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University Academic Affairs

Create a New Off-Site Option/Track/Concentration Within Existing Degree Program 

Creating a new off-site option/track/concentration within an existing degree program is the development of a new option/track/concentration and offering it at a location other than one of the three Rutgers geographical campuses (i.e., Camden, Newark, or New Brunswick). For example, offering the newly created option/track/concentration of a degree program at a community college campus.

Key Steps and Required Approvals

  1. Initial Approval by Chancellor-Led Unit (CLU): The academic unit must secure initial approval from their CLU. Contact your Provost’s Office for guidance.

  2. Notice of Intent (NOI): The proposing CLU completes an NOI, and it is sent to all CLUs via the NOI system.

  3. Complete and Submit the Request Form to Move Existing Program to Fully Online or Off-Site [DOCX] to your Provost’s Office for final approval before submitting it to the Office of Academic Planning.

  4. University Level Review and Approval
    • Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

    • Middle States Commission on Higher Education, if necessary

Upon approval by the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, 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 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.

Upon final approval, the Office of Academic Planning staff will notify relevant institutional stakeholders of the outcome.

Additional Support

If you need help with the initial program approval process at your local level, contact your Provost's Office.

For questions about the university level process, contact academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu as early as possible to discuss proposal development, review, and universitywide approval requirements. The Office of Academic Planning will advise and coordinate with the appropriate chancellor-led unit contacts to effectively manage the universitywide review of the proposed program.

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