New Program Creation Process - Fast Track and Pilot

Only with special approval by the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Fast Track and Pilot Processes for New Program development are possible. Please contact the Academic Programs Office in advance.

In the standard proposal process, a campus must submit for trustee approval a proposed degree projection on the campus academic plan and, subsequent to trustee approval of the projection, the campus may begin developing a degree proposal that will be submitted to the Office of the Chancellor for system-level review and approval. In the standard process, proposals are to be submitted in the academic year preceding planned implementation.

The fast-track process shortens the time to implementation by allowing proposals to be submitted at the same time that the projection is proposed to the trustees. Fast-track proposals still undergo system-level review, and the fast-track does not move the proposal through an expedited review process either on campus or at the system level. We do recommend reading the standard process information first.

Only new degree programs are eligible for fast-track; degree options, certificates, minors, and sub-options do not qualify. To be proposed via fast-track, a degree program must meet all the following six criteria:

  1. can be offered at a high level of quality by the campus within the campus' existing resource base, or there is a demonstrated capacity to fund the program on a self-support basis;
  2. is not subject to specialized accreditation by an agency that is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or is currently offered as an option or sub-option that is already recognized and accredited by an appropriate specialized accrediting agency;
  3. can be adequately housed without a major capital outlay project;
  4. is consistent with all existing state and federal law and trustee policy;
  5. is either a bachelor's or master's degree program; and
  6. has been subject to a thorough campus review and approval process.

If the new program request meets all of the fast track process criteria, then a statement detailing why the proposal merits fast-track consideration should be prepared. The department or program shall prepare a comprehensive packet as described below.

Proposal Packet

Departments or programs will need to obtain department, college, and university approval for the proposal. The department or program shall prepare a comprehensive packet of materials, outlined through the Academic Program Development Qualtrics Form.

In advance of filling out this form, it would be helpful to prepare the following for submission, as all are required for submission:

Pilot Development Procedures

In support of the CSU tradition of experimentation in the planning and offering of degree programs, trustee policy states that a limited number of proposals that meet pilot program criteria may be implemented as five-year "pilot programs" without prior review and comment by the Office of the Chancellor. Only new degree programs are eligible for pilot status; degree options, certificates, minors, and sub-options do not qualify. To qualify, pilot degree programs must meet all of the following six criteria:

  1. can be offered at a high level of quality by the campus within the campus' existing resource base, or there is a demonstrated capacity to fund the program on a self-support basis;
  2. is not subject to specialized accreditation by an agency that is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or is currently offered as an option or sub-option that is already recognized and accredited by an appropriate specialized accrediting agency;
  3. can be adequately housed without a major capital outlay project;
  4. is consistent with all existing state and federal law and trustee policy;
  5. is either a bachelor's or master's degree program; and
  6. has been subject to a thorough campus review and approval process.

Departments or programs wishing to gain approval for a pilot program need to conform to the following:

  1. Prior to implementation, the campus is obligated to
    • a) notify the CSU Office of the Chancellor of plans to establish the program,
    • b) to provide a program description and list of curricular requirements, and
    • c) confirm that each of the six pilot criteria apply to the pilot program.
  2. Although CSU Office of the Chancellor approval is not required, a pilot program must be acknowledged by the CSU Office of the Chancellor before the program is implemented.
  3. A campus may implement a pilot program without first proposing the projection on the campus Academic Plan. In such cases, the program will be identified as a pilot program in the next annual update of the campus Academic Plan.

A pilot program is authorized to operate only for five years. If no further action is taken by the end of the five years, no new students may be admitted to the pilot program. In the event of the termination of a pilot program, the campus must make appropriate arrangements to allow students already enrolled to complete the program. The department or program shall prepare a comprehensive packet of outlined through the Academic Program Development Qualtrics Form.

In advance of filling out this form, it would be helpful to prepare the following for submission, as all are required for submission:

Pilot Conversion Procedures

For a pilot program to continue beyond the five-year limit, the department or program must prepare a standard proposal using the CSU Office of the Chancellor template to convert the program from a pilot to regular status. To qualify for conversion to regular program status and approval to continue to operate indefinitely, all of the following conditions must be met:

  1. The campus committed the resources necessary to maintain the program beyond five years.
  2. A thorough program evaluation (including an onsite review by one or more external experts in the field) showing the program to be of high quality; to be attractive to students; and to produce graduates attractive to prospective employers and/or graduate programs, as appropriate.
  3. Approval by the CSU Office of the Chancellor, Board of Trustees.

Departments or programs will need to obtain department, college, and university approval for the proposal. The department or program shall prepare a comprehensive packet of materials, outlined through the Academic Program Development Qualtrics Form.

In advance of filling out this form, it would be helpful to prepare the following for submission, as all are required for submission:

 

 

 

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Please use the current version of the CSU's Degree Program Proposal Template (DOC).

CSULB Tips for Completing the CSU Degree Program Proposal Template

  • When asked for the full and exact degree designation and title: if this is a request to change a current program, as in "Elevation of an Option or Concentration to a Full Degree Program," list the Current Degree Designation and Title, followed by the Proposed Degree Designation and Title.
  • When asked for a statement from the appropriate campus administrative authority that the addition of this program supports the campus mission and will not impede the successful operation and growth of existing academic programs: the proposal should include a statement from the dean and then the appropriate administrator in the Office of the Provost cover letter will serve as endorsement.
  • WASC approval is needed for a Substantive Change: e.g., when 50% or more of a degree program will be offered via distance learning technology or at a site more than 25 miles from the home campus. Another example is for a structural change: when we want to offer a new degree program (such as the Ed.D.) at a level we have never offered before. Joint doctorates must also go through this process.
  • When asked for "Proposed Classification of Instructional Programs and CSU Degree Program Code (Note: this is optional)": The CSU Office of the Chancellor is offering the department the opportunity to select the best-suited codes for reporting purposes, both internally (CSU Degree Program Code) and on a national level (CIP Code). The CSU Degree Program Codes are already paired with a CIP code as referenced on the Program Code chart accessed in the template, but if you are not satisfied with the choices available on that chart, you may be able to be more specific with the CIP code. If you select a new CIP code, the CSU Office of the Chancellor will assign an appropriate Program Code to go with it. If you choose not to select codes, then it will be done for you at the CSU Office of the Chancellor. If you need assistance with either code list, contact the Office of Academic Programs and Articulation (AS 124, x. 5-8221).
  • Under the heading "Existing Support Resources for the Proposed Degree Major Program": For all proposed undergraduate degree programs, a minimum of three full-time faculty members with the appropriate terminal degree should be on the program staff. A CV is not needed.