ACADEMIC PROGRAM REGISTRATION GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM CONTRACT FIELD OF STUDY The process of academic program registration was adopted by Cornell University to recognize the responsibility of the Graduate School for academic and resource planning, program assessment, appropriate consultation, and thorough preparation of materials; to focus review on cross-college issues; and to register curricula in accordance with regulatory standards set forth in the Rules of the Board of Regents and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. To formally register a graduate program in a contract field of study each of the following 9 steps must be satisfied: 1. Approval(s) of Graduate School. 2. Review of Program Announcement by Cornell s Office of the Provost. 3. Review of Program Announcement by the State University of New York (SUNY). 4. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s Committee on Academic Programs and Policies (CAPP). 5. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s Faculty Senate. 6. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s Board of Trustees. 7. Review of Program Proposal by SUNY. 8. Review of Program Proposal by the New York State Education Department (SED). 9. Implementation of Program Proposal by Cornell s Office of the University Registrar. 1. Approval(s) of Graduate School: Before announcing its intent to establish a new program or change to an already-existing program, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies must obtain whatever approval(s) the professional program requires. Once such approval is secured, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies, working with the Office of the Dean, should complete a Program Announcement 1 and submit the document to the Office of Institutional Planning and Assessment for review by the Provost. 2. Review of Program Announcement by Cornell s Office of the Provost: The Program Announcement is a succinct document prepared by the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies for review by Cornell s Office of the Provost. Completion of the form is required for every curriculum leading to a new degree program or certificate, or any change to an already-existing degree program. The Program Announcement should follow the form provided as Appendix A. Of particular importance is the Proposal Summary, a (400-word) description of the purpose, content, and structure of the proposed program (or change), and the draft curriculum. In its summary, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies should discuss whether the institution has sufficient fiscal, physical, and human resources to support the changes proposed, and to do so without diminishing the quality of existing 1 The Program Announcement has a lifetime of one year from the date Cornell s Office of the Provost receives the document. IRP: KKC 1
programs. If existing programs must be changed to support the proposed program, a rationale and plan should be provided. 3. Review of Program Announcement by SUNY: Once the Program Announcement receives the approval of Cornell s Office of the Provost, the document will be forwarded to SUNY. There, the Program Announcement will serve to inform other SUNY institutions of Cornell s intent to develop and submit a Program Proposal. Within 30 days of receipt of the Program Announcement, interested SUNY campuses can respond with substantive comments, including advice and suggestions, possible articulation opportunities, enrollment trends in related programs, opportunities for cooperation, as well as concerns about potential competition with existing programs. Cornell must address any matters or concerns expressed by other SUNY institutions in response to the Program Announcement before proceeding with the submission of the Program Proposal. Review of the Program Announcement by SUNY will result in one of the three following actions: approval to submit Program Proposal; 4. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s CAPP: After the Program Announcement is reviewed and approved by the Provost and SUNY, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies must complete the Program Proposal 2. The Program Proposal is the formal request for CAPP, Faculty Senate, and Board of Trustee approval and subsequent registration by SED. Review of the Program Proposal by CAPP will result in one of the three following actions: approval and forwarding to Cornell s Faculty Senate; 5. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s Faculty Senate: After the Program Proposal receives the approval of CAPP, the document will be forwarded to Cornell s Faculty Senate. Review of the Program Proposal by Cornell s Faculty Senate will result in one of the three following actions: approval and forwarding to Cornell s Board of Trustees; 2 The Program Proposal must be submitted to the Faculty Senate no later than one year from the date of the Program Announcement. IRP: KKC 2
6. Review of Program Proposal by Cornell s Board of Trustees: Once the Program Proposal receives the approval of the Faculty Senate, the document will be forwarded to Cornell s Board of Trustees 3. Review of the Program Proposal by Cornell s Board of Trustees will result in one of the three following actions: approval and forwarding to SUNY; 7. Review of Program Proposal by SUNY: Once Cornell s Board of Trustees approves the Program Proposal, the peer review component of SUNY guidelines must be satisfied. This system of peer review is designed to encourage academic excellence and to ensure quality in education within SUNY and New York State. To initiate the peer review procedure, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies should compile a list of names and background information on possible out-of-state reviewers. The list of potential reviewers should be sent to the Office of Institutional Planning and Assessment, which forwards the information to the Office of Academic Programs and Research, SUNY. The Office of Academic Programs and Research oversees the selection of reviewers. Review of the Program Proposal by SUNY will result in one of the three following actions: approval and forwarding to SED for registration (possibly with a request to Cornell for a follow-up report on issues such as enrollment and accreditation expectation); disapproval of program proposed. 