UNC Charlotte Academic Procedure: New Degree Programs

I. Executive Summary

The process for planning and establishing a new degree program (undergraduate major or graduate program) at UNC Charlotte is governed by the rules and regulations of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors who have the authority to approve new degree programs (UNC Policy Manual 400.1 – Policy on Academic Program Planning and 400.1[R] Regulation for Academic Program Planning and Evaluation).

II. Procedure Statement

The following steps should be followed to begin the process of requesting a new degree program:

1. Dean(s) consults with Provost and seeks authorization to proceed with the proposal to develop a new degree program.
2. If approved by Provost to proceed, Dean consults with Associate Provost to schedule a 90-minute Kick-Off Meeting with the individuals from the department(s)/college(s) who will be involved in proposing the new program.
   • If the proposed program includes online and/or off-campus delivery, the Dean consults with the Associate Provost, School of Professional Studies.
3. Following the Kick-Off Meeting, a draft Request for Planning Authorization and Request to Establish is prepared by the department(s)/program(s) and uploaded to Modern Campus Curriculum (formerly Curriculog) using the New Degree Program form. The Request for Planning Authorization and the Request to Establish forms are used for new on-campus and distance education/online programs.
   • The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics will complete Tables 1-5 for the RPA and provide these to the department/program.
   • The following should be included as addendums:
     1. Substantive Change Planning Questionnaire
     2. UNC System Academic Program Planning Financial Worksheet
     3. Student Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan.
   • If SACSCOC Prospectus is required (see Substantive Change Planning Questionnaire), submit Faculty Roster form obtained from Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics) as part of Request to Establish.
   • If the proposed program includes online and/or off-campus delivery, the Program Delivery form should also be completed within Modern Campus Curriculum.
4. Communicate with Associate Provost for consultation and feedback on the Request for Planning Authorization and Request to Establish prior to submission to Modern Campus Curriculum.  
5. Within Modern Campus Curriculum, the forms are routed through the faculty governance review process.
6. Following Faculty Council review, Provost and Office of Academic Affairs reviews the forms and decides to proceed with Chancellor consultation (including ranking of proposed program within college and institutional priorities) or return proposal to college with additional comments/considerations.
7. If approved to proceed, Office of Academic Affairs submits the final proposal to UNC System Office and posts the final version on the Academic Program Planning and Authorization webpage. 
8. Subsequent review follows in accordance with timeline established by UNC System Office.

III. Definitions

There are currently no definitions for this procedure.

IV. Procedure Contact(s)

• Authority: Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• Responsible Office: Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
• Additional Contact(s): n/a

V. History

• 06/25/18: Revised [Updated to include new Curriculog process]
• 01/06/21: Revised [Updated required forms per UNC System Office; “Letter of Intent” changed to “Request for Preliminary Authorization”]
• 05/17/24: Revised [Combined Part I and Part II of procedure]
• 09/09/25: Revised [Updated required forms per UNC System Office]

VI. Prior Versions

• January 06, 2021 – May 17, 2024: Part I / Part II
• May 17, 2024 – September 9, 2025

VII. Related Policies, Procedures, and Resources

• Curriculog
• UNC Policy Manual Chapter 400.1 – Academic Programs
• UNC System – Academic Programs

VIII. Frequently Asked Questions

• Where is this procedure referenced?
  The procedure is published on the Academic Policies & Procedures webpage of the Provost website.