The bill that established the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Act 188 of 1982, empowers PASSHE to create new undergraduate and graduate degree programs without being subject to the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education. The Chancellor’s Office will apply this authority by participating in the internal program approval processes.
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Chapter 1: Introduction
The bill that established the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Act 188 of 1982, empowers PASSHE to create new undergraduate and graduate degree programs without being subject to the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education. The Chancellor’s Office will apply this authority by participating in the internal program approval processes.
Chapter 2: Level I: New Graduate Degree Program and Major Revisions to Existing Programs
How to create a new program or make major changes to an existing program, such as title, degree designation, certification, addition or deletion of degree designation, track, emphasis, or minor where major exists.
Chapter 3: Level II: Multiple Revisions to Existing Programs
When you wish to change the total number of credits required for a degree, change four or more of the courses in a program, excluding nonrequired electives, or change 50 percent or more of total number of courses of a program.
Chapter 4: Level II: New Certificate of Recognition Programs
A Certificate of Record typically will be designed for students who do not intend to pursue graduate degrees. The COR results in a certificate indicating the completion of a sequence of specialized courses, and it can be cited on a student’s résumé.
Chapter 5: Level III: Minor Revisions to Existing Programs
Level III proposals are to be submitted for those program changes that are not covered by Level I or Level II proposals, except for deletions of tracks or programs, which is covered in Chapter 6.
Chapter 6: Deletions
Departments should regularly delete those courses that have not been offered during the past five years. Deletions of programs, tracks, or courses may also be necessary as the needs of a particular discipline evolve or as accrediting agencies dictate such revisions.
Chapter 7: Variability in Delivery of Graduate Programs
A wealth of scholarship and practice exists at IUP in the area of graduate program delivery methods, including distance education, off-campus education, external degree programs, extension programs, nontraditional programs, programs serving special graduate populations, and interinstitutional offerings or agreements.
Chapter 8: Reactivation of Graduate Programs Placed in Moratorium/Inactive Status
A reactivation request must be made within three calendar years after the program has been placed in moratorium. If any program changes are to be made, appropriate program revision requests should be submitted along with the reactivation proposal.
Chapter 9: Overview Graduate Course Proposals
For graduate program proposals involving new or revised courses, complete individual course proposals are required for each course and must be appended to the program proposal.
Chapter 10: New Course Proposals and Major Course Revisions
In general, a major course revision is required when there is substantive change to the objectives, content, or delivery of a Senate-approved course.
Chapter 11: Minor Course Revisions
A minor course revision is submitted for changes in course name, course number, catalog description, or prerequisites.
Chapter 12: Dual-Level and Cross-Listing Courses
Dual-level courses are meant to serve two audiences simultaneously—junior or senior undergraduates and graduate students.
Chapter 13: Special Topics Courses
The designation of a course as Special Topics is used when a course is in the experimental stage of development or when a department offers a course as a special topic when the subject for the course has a short life span (for example, when a visiting professor is teaching in the department).
Chapter 14: Distance Education
In accordance with the definition, this policy applies to all courses where more than one-third of the contact hours are conducted via distance education technologies and the students are located at remote sites with little or no required presence in a traditional classroom setting on an IUP campus. Includes the Distance Education Review Form and the Procedure to Prepare Existing Course for Distance Education Format Form.
Appendices
Appendix A
Consists of two forms:
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Appendix B: Mission Statements
Appendix C: Assessing Student Learning Outcomes
Appendix D: Graduate Curriculum Authorization Form
Appendix E: Suggested Syllabus of Record Format
