EBE REGULATION
ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND COURSE DEVELOPMENT
SECTION ONE: PURPOSE, ALIGNMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND ENFORCEMENT
1.01 The purpose of this regulation is to outline the process and procedure for creating new and revising existing academic programs, and creating and revising academic course offerings.
1.02 This regulation aligns with SACSCOC Standards 9.1 and 10.4.
1.03 Implementation and enforcement of this regulation is the responsibility of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
SECTION TWO: CREATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
2.01 New program requests may be initiated by a lead faculty member and must have the approval of the school’s dean.
2.02 New program requests must be submitted to the Curriculum Committee on the official Curriculum Committee Proposal Form (Exhibit EBE). The proposal form must be signed by the appropriate school dean at the time of submission.
2.03 Requests must be accompanied by a coherent rationale and, if applicable, advisory committee meeting minutes supporting the new program, job demand data, program transfer information, or other supporting documentation.
2.04 Requests must be submitted with the proposed program description, program learning outcomes, and course sequence.
2.05 Once the Curriculum Committee Chair and the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) approve a program, the VPAA will submit it to the Board of Trustees of the College for approval.
2.06 After a new program proposal is approved by the Board of Trustees of the College, the VPAA will submit it to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for approval as required.
2.07 The VPAA will then submit the required documentation to the SACSCOC liaison for submission to SACSCOC for approval, if required.
2.08 New programs cannot be implemented prior to THECB and SACSCOC approval. The academic catalog may list a proposed new program with the disclaimer stating “This program is subject to approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.”
2.09 New programs approved after the February Curriculum Committee meeting will not be published in the subsequent year’s academic catalog. These programs will be published as an addendum to the catalog.
2.10 Initiation of new programs must follow the SACSCOC policy implementation dates. Initiators of the request should work with the VPAA and SACSCOC liaison to determine submission dates for new programs.
2.10.01 For a substantive change requiring approval by the full SACSCOC Board of Trustees (which meets biannually), to be implemented after the date of the Board meeting, the submission deadlines are:
• March 15 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in June of the same calendar year, and
• September 1 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in December of the same calendar year.
2.10.02 For a substantive change requiring approval by the Executive Council of the Board of Trustees (which meets year-round), the submission deadlines are
• January 1 for changes to be implemented July 1 through December 31 of the same calendar year, and
• July 1 for changes to be implemented January 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year.
SECTION THREE: REVISION OF PROGRAMS OR COURSES
3.01 Program and course revisions may be initiated by a lead faculty member and must have the approval of the school’s dean.
3.02 Program and course revision requests must be submitted to the Curriculum Committee on the official Curriculum Committee Proposal Form (Exhibit EBE). The proposal form must be signed by the appropriate school dean at the time of submission.
3.03 Requests must be accompanied by a coherent rationale and, if applicable, advisory committee meeting minutes supporting the new program, job demand data, program transfer information, or other supporting documentation.
3.04 If the request is approved by a majority vote, the Curriculum Committee chair and the VPAA will sign the proposal form. Once approved, the VPAA will submit the program revision for the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), if applicable.
3.05 The VPAA will then submit a substantive change request to the SACSCOC liaison for submission to SACSCOC for approval if required.
3.06 Program revisions cannot be implemented prior to THECB and SACSCOC approval. The academic catalog may list a proposed new program with the disclaimer stating, “This program is subject to approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.”
3.07 Program revisions approved after the February Curriculum Committee meeting will not be published in the subsequent year’s academic catalog. These programs will be published as an addendum to the catalog.
3.08 Course revisions approved after the February Curriculum Committee meeting will not be published in the subsequent year’s academic catalog. They will be published in the following academic catalog.
3.09 Initiation of program and course revision must follow the SACSCOC policy implementation dates. Initiators of the request should work with the VPAA and SACSCOC liaison to determine submission dates for new programs.
3.09.01 For a substantive change requiring approval by the full SACSCOC Board of Trustees (which meets biannually), to be implemented after the date of the Board meeting, the submission deadlines are:
• March 15 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in June of the same calendar year, and
• September 1 for review at the Board’s biannual meeting in December of the same calendar year.
3.09.02 For a substantive change requiring approval by the Executive Council of the Board of Trustees (which meets year-round), the submission deadlines are
• January 1 for changes to be implemented July 1 through December 31 of the same calendar year, and
• July 1 for changes to be implemented January 1 through June 30 of the subsequent calendar year.
The Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for reviewing and updating this regulation. Policy reviews are made in accordance with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness Policy Tracking document.
Document History:
Adopted: 09/2024