Background

The New Program Review (NPR) Process is intended to assess the potential of a proposed new academic program* for contributing to the University's Mission, Strategic Plan, and overall array of academic programs. Through the information provided in the NPR process, the NPR Committee assesses the benefits, as well as the costs to the university, of a proposed new program. If a new program appears to be likely to make a strong contribution to the University while building on the university's strengths; NPR will recommend that it proceed through review and possible approval by the normal University governance processes: the appropriate Faculty Curriculum Councils, Faculty Senate, and, for degree programs, the Board of Trustees. That complete process is likely to require a full academic year (see Council on Undergraduate Education and Council on Graduate Education websites for guidance on review timelines for programs intended to be offered in the next academic year).

The NPR Committee (NPRC) consists of the following members: a representative from faculty Senate, Deans, the Provost, the Director for Budget and Finance, the Executive Director for UG Admissions and Outreach and the Associate Provost for Student Success and Academic Quality (SSAQ)- ex officio. Before submitting the proposal to the New Program Review Committee, proposals must be reviewed by the appropriate Dean and Department Chair.

Logistics

The NPRC meets on a rolling basis, often weekly (as needed). NPR review takes place in two stages: 1) Preliminary Proposal Review (Stage 1); 2) Feasibility Study Review (Stage 2). All Proposals must be received at least two weeks prior to the NPRC meeting at which it will be reviewed. Contact the Associate Provost for Student Success and Academic Quality to find out when an NPRC will be scheduled next. The Department Chair, the appropriate Dean, and the Office of Student Success and Academic Quality will provide input to strengthen the quality of proposals prior to their review by the NPRC, at both Stage 1 and Stage 2. All required proposal forms are hyper linked via the text below.

Stage 1: Preliminary Proposal Review

A Gallaudet unit interested in proposing a new program will first develop a Stage 1 Preliminary Proposal. The Stage 1 Proposal consists of background information on the program, along with Goals and Rationale. The NPR Committee reviews the Rationale and Goals of the Program in relation to GU's Mission and Strategic Plan using the criteria in the Stage 1 Review Form.

  • The Stage 1 Proposal should be sent as an attachment with an email to the Associate Provost, the liaison to Academic Affairs New Program Review (NPR AA liaison).
  • If the Proposal is sent by someone other than the Chair of a Department, the proposal must also be copied to the Department Chair of the program intend to house the program, as well as the appropriate Dean. The NPR AA liaison will review the proposal for completeness and clarity. If the Proposal is clear and complete, it will be sent on to the NPR Committee for review, and to schedule a review of the program by the NPR. If the Proposal is not clear and complete, the proposal will be returned with a request for additional information.
  • The Stage 1 Proposal will typically be reviewed by the NPR Committee within 4-6 weeks of submission of a final proposal.
  • After review, the NPR Committee will take one of three actions: a) recommend that a Stage 2 proposal be submitted; b) request additional information; or c) recommend that the proposal not go on to Stage 2, The NPR committee also provides summary evaluation information based on the review criteria, and general feedback on the proposal. This evaluation and feedback is intended to support continued development through the program planning process. The Associate Provost sends the NPR Committee's response to the program proposer and to the Chair of the appropriate department.

[*] In keeping with the Program Prioritization Task Force guidelines for reviewing programs, the New Program Review committee reviews majors, minors and certifications that require six or more credit hours of new courses beyond courses that have already been approved by CUE or CGE within a Department. Stand alone minors (i.e., minors that are made up of approved courses from more than one program) must be reviewed by the NPR Committee.

Stage 2: Feasibility Study Proposal Review

If it is determined that an idea for a new program warrants further consideration, the unit(s) making the proposal will prepare a Stage 2 Proposal Form and Stage 2 Appendix: Curriculum Matrix. The Feasibility Study Proposal asks for background information on the program, along with information that demonstrates internal and external viability, as well as the costs and anticipated revenue, of the program. Information for new program proposals may come from Enrollment and Marketing, the University Budget Director, and/or the Office of Institutional Research. The Stage 2 proposal will be reviewed using the criteria in the Stage 2 Proposal Review Form.

  • The Stage 2 Proposal should be sent as an attachment with an email to the Associate Provost.
  • If the Proposal is sent by someone other than the Chair of a Department, the proposal must also be copied to the Department Chair of the faculty proposing the program, as well as the appropriate Dean.
  • The Associate Provost will review the proposal for completeness and clarity. If the Proposal is clear and complete, it will sent on to the NPR Committee for review, and to schedule a review of the program by the NPR. If the Proposal is not clear and complete, the proposal will be returned with a request for additional information.

The Stage 2 Proposal will typically be reviewed by the NPR Committee within 4-6 weeks of submission of a complete proposal.

  • The NPR Committee will take one of three actions: a) recommend that a proposal be submitted to the appropriate curriculum council; b) request that additional information be provided and then resubmitted to the NPR Committee; or c) recommend that the proposal not be submitted to a curriculum council. Typically the NPR committee also provides feedback on the proposal to support continued development through the program planning process. The Associate Provost sends the NPR Committee's response to the program proposer, the Chair of the appropriate department, and, if recommended to continue, the appropriate curriculum council.
  • For Certificate Programs only: Notice of Intent to Offer a Gainful Employment Program Certificate Programs are considered by the Federal Government to fall under the category of programs intended for "Gainful Employment." As such they must meet federal gainful employment program integrity regulations. These regulations include a requirement that the federal government be notified 90 days before the first day of class of the Intent to Offer a new GE Program. This notification must include the information to support the institution's determination of the need for the program, as required by the regulations at 34 CFR 600.20(d)(2), along with other information on the Notice Template. The federal government will notify Gallaudet University if the program is approved to be offered. Programs must submit a Notice of Intent to OAQ after NPR recommends that the proposal continue to faculty governance approval, and prior to submitting a proposal to the appropriate curriculum council.

Stage 3. New Program: Governance Review of Full Formal Proposal Development

If the New Program Feasibility Study is approved, the New Program Proposal continues on through the faculty governance system. After the proposing unit prepares a full formal proposal, the proposal is then reviewed at the following levels, following Gallaudet University governance processes:

A. Academic Affairs - Provost

  • Reviews budget information and signs on the councils' forms verifying that there are resources available for this program. (This moves from the Dean to Provost since budget is more centralized now and deans have limited authority).

B. Faculty Curriculum Councils (CUE/CGE)

  • Evaluate the academic/substantive content of the new program.
  • After a proposal has been approved by the appropriate curriculum council, that Council should notify the Office of Academic Quality of their decision regarding program approval. This enables OAQ/OIR to prepare the appropriate Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes for Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS) reporting pending Senate approval. OIR will then monitor Senate Curriculum decisions for final posting of CIP codes. If the program is a degree program and must be approved by the Board of Trustees, CIP code entry will occur upon BOT approval.

C. Faculty Senate Review

  • The Faculty Senate reviews all curricular changes and must vote on new program proposals. The Senate usually accepts the recommendation of its committees, but new questions about a program can be raised on the Senate floor.

D. New Program: Board of Trustees (BOT) Vote

  • All actions of the Faculty Senate regarding the initiation of new degree programs are recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees. Timeline: The BOT meets three times a year (October, January, and May).