University of North Florida
Request to Plan (RTP)
New Academic Degree/Major
The development of a new degree program at UNF is governed by the New Degree / Major
Programs (2.0040P) policy of the university. This policy states that “Each proposal for a new
degree or major must demonstrate that the degree/major will fit within the mission of the
institution, has sufficient need to justify it being added to the University's curriculum, and that
the resources are available to ensure the quality of the program. In addition the department
presenting the proposal must demonstrate that the degree/major will follow acceptable
professional standards for the discipline.”
If not yet on the Master Plan, begin with in-depth conversations and planning at the program,
department and college levels to ensure that the proposed degree/major is indeed integrated
into the strategic plan and priorities of both the department and college. If the department
and the college dean support the proposed degree/program, proceed with requesting that the
program be added to the master plan.
Requests to Plan (RTP) are received twice each year on February 1 and September 1.
Process
1. Program faculty and/or department chair complete this proposal in its entirety. Pages
2-5 will be shared with the Academic Program Coordination committee of the Council of
Academic Vice-Presidents. This group is charged to review all pre-proposals in the state
system for, among other things, duplication of academic programs.
2. Proposal is to be reviewed by the department chair and the college dean. Both the
department chair and the college dean are to complete the appropriate section on this
proposal seeking their support.
3. Once approved at the college level, the proposal is to be scanned (with required
signatures and emailed to either the Dean of the Graduate School (for graduate
programs) or the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (for undergraduate programs).
4. Following a review of the proposal, the proposal is presented to the Council of Deans for
review and recommendation to the Provost.
5. If the Provost recommends continued consideration, the RTP will be submitted to the
Academic Program Coordination committee of the Council of Academic Vice-Presidents
for review. Following this review, if there are no concerns noted at the state level, the
program will be added to the master plan.
6. If approved, the department chair and/or college dean may then proceed to work with
faculty on the development of the full new degree proposal in accordance with the
university’s policy on New Degree/Major Programs (Policy 2.0040P).
New Academic Degree Program Authorization
Pre-Proposal Form
New Academic Program Pre-Proposal Process
New academic program pre-proposals are initiated and developed by the faculty. Approval of
the pre-proposal must be obtained from department chairs and college deans or equivalent
administrators before submission for Academic Affairs level review and consideration for inclusion
in the University’s Annual Work Plan.
Pre-proposal Application Form
PROGRAM PROPOSAL INFORMATON
TYPE/PRINT CLEARLY
Institution
Degree Program Title (e.g. M.A. in Biology)
CIP Code
Proposed Mode of Delivery (% online if
applicable)
Enrollment Projections (FTE) : Year 1 and Year 5
Year 1:
Year 5:
Proposed Implementation Date (e.g. Fall 2012)
Other Programs in the SUS (including enrollment
and degrees):
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 2 of 9
Program Summary: (Briefly describe the proposed program)
1. Briefly summarize the overall rationale for the new academic program and consider the
following in your narrative:
 Ways in which the proposed program is distinct from others already offered in the
SUS (use the 4-digit CIP as a guide).
 How this program supports specific university and SUS missions.
 Collaborative opportunities with other SUS institutions as appropriate. (maximum
length 250 words)
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 3 of 9
Student Demand: (Describe the demand in the SUS for the proposed program)
2. Briefly describe the student demand for the proposed program and consider the following
in your narrative:
 Explain why a student would be interested in this program.
 Recognizing that programs at different levels may require different degrees
of justification (e.g., greater duplication may be warranted at undergraduate
and master’s degree levels), indicate why duplicative programs should be
warranted.
 Numbers of graduates and students enrolled in similar programs currently
offered online or face-to-face. For assistance, see the Board of Governors
interactive data source, http://www.flbog.edu/resources/iud/.
 As applicable: place-bound learners, underserved populations in the
field/profession, and professional credentials requirements. (maximum length
250 words)
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 4 of 9
Workforce and Economic Development Needs: (Describe how the proposed program
meets workforce and economic development needs)
3. Briefly describe how the proposed program meets workforce and economic development
needs and consider the following in your narrative:
 Impact of this program (local, state, national, and international).
 Impact of research funding.
 Changing of professional credential requirements. (maximum length 250 words)
I support the exploration of this degree proposal.
Earle C. Traynham
Print Provost’s Name
Provost’s Signature
Date
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 5 of 9
UNF Pre-proposal Supplemental Information Form
Proposal Information
Response
College
Department
Target date for first admission
(e.g. Fall 2012)
Total Proposed Credit Hours
Please provide a succinct, thorough response to each question.
1. What is the projected head count (HC) and FTE? (use the table below)
PROJECTED HEAD COUNT (HC) AND FTE
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
HC
FTE
HC
FTE
HC
FTE
HC
FTE
HC
FTE
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
FTE: UG (40 SCHs), GR (32 SCHs)
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 6 of 9
2. Provide information on the available resources and capacity for this program as well as
what resources will be needed to implement this new degree program / major:
a. Additional Faculty (please complete the table below)
ANTICIPATED FACULTY PARTICIPATION
Faculty
Code
A
B
Faculty Name
or "New Hire"
Highest Degree
Held
Academic
Discipline or
Speciality
John Smith, Ph.D.
Mathematics
Sally Jones,
Ph.D.
Physics
Name, Degree
Academic
Discipline
Name, Degree
Academic
Discipline
New Hire,
Degree
Academic
Discipline
New Hire,
Degree
Academic
Discipline
Rank
Asst. Prof.
Contract
Status
Tenure
Initial Date
for
Participation
in Program
Fall 2007
Professor
MYA
Fall 2010
Mos.
Contract
Year 1
9
%
Effort
Year
1
0.75
Mos.
Contract
Year 5
0
%
Effort
Year
5
0.00
9
0.75
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
0
0.00
Faculty Code: A – Existing line, B – New Line
b. What additional resources such as library and ITS resources will be needed? Has
the library and ITS been consulted?
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 7 of 9
c. How will the department or college resources be used to support this program?
d. Complete the Projected Costs table below.
PROJECTED COSTS
New Faculty
Salary &
Benefits
0
Library
0
Assistantships
0
Fellowships
0
Operating
Capital
Outlay
0
Other
Expenses
0
3. How do the strengths and interests of department faculty align with this proposal?
4. Describe how the proposed new degree program/major fits within the strategic plan of
the department and the college.
5. Describe how the proposed program is consistent with the current State University
System (SUS) Strategic Planning Goals. Identify which goals the program will directly
support and which goals the program will indirectly support. (See the SUS Strategic Plan
at http://www.flbog.edu/pressroom/strategicplan.php )
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Page 8 of 9
Chair / Dean Support
Department Chair support
(The department chair should provide a narrative support here for the development of this new
degree program).
[Insert response here]
Signature, Department Chair
Date
College Dean support
(The college dean should provide a narrative support here for the development of this new
degree program. Include a statement as to how the potential new FTE associated with this
program will impact the college’s and university’s targets).
[Insert response here]
Signature, Dean of the College
New Academic Program Pre-proposal Form (updated 10/28/14)
Date
Page 9 of 9