Curriculum Resources

We recommend you submit requests as early in the academic year as possible.

October 12 is the deadline to turn in requests to the University Curriculum Committee that require approval by the Chancellor or State Board of Higher Education. These requests include: new courses with new programs; title changes (department, degree, prefix); program inactivations or terminations.

December 31 is the deadline to turn in requests to the University Curriculum Committee for all other curriculum changes that require University Senate approval. Contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions.

The following committees and review groups typically meet in the cycle below.

• School of Graduate Studies Committee: meets weekly during the academic year.
• University Senate Curriculum Committee: meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month during the academic year.
• University Senate: meets every first Thursday of the month during the academic year.
• NDUS Academic Affairs Council: meets every first Wednesday of the month during the academic year; curriculum agenda is variable.
• NDUS Chancellor's Cabinet: typically meets once per month during the academic year; curriculum agenda is variable.
• NDUS Academic & Student Affairs Committee: typically meets once per month; curriculum agenda is variable; may not review curriculum requests during the summer months.
• State Board of Higher Education: meets once per month; curriculum agenda is variable; may not review curriculum requests during the summer months.

Please note that at the NDUS and SBHE level, curriculum requests may not be on the agenda during each monthly meeting.

Complete this process to propose a new program. This includes doctorates, masters, majors, minors, and certificates programs and degrees.

New Program Exploration Phase

The New Program Exploration form is found on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage in the Program Management Form section. The first level of review provided by the academic deans. This step allows the deans identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, review for potential program duplication, and to verify the program fundamentally advances the mission of the University.

Steps to complete the form are as follows.

1. Select “Propose New Program”
2. Proposal Type is “New Program Exploration”
3. Complete the form
4. “Save & Submit” the form when you are ready to initiate the review process

The New Program Exploration requires review from the following:

• Academic Deans
• Department Chair
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Academic Affairs Council
• Chancellor’s Cabinet
• Approval from the Chancellor will be announced to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, a sub-committee for the State Board of Higher Education

You will receive formal notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS.

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

New Program Request Phase

If the New Program Exploration is approved by the Chancellor’s Cabinet, you may begin the New Program Request process. The New Program Request form is found on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage in the Program Management Form section. Please note that you have two years from the date of Stage I approval to submit a New Program Request request to NDUS.

Steps to complete the form are as follow.

1. Select “Propose New Program”
2. Proposal Type is “New Program Request”
3. Complete the form. Information about the New Program Request is available on the NDUS website
4. “Save & Submit” the form when you are ready to initiate the review process

The New Program Request requires review from the following:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Academic Affairs Cabinet
• Chancellor’s Cabinet
• Academic and Student Affairs Committee
• State Board of Higher Education

You will receive notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS.

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Applicable SBHE Policy: 403.1 Program Approval

Complete this process for title changes for departments, degrees, programs, majors, minors, and certificates.

Access a Miscellaneous Management Form found on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the form are as follows.

1. Select “Propose New Misc”
2. Select the appropriate type of title change from the drop-down options
3. Select the appropriate College/School
4. Select the appropriate Department
5. Input the current title
6. Input the proposed title
7. Indicate whether the request is for the undergraduate or graduate level
8. Attach supporting documentation if applicable.
9. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

Title changes requires review from the following:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Chancellor’s Cabinet (review stops at the Chancellor’s Cabinet for major, minor, and certificate title changes)
• Academic and Student Affairs Committee
• State Board of Higher Education

You will receive notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS.

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Complete this process to place programs including degrees, majors, minors, and certificates on inactive status.

Access the Program Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Search for the program you wish to place on inactive status. Instructions for searching are listed above the search bar
2. Select the program
3. Select the red “Deactivate Program” button on the left side of the page
4. In the Change Request section, select the “Inactivation” option
5. Complete the form and include justification for the request
6. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

Placing a program on inactive status requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Academic Affairs Council
• Chancellor’s Cabinet (the Chancellor announces the action to the State Board of Higher Education’s Academic & Student Affairs Committee)

You will receive notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS.

