External Review Consulting Team
As part of the review process, CLUs proposing a new degree granting unit must engage an independent external review consulting team (ERCT) to conduct a site visit, whether in-person or virtual. New degree granting unit proposals must be sufficiently complete prior to review by the external review team to ensure a robust assessment of the proposed unit. Moreover, chancellors/provosts should thoroughly review the proposal prior to the site visit.
The ERCT shall evaluate the proposed unit and prepare a written report following the guidelines outlined in the “External Review Consulting Team (ERCT) Report.” The proposing CLU must then respond to the ERCT Report, if applicable, in the appropriate section of the New Degree Granting Unit Proposal Template. Chancellors/Provosts should thoroughly review the proposal after the site visit, along with any responses to the ERCT Report, prior to advancing the proposal for institutional review.
The selected ERCT members shall have no past or present professional relationship with Rutgers that might imply a real or perceived conflict of interest. Proposed ERCT members must be submitted to the Office of Academic Planning for review, at academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu, based on confirmation that no conflict of interest, real or perceived, exists.
A Chancellor’s office may request an exemption from the EVPAA for external review of a new degree granting unit if the establishment of such a unit entails only the reorganization of existing academic programs. A request for an exemption should be submitted to the Office of Academic Planning at academicplanning@oq.rutgers.edu.
Required Forms
Proposing academic units must use the institutional request form for this type of change to an existing program. Academic units should carefully review the request form 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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