Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost

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Instructions for Proposals for New Programs (Regents Approval Required)

Specify the name of the program, the collegiate unit(s) in which the program will be housed, the semester and year of planned implementation, and the dates of faculty and dean approval.

The proposal narrative should address each of the following questions:

Mission, Priorities, and Interrelatedness

• In what specific ways is the proposed program consistent with the University's mission? With the unit's mission?
• How does the program support the unit's strategic direction and compact?
• How will the program contribute to the priorities of the University, the campus, and the unit?
• How does the program relate to other University academic programs?
• What are the implications - including impact of prerequisites and related courses - for other units, colleges, or campuses? (Document your consultation by providing copies of correspondence with relevant units to establish collaborations on interdisciplinary programs, use courses from other units, etc.)

Need and Demand

• What is the need and demand for the program? Proposals for programs that reach very small numbers of students are discouraged. Use the following kinds of evidence:
• Evidence that the program meets societal needs and expectations.
• Evidence of consultation with employers or professional organizations, if appropriate.
• Employment data, if appropriate (availability of jobs for graduates).
• Enrollment data for similar programs.
• Data reflecting student interest or demand, both short- and long-term.
• Projected number of applicants for the program.
• Projected number of degrees to be conferred per year at full operation.
• What are the intended geographic service area and the prospective student market?
• How will students benefit from the program?

Comparative Advantage

• What are the unique characteristics of the program that make it particularly appropriate to the University of Minnesota?
• Are there comparable academic programs in Minnesota, and, if applicable, elsewhere? (Document your consultation with other units within the University and/or research of other institutions with similar programs, if they exist, in the area.)

Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Use of Resources

• Is the program within the capacity of the unit's resources?
• Have resources been reallocated within the unit to support the proposed program? If so, how?
• If additional resources are needed, how will the program leverage existing resources to attract new resources?
• What steps will be taken to ensure the program is operated economically and effectively?

Program Quality and Assessment

• What are the learning outcomes for the program? How will the outcomes be measured? How often?
• How, when, and by whom will program quality be measured?
• How will the college, the department, and program instructors continue to improve the teaching and learning in this program?
• Is the program subject to review by a specialized accreditation agency? If yes, what agency and what is the review cycle?
• How, if at all, will the program address the University's diversity goals, e.g., student and faculty recruitment, curriculum, etc.?

Program Development

• What planning and development authorities generated the proposal?
• When was the proposal reviewed and approved (department, college or campus curriculum committees, dean/vice chancellor's office, etc.)?