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Notes:

• If students are currently enrolled in the program, please describe the plan to accommodate the students.
• Per SBHE Policy 403.1.3, not later than three years after the program is placed on inactive status, the institution must reinstate the program, present the program for termination, or notify the Chancellor of its intent to continue inactive status, which may continue for up to three additional years. Any change in program status will require the respective department to complete the appropriate CourseLeaf form to initiate the review process.

Applicable SBHE Policy: 403.1.3 Inactive Programs

Complete this process to terminate a program, including degrees, majors, minors, and certificates.

Access the Program Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Search for the program you wish to terminate. Instructions for searching are listed above the search bar
2. Select the program
3. Select the red “Deactivate Program” button on the left side of the page
4. In the Change Request section, select the “Terminate” option
5. Complete the form and include justification for the request
6. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

Termination requests requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs
• Academic Affairs Council
• Chancellor’s Cabinet
• Academic & Student Affairs Committee
• State Board of Higher Education

You will receive notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS regarding State Board of Higher Education action.

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Applicable SHBE Policy: 403.1.1 Program Termination

Complete this process to propose an existing program for an online or distance format. This process is NOT necessary for any new program requests submitted AFTER January 1, 2019. Those new programs will be automatically approved for both traditional and distance delivery.

Access the Program Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Select “Propose New Program”
2. Proposal Type is “Change To Academic Program Degree Type – Online/distance approval for existing programs”
3. Complete the form
4. Select “Save & Submit” when you’re ready to initiate the review process

Approval to offer a program via distance delivery requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Academic Affairs Council
• Chancellor’s Cabinet

You will receive notification through email from the Office of the Provost & VPAA once final notification is received from NDUS regarding State Board of Higher Education action.

Applicable SBHE Policy: 404.1 Delivery Format Approval for Credit Activities

Complete this process to request a new course.

Access the Course Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Select “Propose New Course”
2. Complete the form
3. Attach appropriate documents which include a copy of the syllabus and letters of support if the title or the content of the course could be attributed to more than one program or department
4. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

A new course proposal requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Reminder: New courses may affect program requirements and/or four-year plan. Program changes and four-year plan changes can be submitted using the Program Management Form.

Complete this process to delete a course.

Access the Course Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Within the Course Management Form page, select “All Courses” on the drop-down on the right side of the page
2. Search for the course. Instructions for searching are listed above the search bar
3. Search for the course you wish to delete.
4. Select the course
5. Select the red “Deactivate” button on the left side of the page
6. Complete the form
7. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

A course deletion requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate
• Vice President for Academic Affairs

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Reminder: Course deletions may affect program requirements and/or four-year plan. Program changes and four-year plan changes can be submitted using the Program Management Form.

Complete this process to propose a change to a program, such as the program requirements.

Submit the Program Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms website.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Within the Program Management page, select “Added Programs” in the drop-down on the right side of the page
2. Search for the program you wish to make changes to. Instructions for searching are listed above the search bar
3. Within the search results, select the program
4. Select the green “Edit Program” button on the right side of the page
5. Make the appropriate changes
6. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

Program changes require the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Curriculum Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.

Complete this process to make minor changes to an existing course such as amendments to the pre- or co-requisites, the number of credits, the frequency of offering, or minor edits in the course description or title.

Submit the Course Management Form on the Curriculum Committee Forms webpage.

Steps to complete the request are as follows.

1. Within the Course Management Form page, select “All Courses” on the drop-down on the right side of the page
2. Search for the course
3. Within the search results, select the course you wish to change
4. Select the green “Edit Course” button on the right side of the page
5. Make the appropriate changes (changes are reflected in red or green font and strikethrough text after changes have been saved)
6. Select “Save & Submit” when you are ready to initiate the review process

A program change requires the following levels of review:

• Department
• College/School Committee
• College/School Dean
• Graduate Committee, if applicable
• Graduate Dean, if applicable
• University Curriculum Committee
• University Senate

The status of your request may be monitored through the “In Workflow” and “Approval Path” sections of the CourseLeaf request.