Academic Program Submission Cycle
Overview
All academic program requests for new or changed programs and for moratoria or discontinuations are submitted to University Curriculum and Catalog using the Office of the Registrar (RO) Online Forms Menu. Curricular changes may be effective for any semester - fall, spring, or summer session. The average number of months it takes for academic program requests to be approved are listed below.
Category Months*
New 4.5
Changes 2.5
Deletes 3.5
Moratoria 2
*Excludes months when academic governance is not in session (i.e. December and May through August).
For a spring or summer session effective date, colleges must submit program requests to University Curriculum and Catalog by September 1.
If consultation and action require additional time, a spring effective date may not be possible although the request was received by September 1. See Getting Started below for more information.
For a fall effective date and availability for enrollment, colleges must submit program requests to University Curriculum and Catalog by January 1.
Enrollment for Fall begins in late March. Enrollment for Spring begins in mid-Fall.
If consultation and action require additional time, a fall effective date may not be possible although the request was received by January 1. See Getting Started below for more information.
Note: Approximately 10% of new programs require Statewide Academic Program Review (pdf). See below for submission deadlines.
Statewide Academic Program Review
The Presidents Council of State Universities of Michigan (PCSUM) provides us with an opportunity to review academic programs initiated by other institutions. It requires Michigan State University to submit new programs for review by other institutions; spin-off and phased-out programs must be submitted as information items. The Office of the Provost determines which programs must be reviewed in accordance with the Presidents Council Policy and Procedures for Reviewing Academic Program Proposals (pdf). New programs that fit the Statewide Academic Programs Review criteria must be approved by the Academic Affairs Officers Committee before the initial effective semester of offering at Michigan State University.
Submission Deadlines: These program requests must be submitted to University Curriculum and Catalog by the preceding January 1 to be effective the following spring and by September 1 to be effective the following fall semester.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
MSU’s university accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), must approve all substantive changes in academic programs. Notify the Director of Accreditation, Program Review, and Assessment, Dr. Moroski-Rigney LINK to Stacia Staff Page, with any program changes as the unit BEGINS conversations about these changes. Depending on the type of notification and review needed, this could delay implementation of your proposed changes; notification to Dr. Moroski-Rigney can and should happen before formal approvals from the university.
Getting Started
Minimizing the amount of time curricular items spend in academic governance takes careful planning. Straightforward academic program changes that require only University Committee on Curriculum and Faculty Senate approval take two months or less to be approved. New academic programs take longer because additional consultation is required.
As shown in the Path of Academic Programs Requests Diagram, the type of request impacts the amount of time it takes for consultation and action.
When planning an effective date, the following questions should be considered:
- Does the request have funding implications? If so, the request requires unit reflection for budget projections and planning, and must follow normal administrative channels.
- Are there any academic policy implications?
- Does the request involve teacher certification?
- Are approvals/signoffs required?
- If submitting a new academic program, is Statewide Academic Program Review required?
Note: the Office of the Provost is required to submit materials to the Presidents Council Office six weeks prior to the meeting at which the proposal is considered; the Academic Affairs Officers Committee meets four times a year.
Checklist
Become familiar with MSU's curricular approval process.
Review University graduation requirements.
Review policies and procedures for certificates, minors, and specializations (if applicable). See below
- Policy and Procedures for Graduate Certification Programs
- Policy and Procedures for Minors
- Policy and Procedures for Specializations
Start communicating with other units affected by the request as soon as possible.
Request a courtesy review from University Curriculum and Catalog prior to submitting the request form (before department/college approvals and official signoffs occur). Contact Joy Speas, University Curriculum Administrator, at jlspeas@msu.edu.