The first step in proposing a new academic program is to contact Jeff Boyer, Director of Assessment & Accreditation. He will work with you to:

1. determine the appropriate CIP code for the proposed academic program,
2. determine if approval from the Higher Learning Commission (NDSU's institutional accreditor) is required, and
3. generate a student labor market report from Lighcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass) that will be uploaded as a supporting document during the curricular review process.

The curricular review process for proposing new academic programs occurs in two distinct stages: the notice stage and the request stage. The first stage is the new academic program exploration notice. The goal of this stage is to announce the intent to offer an academic program not currently offered at NDSU. The second stage is the new academic program request. Both stages include the following approvals after the new program proposal is first initiated in CourseLeaf's Program Management module:

1. Department Chair or Head
2. College Curriculum Committee
3. College Dean
4. Graduate Council (for graduate programs)
5. University Curriculum Committee
6. Faculty Senate
7. Provost
8. NDUS Academic Affairs Council (AAC)
9. State Board of Higher Education (program requests only)

Each stage requires an additional form to be completed and uploaded as a supporting document along with the CourseLeaf proposal. Please upload the Word version (.docx) of the document to CourseLeaf.

1. Academic program exploration notice template
2. New academic program request template

After the notice stage is complete, RaNelle Ingalls, Associate Registrar, will contact the new program initiator to let them know that the proposal has moved to the request stage.

NOTE: If you are proposing an academic program that will confer a lesser credential in a discipline that has an existing higher-level credential (e.g., proposing a graduate certificate in a discipline that already has an existing master's degree or proposing an undergraduate minor or certificate in a discipline that already has an existing bachelor's degree), the curricular review process only includes steps 1-8 above (that is, it does not occur in 2 stages) and requires a different form, program-plan modification template, which should be completed and submitted as a supporting document along with the CourseLeaf proposal. Please let RaNelle know that you've submitted a program request for a lesser credential, so she can adjust the CourseLeaf workflow accordingly.

1. Contact Jeff Boyer for required information (see above).
2. Open the CourseLeaf Program Management module. You will need to authenticate using your NDSU electronic ID.
3. Click on the Propose New Program button. An electronic form will open in a new window.
4. Complete the proposal information in the electronic form using various drop-down fields, radio buttons, and text boxes.
5. Upload the required supporting documents, which include the Lightcast student/labor market report and the appropriate NDUS form (see above).
6. Upload any additional documents (for example, a letter of support from another department) that will be helpful as supporting documents.
7. Click on the Save Changes button if you plan to return and make additional changes.
8. Click on the Start Workflow button if the proposal is ready to begin the curricular review process.

Proposal initiators may access the CourseLeaf Program Management module at any time to see the workflow progress and approval path for the proposed academic program. Use the search feature to locate the proposed program, then click on the program within the table of search results. Workflow and approvals will appear on the right side of the CourseLeaf interface.