When instituting a new degree program or major leading to a degree or a certificate, departments must submit proposals to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs, after the necessary college approval processes. Any questions regarding these processes should be directed to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Dean for Graduate Studies, Deborah Smith-Howell (dsmith-howell@mail.unomaha.edu).

Review Process for New Programs & Majors

The Educational Policy Advisory Committee (EPAC) reviews all proposals for new degree programs and majors with the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. In addition, the Senior Vice Chancellor consults with the Deans' Forum and the Faculty Senate prior to recommending new programs or minors to the Chancellor. New graduate programs are also reviewed by the UN Executive Graduate Council and the UNO Graduate Council prior to submission to the Board of Regents. All new programs must be approved by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.

All proposed programs must be reviewed at the department and college levels prior to submission to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. The proposing college dean should include a cover memo indicating that that reviews have taken place. Proposals should follow the proposal formats below. The proposal formats have been approved by Central Administration for proposals submitted to the Board of Regents and CCPE.

Guidelines & Forms

• Center Proposal Guidelines [.pdf]
• Degree/Major Proposal Document Guidelines [.pdf]
• Graduate Certificate Program Proposal Form [.pdf]
• School or College Proposal Document Guidelines [.pdf]

Budget Tables

• New Program Budget Tables [.xls]
• New Organizational Unit Budget Tables [.xls]

New Minors

New minors are reviewed by the EPAC, Deans' Forum, and the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. New minors are acted on at the campus level. Changes to existing programs are typically the prerogative of departmental faculties. However, changes should be reported to the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Proposals for new minors should follow the following format:

1. Need for the program, including potential demand
2. Objectives and rationale for the program
3. Relationship of the program to priorities as identified in the role and mission statement and relevant planning documents
4. Clientele to be served
5. Resource implications, including need for new resources (e.g., faculty, equipment, library materials, computer support, etc.)
6. Curriculum, indicating existing courses and courses to be developed
7. Governance and administration (when minors are interdisciplinary).

New Concentrations

New concentrations are determined at the departmental/college level. Undergraduate concentrations will be reviewed by EPAC while graduate concentrations will be reviewed by the office of Graduate Studies, so that the new contration may be listed in the program inventory. For new concentrations to appear on student transcripts, please be sure to report concentration information to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Dean for Graduate Studies, Deborah Smith-Howell (dsmith-howell@mail.unomaha.edu).