How to terminate degrees, majors, co-majors, minors, concentrations, or academic tracks

Requests to terminate a degree, major, co-major, minor, concentration or academic track will not require the submission of a Preliminary Proposal. However, discussion with the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies, the Graduate Dean or the Deputy Provost is advised prior to completing the proposal (use Form OP-4).

A. The initiating unit should prepare a proposal which provides a comprehensive description of the reasons for terminating the program and the effects on current students and programs. It should include an analysis of the proposed changes (e.g., purpose, need and relationship to mission) as well as a careful and thorough discussion of the more practical and technical issues (e.g., resources, curriculum, admissions, faculty and transition planning). It should contain all of the information necessary to allow reviewers to meaningfully evaluate the program and should provide all of the following information.

1) A detailed description of the rationale for terminating the program, including the following elements:

(a) Changes in the availability of qualified students and demand.
(b) Changes in qualifications of faculty to support the program
(d) Description of any special tuition or fee requirements.
(e) Enrollments, student credit hours, and degrees granted over the last five years, by campus or site.
(f) Description of employment opportunities for graduates of the program.
(h) Discussion of the quality of this program. Include qualitative and quantitative measures, and comparisons to comparable and aspirational programs.
(i) Include campus(es) where the program was offered.

2) The short- and long-term effects on other University programs, including increased or decreased demand for courses or services, loss or addition of students, student aid, Library, or computing resources, etc.

3) An analysis of the impact on space resources, including office, laboratory, and classroom space, must be included.

4) A detailed analysis of the impact of the proposed change(s) on staff and faculty personnel for the next three years, including information about the necessary reassignments of existing faculty and staff.

5) A five-year budget showing the marginal impact of the proposed change(s) on the budget of the units affected by the change, including:
(a) Net changes in tuition revenue and resulting instructional and non-instructional personnel and employee benefits per the enrollment based budget model.
(b) Indicate if any one-time or ongoing investments will be requested.
(c) A summary of financial increases, savings, or reallocations
(d) Non-financial requirements or savings in areas such as space, facilities, or equipment

6) A list of the faculty groups and relevant administrators who were consulted, summary of comments

7) Provide an implementation plan with detailed chronology. Include full description of impact on enrolled students (including students on leave or who have recently stopped out), describing options for, requirements to transfer to the new programs, time limits for completion and other procedures. Include draft copies of correspondence to be sent to students.

8) If this termination will also involve renaming, restructuring or closing departments, please provide a description of the changes involved. Also include a listing of all faculty, by seniority, in their current departments and in the proposed structure.

9) An executive summary of the proposal, not to exceed 2 pages.

B. If the dean of the school or college approves the proposal, 3 copies should be forwarded to one of the following:

1) If the proposal is for “change in academic programs and procedures affecting more than one college…” ‡ it shall be forwarded by the dean of the school or college to the Educational Programs and Policies Committee (EPPC) of the Faculty Senate and to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies.

2) If the proposal is for a graduate program, the dean will submit the proposal to Dean of the Graduate School for review by the Graduate Board.

3) If the proposal is for a professional program, the dean will submit the proposal to the Deputy Provost.

C. Representatives from the Provost’s Office will carefully review the plans and consult with other university offices as appropriate. These offices may include, but are not restricted to: the Libraries, Budget Office, Office of Planning and Policy Analysis, Office of Academic Records, Office of Space Planning, Student Financial Services (Financial Aid), Bursar’s Office, Administrative Computing and Academic Computing.

Once all issues have been resolved and a detailed transition plan has been prepared, the complete and final proposal will be forwarded to the Provost for review.

D. Upon approval by the Provost, the proposal will be transmitted to the President. The President may then recommend the proposal to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

E. If the Academic Affairs Committee recommends the new program, it will be presented to the full Board of Trustees at its next meeting. Termination of the program may only begin after the proposal has been approved by the Board of Trustees.