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Office of Planning and Assessment
Academic Program Planning and Substantive Change
All departments and units planning to change their curriculum need to be aware of the required internal and external reporting procedures. The process begins when “UNCG Forms” or “UNC Policy Appendices” are submitted to request the various changes. Information on what form or appendix to use and what type of notifications or approvals are necessary can be found in the UNCG Curriculum Guide.
Usually, but not always, the “forms” found in the UNCG Curriculum Guide are used to make changes requiring internal approval only. The “appendices” from The University of North Carolina Policy on Academic Program Planning (400.1) are used when some type of external notification or approval is required.
All external reporting occurs after the internal approval process is complete. The Office of Planning and Assessment is responsible for submitting internally approved documents to UNC General Administration and Southern Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as required. The Office of Financial Aid submits all off-campus locations and certificate programs eligible for financial aid to the United States Department of Education once approval has been obtained from SACSCOC.
Additionally, licensure programs and 2+ programs involve external reporting. The time involved to complete the approval process depends on the nature of the change. The Program Planning Questionnaire provides
guidance on what processes will be involved in securing approval for a particular type of new program and an
estimate of how long these processes will take.
A program or initiative cannot be implemented until UNCG has received any required written acceptance of notification or approval from the President of SACSCOC. Please be aware that changes to the Banner system or to the Bulletins will be made only after the appropriate internal and external approvals have been obtained. Because required responses are not always received within the predicted time frame, it is best not to advertise the availability of programs until the Office of Planning and Assessment notifies program leadership that appropriate acceptances or approvals have been received. Any pre-approval advertisements or references to a program must make it clear that the availability of the program is “pending SACSCOC approval” and that students cannot be enrolled in the program until this approval has been received.
Substantive Change Resources
Academic Program Planning Resources
- UNCG Curriculum Guide
- Academic Program Planning Questionnaire
- UNC General Administration’s Policy on Academic Program Planning (400.1)
- Forms for Planning, Establishing, and Discontinuing Academic Programs