New programs must be in the three-year academic plan, which is updated annually in September by the Provost’s office and school/college. The Provost’s office contacts the deans for periodic updates to the plan. Faculty members should communicate with their dean’s office regarding the addition of new programs.
The NISP is reviewed and approved at the departmental level and then routed to the school/college-level committees for review, with final review by Dean.
If approved through school/college appropriate review process and Dean, the Dean’s Office submits the NISP to appropriate the Faculty Senate committee for review and approval.
Faculty Senate makes a recommendation to the Provost. If the NISP is approved, the Provost communicates the decision to Chair(s) and Dean’s Office, who are responsible for submitting a completed UAB Agenda Item Recommendation form along with the final approved version of the NISP to Associate Vice Provost for Assessment, Accreditation & Academic Planning by the UAB Campus Deadline, which is approximately 2 months prior to the Board of Trustees scheduled meeting date. (See UAB Board Liaison Calendar for specific dates)
The approved NISP is submitted by the Provost’s office to the President.
The NISP is reviewed by the President. If approved, the NISP is submitted via the UAB Board Liaison to The University of Alabama System office.
The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs reviews the NISP, which will include a meeting with the Provost, Associate Vice Provost, program administrator, and others as requested.
The UA System Office sends the NISP to the other UA System campuses for internal review.
The NISP may need to be adjusted or resubmitted with subsequent revisions. It is then reviewed by the President, and if approved, recommended to the Chancellor for review and recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
The NISP is presented by the Provost at the meeting of the Board of Trustees for its review, approval, and recommendation for submission to the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE).
Following the Board’s approval, the Vice Chancellor sends the NISP to ACHE for review.
ACHE reviews the NISP and distributes for comment to public colleges and universities in Alabama.
New Undergraduate Degree Programs ACHE sends items to the Chair of the Council of Chief Academic Officers who distributes the new degree programs to the Provosts within the state of Alabama. The Provosts are asked to provide input to ACHE before ACHE will place on their agenda for approval.
New Graduate Degree Programs ACHE sends items to the Graduate Council Chair who sends the items to the graduate deans within the state of Alabama. Input is sent back to ACHE and the institution before ACHE places on their agenda for approval.
The full Program Proposal can be submitted to ACHE two months after the NISP and must be submitted to ACHE within twelve months of the NISP. If the deadline is not met, the NISP must be resubmitted.
Program Proposal
Department or Department Chairs develop a full Program Proposal (doc) AND complete The University of Alabama System Outline for New Program Proposal (Supplement). In addition to program information, the proposal includes the summary sheet required by ACHE that contains budget information, enrollment projections, and degree completion projections. Department or Department Chairs work collaboratively if the proposal is interdisciplinary.
The Program Proposal is reviewed and approved at the departmental level and then routed to the school/college-level committees for review, with final review by Dean.
If approved through school/college appropriate review process and Dean, the Dean’s Office submits the Program Proposal to the Faculty Senate committee for review and approval.
Faculty Senate makes a recommendation to the Provost. If the program is approved, the Provost communicates the decision to Chair(s) and Dean’s Office, who are responsible for submitting the final approved version of the Program Proposal to Dr. Katrina Bradley (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by the UAB Campus Deadline.
The approved Program Proposal is submitted by the Provost’s office to the President.
Program Proposal is submitted by the UAB Board Liaison to The University of Alabama System office. A full Board of Trustees Agenda Item Packet includes:
The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs reviews the Program Proposal,
The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs reviews the Program Proposal.
The Program Proposal is adjusted, as necessary, approved by the President, anand recommended to the Chancellor for review and recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
The Program Proposal may need to be adjusted or resubmitted with subsequent revisions. It is then reviewed by the President, and if approved, recommended to the Chancellor for review and recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Following the Board’s approval, the Vice Chancellor sends the Program Proposal to ACHE for review.
ACHE reviews the Program Proposal and requests clarifications and additional information through the Provost’s office. Program contacts should anticipate communications from the Provost’s office and respond promptly.
The Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs will receive notice that the proposal was approved by ACHE and places the program proposal on the next Board of Trustees agenda for review and final approval. Final approval is denoted on the System office approval letters which are sent to the President and Board Liaison. Once received, the Board Liaison will email the approval letters to the Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Senior Vice Provost and other key personnel.
Following Board approval, the campus may implement the program. Details of this process are addressed at the implementation meeting which is convened by the Registrar’s office upon approval.
Post Implementation Reporting
Proposals include estimates of new students and graduates that are derived by the programs based upon student availability, viability standards, and potential for employment of graduates. ACHE uses these estimates to determine post-implementation conditions and sets the reporting date by which these conditions must be met, approximately five years after approval. Failure to attain these new enrollment and graduation goals may result in loss of the program.
Official data for Post Implementation Reports can be requested through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis for review and, if necessary, adjustment to the program or post-implementation conditions.
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three-year academic plan, which is updated annually in September by the Provost’s office and school/college. The Provost’s office contacts the deans for periodic updates to the plan. Faculty members should communicate with their dean’s office regarding the addition of new programs.