8. Review of Program Proposal by SED: After SUNY approves the Program Proposal, the document will be forwarded to SED for consideration. Review of the Program Proposal by SED will result in one of the three following actions: approval and registration (possibly with a request to Cornell for a follow-up report on issues of concern or interest such as enrollment and accreditation expectation) and implementation by Cornell s Office of the University Registrar; disapproval of program proposed. 3 Program Proposals are generally reviewed and acted on by the Trustee Committee on Academic Affairs and Campus Life, which meets four times each year (October, January, March and May). Under exceptional circumstances, Program Proposals are occasionally reviewed and acted on by the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees. IRP: KKC 3
9. Implementation of Program Proposal by Cornell s Office of the University Registrar: After the Program Proposal is approved and registered by SED, the director of undergraduate and/or graduate studies must work with Cornell s Office of the University Registrar to update the Student Information System (SIS). Once SIS is updated, changes can be made to college catalogs and rosters and the program, degree, course, and/or class can be advertised. In most cases, updates to SIS coincide with the publishing of the subsequent year s Courses of Study catalog. As the revision of the Courses of Study begins in the spring semester, it is not uncommon for the Office of the University Registrar to take up to one full year to complete program implementation. IRP: KKC 4
ACADEMIC PROGRAM REGISTRATION GUIDELINES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF ACADEMIC PROGAM PROPOSALS ACADEMIC PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT To ensure University Administration review, this form should be completed and signed by the Dean of the undergraduate college, the Graduate School, or professional school and submitted to Kristin K. Walker, Institutional Research and Planning, 440A Day Hall. By submitting this form, it is assumed that the proposed degree program and/or the change to an already-existing degree program has received collegelevel and/or Graduate School approval and any documentation from curriculum committees or other college governing bodies should be attached. Name of College: Name of Dean: Contact person, if different: Campus Address: Date: Signature: E-mail: Telephone: Proposed Action: Use the following: N=new, C=change, DEL=deletion, M=merger, and DIS=disjunction. (Actions in bold print are for graduate school use only.) Major Minor Concentration Major Field Minor Field Degree Major Subject Minor Subject Dual Degree Major Concentration Minor Concentration Joint Degree Proposals related to the establishment of a new department or the change in name of an already-existing department should be directed to the Office of Academic Personnel Policy. For Name Changes (please include type of degree): Current name of major: Proposed name of major: Proposal Summary: As an attachment to this cover, summarize (in 400 words or fewer) the purpose, content, and structure of the proposed program or change and its relationship to the mission of Cornell University and its existing programs. If existing resources will substantially support the proposed program, explain how its implementation will not strain institutional resources, either financial or academic. Provide further explanation as it relates to the tables that follow. Curriculum: Attach the draft list of required and elective courses in the major, minor, or concentration. For New Degree Programs: Proposed program title: Proposed degree or other award: Proposed beginning date: IRP: KKC 1
PROJECTED ENROLLMENT Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Full-Time Part-Time Since the expected enrollment may affect the future campus enrollment composition and totals, estimate the impact this program may have on campus total enrollments and the relative percentage distribution by broad discipline categories. (Please include comments in the summary section of the announcement.) COST REQUIREMENTS Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Faculty: Administrative Staff: Clerical Staff: Student Support: Facilities: EXPECTED FUNDING SOURCE: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Internal reallocation Incremental funding External sources Will the proposed program lead to certification/licensure? (Y/N) Will special accreditation be sought (Y/N) If yes, indicate accrediting group: Expected date of accreditation: Will the proposed program or any constituent courses be offered off-campus? (Y/N) If yes, where? How many credits? Via telecommunications? (Y/N) If yes, to what location(s)? Are there any opportunities with e-cornell on the technology portion? Date Received by IRP: FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Date Forwarded to Provost: Approval Signature of Provost: Date: (Please return approved copy to Kristin K. Walker, Institutional Research and Planning, 440A Day Hall.) If contract college announcement, date forwarded to SUNY: Date of SUNY approval: Date proposal guidelines sent to college: Date completed proposal received by IRP Date of Faculty Senate review: Date of Board of Trustees review: If contract college proposal, date proposal sent to SUNY: Date of SUNY Approval: If endowed college proposal, date proposal sent to SED: Date of SED Approval: IRP: KKC 2