Develop a New Degree Granting Unit
The development of a new degree granting unit is critical to the university and is expected to best serve the academic needs of students, faculty, and the citizens of the State of New Jersey. New schools and colleges provide an opportunity for Rutgers to foster academic excellence in a manner that is fully attuned to student-centered academic imperatives in an evolving higher education landscape.
Key Steps and Required Approvals
- Initial Approval by Chancellor-led Unit (CLU): CLUs exploring the development of a new degree-granting unit should contact the Office of Academic Planning as early in the process as possible to discuss proposal development, review, and approval requirements.
- Notice of Intent (NOI): The proposing CLU completes an NOI, and it is sent to all CLUs. The notice will be facilitated by the Office of Academic Planning.
- Complete and Submit a draft of the New Degree Granting Unit Proposal Form [DOCX] and Academic Budget Template to the Office of Academic Planning.
- External Review
- Final Approval by CLU
- University Level Review and Approval
- Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs with the advice of the University Senate
- President
- Board of Governors Committee on Academic and Student Affairs (Action Item)
- Board of Governors (Action Item)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education, if necessary
Upon final approval, the Office of Academic Planning staff will notify relevant institutional stakeholders of the outcome.
Required Forms
The proposing CLU must use the institutional template for a New Degree Granting Unit Proposal, which consists of the following. Units should carefully review the proposal template and direct questions regarding the universitywide process to academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu. If you have questions regarding the initial approval process at your local level, contact your Provost's Office.
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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