must use the institutional template for new degree programs, which consists of the following. Academic units should carefully review the degree program proposal template and direct questions to academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu.

• Degree Program Proposal Template [DOCX]
• The budget template is being revised. Please contact Academic Planning.
• External Consultant Selection Criteria [DOCX]
• External Consultant Report Format [DOCX]

Converting an Option/Concentration to Full Program Status (Waiver Request) 

Academic units proposing the establishment of a new degree program must follow the approval requirements for a new degree program. However, when converting an existing option or concentration to full program status, an academic unit may request a waiver from the full process. When requesting a waiver from the full process, a review of the converted option/concentration by an external consultant is optional. The chancellor will review requests for waivers on a case-by-case basis.

• Request for Waiver - Converting an Option or Concentration to Full Program Status [DOCX]

Online Degree Programs

The pilot “Consultation Process for New Fully Online Degree Programs,” which will be facilitated by the Office of the EVPAA, is required for all new fully online degree programs and new fully online versions of existing degree programs. The consultation process will commence at the request of a chancellor and/or their designee and must be completed prior to other stages in the appropriate new program approval process.  Additional information on this pilot program and the consultation form may be found below. Please send any feedback you may have regarding this pilot program to academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu.

• Consultation Process for New Fully Online Degree Programs [DOCX]

Online Degree Programs

The pilot “Consultation Process for New Fully Online Degree Programs,” which will be facilitated by the Office of the EVPAA, is required for all new fully online degree programs and new fully online versions of existing degree programs. The consultation process will commence at the request of a chancellor and/or their designee and must be completed prior to other stages in the appropriate new program approval process.  Additional information on this pilot program and the consultation form may be found below. Please send any feedback you may have regarding this pilot program to academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu.

• Consultation Process for New Fully Online Degree Programs [DOCX]

Stand-alone certificate programs are certificates that may be earned and awarded outside of a degree program.

During the initial stages of certificate program development, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for new programs once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed certificate program to move forward.

A new stand-alone certificate program requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, new stand-alone certificate requests are submitted to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for final review and approval. Proposed stand-alone certificates are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

Early in the process for a proposed stand-alone certificate, the offering school must contact Jean Rash (Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management) for a pre-review to receive guidance concerning current federal gainful employment requirements. 

We are all committed to high quality online programs, and we have expertise in the Office of Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) who can assist you in meeting that goal. Units are encouraged to reach out to TLT for consultation and guidance at TLT@docs.rutgers.edu.

• Request Form to Create a Stand-Alone Certificate Program [DOCX]

CIP Code change requests require initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, CIP Code change requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for final review and approval.

• Request Form to Change Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) Code [DOCX]

Requests for a change of credit requirement require initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, requests for a change of credit requirement are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for final review and approval.

• Request Form to Change Academic Program Credit Requirements [DOCX]

During the initial stages of a department or unit name change request, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed change to move forward.

A department or unit name change requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, department or unit name change requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Department or unit name changes are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Change Name of Department or Unit [DOCX]

During the initial stages of establishing, modifying, or removing an academic department, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposal to move forward.

Establishing, modifying, or removing an academic department requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for final review and approval. Requests to establish, modify, or remove an academic department are submitted as an action item to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Add/Modify/Remove an Academic Department [DOCX]

During the initial stages of a degree designation change request, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed change to move forward.

Changing a degree designation requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, degree designation change requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Degree designation changes are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Change Degree Designation [DOCX]

During the initial stages of requesting a nomenclature change, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed nomenclature change to move forward.

Nomenclature changes require initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, nomenclature change requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Nomenclature change requests are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Change Degree Nomenclature [DOCX]

In Joint Degree Programs, two institutions or two units from the same institution together offer one degree. Both units appear on a single diploma.

During the initial stages of a request to create a joint degree program, from two existing programs, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed joint degree program to move forward.

A joint degree program requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, new joint degree programs are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Joint degree program requests are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs). 

• Request Form to Create a Joint Degree Program [DOCX]
   

Dual Degree Programs are two sequential or concurrent degrees cooperatively offered by two institutions or units at the same institution—with minimal amount of shared coursework. 

During the initial stages of a request to create a dual degree program, from two existing programs, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed dual degree program to move forward.

A dual degree program requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, new dual degree programs are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for final review and approval. Dual degree program requests are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs). Dual degrees offered by both Rutgers and another institution require a Memorandum of Understanding.

• Request Form to Create Dual Degree Program [DOCX]
   

During the initial stages of a request to add a new partner to an existing degree program, chancellors or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed request to move forward.

Adding a new partner to an existing degree program requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, requests to add a new partner to an existing degree program are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Requests to add a new partner to an existing degree program are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Add New Partner to Degree Program [DOCX]

During the initial stages of a request to add a new partner to a certificate program, chancellors or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) for program changes once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed request to move forward.

Adding a new partner to an existing certificate program requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, requests to add a new partner to an existing certificate program are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for final review and approval. Requests to add a new partner to an existing certificate program are submitted as information items to the Board of Governors (including the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs).

• Request Form to Add New Partner to Certificate Program [DOCX]

Rutgers University, as with other institutions accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), is required to report to MSCHE all academic offerings provided in settings outside the university’s campus boundaries. Specifically, the university must secure a substantive change approval from MSCHE prior to offering 50% or more of a degree or certificate program at a new off-campus location. In cases where less than 50% of a degree program is being offered, the university is only required to notify MSCHE of the new site. 

MSCHE’s current off-campus locations list for Rutgers may be viewed by clicking here and then using the “Locations” tab. Note the following definitions used by MSCHE for the two types of off-campus locations:

• Additional Location. A domestic or international facility or location that is geographically separate from the main campus and at which the institution offers at least 50% of an educational program that is credit-bearing or Title IV eligible.
• Other Instructional Site (OIS). Any off-campus site, other than those meeting the definition of an additional location, at which the institution offers one or more credit-bearing or Title IV eligible courses. 

During the initial stages of a new location request, the chancellor or their designee must complete an institutional Notice of Intent (NOI) once preliminary approval has been granted for the proposed new location to move forward.

Adding a new off-campus location requires initial approval from the requesting academic unit’s faculty, department chair, dean, and chancellor. Following these approvals, new location requests are submitted to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (EVPAA) for review and approval.  

Upon approval by the EVPAA, the university’s accreditation liaison officer (ALO) will submit the appropriate substantive change request (for an “additional location”) or notification (for an “other instructional site”) to MSCHE. The requesting unit should consult with the ALO as early as possible in the process to ensure that the required paperwork for MSCHE is completed in a timely manner.  Contact the university’s current ALO, Associate Vice President for Academic Assessment & Accreditation, Michele Moser Deegan, for guidance or answers to any questions regarding the addition of new locations, removal of existing locations, or related matters.

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