Academic & Student Services

Academic Program Planning & Review

March 7, 2003
Agenda Item I.1.d.(1)

Expedited Program Review Process

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

BACKGROUND

In discussion at the December, 2002, meeting of the Education Committee, the idea emerged for an expedited program review process.  The UW System Office of Academic and Student Services explored the idea further through additional conversation with the Provosts at each of the UW System institutions.  In response to these discussions, the Office of Academic and Student Services developed an accelerated process for approving new programs.  This process is designed to facilitate rapid completion of new program approval for those programs that target emerging markets and/or respond to a unique, time-sensitive opportunity.  Timelines are shortened and some steps in the approval process are completed in parallel rather than in sequence.  It should be noted that the usual reviews by the appropriate institutional governance groups and by two external consultants are still required.  In short, the checks and balances required by the process stipulated in ACIS-1.0 revised are still observed, but in a compressed time frame. 

REQUESTED ACTION

This item is presented for information only and no action is required.

DISCUSSION
EXPEDITED PROGRAM REVIEW PROCESS:
NEW PROGRAM ENTITLEMENT AND AUTHORIZATION

Flow chart of Expedited Entitlement and Authorization Process (pdf)

Description of Process

The Expedited Program Review is a demanding process that requires the active cooperation of all University of Wisconsin System institutions.  Therefore, institutions that consider using this process should contact the UWS Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Services (ACSS) when planning begins to be certain that the expedited process is appropriate for the proposed program.

  1. Expedited Entitlement Steps
    1. The Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs sends a memo electronically to ACSS requesting an Entitlement to Plan a new degree program using the expedited process which includes a brief statement:
      1. Identifying the program, and addressing the issues identified in Board of Regents Policy ACIS 1.
      2. Indicating why the expedited program review process is appropriate for this program
    2. The ACSS staff will review the request immediately to confirm that the expedited review process is appropriate.  If so, it will be circulated electronically to all Provosts/Vice Chancellors for Academic Affairs within 2 working days.  The purpose of this review is to ensure that all institutions know about the request and have an opportunity to consider the potential for collaboration.  Institutions will be asked to respond within 30 days.
    3. The Associate Vice President will review the responses and share them with the Provost/Vice Chancellor of the requesting institution.  No decision on the request will be made at this time.
  2. Expedited Authorization Steps
    1. Simultaneous with the expedited entitlement process, the Authorization to Implement process will take place pursuant to the Academic Program Review Guidelines for Regent Policy ACIS 1.0).
    2. The Provost/Vice Chancellor will submit the complete and final proposal to the Associate Vice President, ACSS.
  3. Expedited Approval
    1. Immediately upon receipt of the complete and final proposal, the Associate Vice President and ACSS staff will review the proposal and make a decision on the Authorization to Implement within 2 working days.  The decision may be to:
      1. approve and present the new program to the Board of Regents Education Committee as soon as possible;
      2. return the proposal to the institution for revision or to pursue potential collaboration with other institutions; or
      3. deny the request.
    2. The Education Committee, upon request, may select to waive the Initial Review and recommend that Authorization to Implement be granted immediately.