Guide to Plan and Approval of New Programs

1-2 months

Check Dates:

1. The PVC appoints a Program Convenor for a proposed new Program.

1. Print the following document and use as the template for your proposal.

• "Program Documentation
  for New, Revised and
  Existing Programs"

2. Any proposal for a new program within a Faculty must be considered by the VC to determine its viability and whether it is in line with the University's Profile, University and Faculty's Strategic Plans, and the Program Business Plan. This needs to be undertaken on advice of the PVC assisted by the Program Convenor. Documentation to be submitted to the VC for consideration should include a brief discussion of the rationale for the proposed program, the structure of the proposed program, a Business Plan, and information on market research and expected numbers. If the VC approves the new program proposal, the PVC then initiates the formal planning process for a new program.

2-3 months

Check Dates:

3. Planning for a new undergraduate program will be undertaken by a Planning Team consisting of :

(a) the Program Convenor as Chair:

(b) at least four external members, two of whom should be employer representatives (the remainder may be senior academic staff from other institutions, representatives of accrediting bodies, employers etc.);

(c) at least one member of the academic staff of the Faculty

(d) one person from each Faculty which may be involved in the program, as appropriate; and

(e) one person from University Services Division.

USD Representatives provide professional support and expertise to assist Faculties with development of new programs and program review.

• Role and responsibility of USD in Program Development and Review
  

4. For other new programs, the Pro Vice-Chancellor may vary the size and composition of the Planning teams but it must containt:

(a) the Program Convenor as Chair:

(b) at least two external members, one of whom should be an employer representative (the remainder may be senior academic staff from other institutions, representatives of accrediting bodies, employers etc.);

(c) at least one member of the academic staff of the Faculty

(d) one person from each Faculty which may be involved in the program, as appropriate; and

(e) one person from University Services Division.

5. The Program Convenor recommends Terms of Reference for the planning process and the membership of the Planning Team to the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

 1 month

Check Dates:

6. The development of the detailed program proposal and supporting documentation is the responsibility of the Program Convenor, with the assistance of the internal members of the Planning Team and the external members, where available. The Program Convenor should run a forum for all interested parties as part of the program development process.

• Establishing a Graduate Profile
• Content Issues
• Learning Environment
• Program and Course Mapping
• Course Development

7. The full Planning Team will assist in the development of the program objectives, employer requirements, graduate profile and teaching methods.

8. The Program Convenor must consult with Heads of Schools responsible for any proposed new courses or any existing courses to be included in the new program.

9. The final program proposal, including the completed Program Documentation and course information from the Course Tracking System (CTS) for any proposed new courses together with any supporting documentation, will be submitted to the Assistant Dean, Teaching and Learning of the relevant Faculty/Faculties.

10. The program documentation must include a Business Plan for all fee-paying programs.

11. The Assistant Dean, Teaching and Learning has responsibility for oversight of the program approval process and will ensure:

(a) that the appropriate consultation and approval mechanisms take place within the Faculty and if necessary within other Faculties;

(b) that there is consultation with the full Planning Team who will consider and make recommendations on the final program proposal;

(c) that, as a minimum, any new courses involved in the first year of delivery of the new program are approved on the CTS and have had their resource implications assessed by USD;

(d) that adequate time is given to PVC's and the University Services Division for all the necessary sign-offs required before the proposal is forwarded to those named in (e) below;

(e) that the program proposal, when completed is submitted to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for transmission to the Vice-Chancellor, Academic Senate and the Council, through the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Portfolio Committee.

Agenda items for Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Portfolio Committee and Academic Senate meetings must be submitted 10 days before the meeting is due to take place.

Once a new program is approved,
Establish new Program/Plan/Degree form is to be completed and submitted for entry on Nustar.

 Please Note: The Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Portfolio Committee will NOT accept program proposals without the necessary sign offs (ie. PVC and Vice President, USD)

Matters for Consideration in the Planning Process

The following matters must be considered as part of the program planning process and included in the "Program Documentation" which must be submitted as part of any program proposal.

1. The rationale for the new program and its relationship to the Faculty and University Strategic Plan.

2. A promotion and recruitment strategy.

3. Evaluation of the program by industry and/or professional body representatives.

4. Details of the attributes of the graduates of the program.

5. Consider the alignment of your Graduate Profile Statements and each Graduate Attributes per Domain.

6. Consider the alignment of your course Assessment Tasks to your Graduate Profile Statements; you may also consider the alignment of your course objectives to your Graduate Profile Statements.

7. The structure of the program including:

• the sequence of courses
• honours
• majors
• prescribed courses
• elective courses.

8. The mode(s) of delivery of the program.

9. Learning Support arrangements.

10. Whether courses will be available in semesters, trimesters, as block learning or in summer or sandwich terms.

11. Any proposed articulation and credit transfer arrangements.

12. The costs involved in mounting and running the program (including a Business Plan for fee-paying programs).

13. The physical and facilities requirements for the program and courses (minimum of all new 1000 level courses).

14. Whether the program and courses can be supported within the existing library and IT budgets or the Faculty/Faculties are intending to contribute funding.

15. Entry requirements including any special selection procedures.

16. How students with special needs will be accommodated.

17. Strategies to achieve targets in the access, retention, progress and success rates of the six designated equity groups.