New Program Development

From MWSU Graduate School Policy Portal

Contents 1 Graduate Curriculum Policies 1.1 Policy for Submitting a New Graduate Curricular Program 1.2 Policy for Submitting Graduate Courses 1.3 Policy for Submitting Revisions to a Current Graduate Curricular Program 1.4 Evaluation Requirement 2 Forms

Graduate Curriculum Policies

MWSU Graduate Faculty are responsible for designing curriculum for graduate programs in their discipline or, in the case of an inter-disciplinary graduate program, for their respective disciplines. All MWSU masters programs must contain a minimum of 30 graduate credits and graduate certificate programs a minimum of 15 graduate credits. At least half the credits in a masters or graduate certificate program must be at the 600 level (graduate-only courses). All programs must originate in an academic department. The program contact person must be a department chair or full graduate faculty member.

Policy for Submitting a New Graduate Curricular Program

1. All new program submissions must be submitted in the Spring Semester using a New Program Proposal Form. The due date is the last Friday of January.
2. Submissions need to be in two forms: a paper copy and an electronic copy. Both copies are to be sent to the Graduate Dean and must be received no later than 4pm.
3. Upon submission, a proposal(s) must have signatures from the following: department chair(s), chairs of affected department(s), and dean(s) of affected college(s)/school(s). A proposal(s) without the required signatures may be sent back to the originators of the proposals and not considered by the Graduate Council (GC) for this semester.
4. The Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC) will review all proposals and provide copies of the proposal(s) to all members of the Graduate Council. During a GC meeting in the Spring Semester, the GCC will make their recommendations concerning the proposals to the GC. Approval or disapproval of the proposals will be determined by a vote of the GC.
5. All approved proposals (requiring CBHE approval) will be sent to CBHE. The originating department is responsible for all CBHE paperwork (see http://www.dhe.mo.gov/reviewacademicprograms.shtml). After CBHE approves the proposal(s), the originators of the proposal must submit a New Graduate Course Proposal Submission Form, including course syllabi, to the GC for approval (Pease see the section on New Graduate Courses for more information). If a proposal is not approved, the GC will write a letter outlining the reasons for disapproval, and send copies to all affected departments and schools.
6. If a department fails to implement approved proposals within 2.5 year period, the proposal must be resubmitted to the GC in the Spring Semester.

Policy for Submitting Graduate Courses

1. All new course submission must submit using a New Graduate Course Approval Form. A Catalog Maintenance Form from the Registrar should also be included. The due date is the second Friday in September for the Fall Semester and the last Friday in January for the Spring Semester.
2. Submissions need to be in two forms: a paper copy and an electronic copy. Both copies are to be sent to the Graduate Dean and must be received no later than 4pm.
3. Upon submission, a proposal(s) must have signatures from the following: department chair(s), chairs of affected department(s), and dean(s) of affected college(s)/school(s). Proposals without the required signatures may be sent back to the originators of the proposal(s) and not considered by the GC for this semester.
4. The GCC will review all proposals and provide copies of the proposal(s) to all members of the GC. Moreover, the GC will post the proposal(s) for all Graduate Faculty to review for a period of at least 30 days. During the GC meeting in the Spring and Fall Semesters, the GCC will make their recommendations concerning the proposals to the GC. Approval or disapproval of a proposal(s) will be determined by a vote by the GC.
5. If approved, the GC will notify the originators of the proposal and submit courses to be included in the Graduate Bulletin and the Banner System. If a proposal(s) is not approved, the GC will write a letter outlining the reasons for disapproval and send copies to all affected departments and schools.

Policy for Submitting Revisions to a Current Graduate Curricular Program

1. All program revisions (additions, deletions, revisions of course in existing programs, etc.) must be submitted using a Graduate Course Revision Form. You should also include a Catalog Maintenance Form. The due date is the second Friday in September for the Fall Semester and the last Friday in January for the Spring Semester.
2. Submissions need to be in two forms: a paper copy and an electronic copy. Both copies are to be sent to the Graduate Dean and must be received no later than 4pm.
3. Upon submission, a proposal(s) must have signatures from the following: department chair(s), chairs of affected department(s), and deans(s) of affected college(s)/school(s). Proposals without the required signatures may be sent back to the originators of the proposal(s) and not considered by the GC for this semester.
4. The GCC will review all proposals and provide copies of the proposal(s) to all members of the GC. Moreover, the GC will post the proposal(s) for all Graduate Faculty to review for a period of at least 30 days. During the GC meeting in the Spring and Fall Semesters, the GCC will make their recommendations concerning the proposal(s) to the GC. Approval or disapproval of a proposal(s) will be determined by a vote by the GC.
5. If approved, the GC will notify the originators of the proposal(s) and submit changes to be included in the Graduate Bulletin and the Banner System. If a proposal(s) is not approved, the GC will write a letter outlining the reasons for disapproval and send copies to all affected departments and schools.

Evaluation Requirement

Each MWSU graduate program will be evaluated internally each of the first three years of operation and subsequently in conjunction with each standard 5-year departmental review. Program coordinators and chair(s) of the department(s) involved in program delivery must prepare a self-study evaluation of the graduate program(s) for submission to the appropriate Academic dean, Graduate Dean, and GC. The GC’s evaluation is then forwarded to the Provost for review and any necessary action.

NOTE: Approval of a pre-proposal by the Graduate Council does not constitute approval of the courses in the program. After approval by GAC, the Graduate Council must approve each new course offered in the proposed program before it can be offered.

Forms

New Program Proposal Form

New Graduate Course Approval Form

Graduate Course Revision Form