Steps required to change the name of an academic program at IUPUI
1. Proposals for changing the name of an academic program (degree, major, minor, or certificate) usually are
initiated by faculty in an academic unit. The first step in the process is for the dean of the academic unit to notify
the IUPUI Dean of the Faculties of the intention to proceed with a proposal for changing the name of the program.
2. When deemed appropriate by the proposing unit and the Dean of the Faculties, a proposal for change of
program name should be coordinated with deans of affected schools, including coordination with deans of
system-wide or core schools.
3. Review by the Graduate School is required for all graduate programs represented by disciplines within the
Graduate School. Professional programs (e.g., nursing, social work, etc.) do not require Graduate School approval.
4. Once the proposal has been approved by the requesting school’s faculty and dean, a completed copy of this
form should be sent to the IUPUI Dean of the Faculties with a cover letter requesting review and approval. The
academic unit should consult with the Office of the Registrar prior to submitting the proposal to determine
whether a change to the CIP code used to classify the program is still accurate or if a change to the code is
recommended.
5. The Dean of the Faculties Office will forward the proposal to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee
(APPC) for review and discussion. APPC shall review the proposal for any overlap with other campus units or
programs. Graduate programs will be forwarded to the Graduate Affairs Committee
6. The chairs of APPC or the Graduate Affairs may ask the originating unit to present the proposal at the next
regularly scheduled meetings of their committees.
7. Following review by APPC or the Graduate Affairs Committee, the proposal will be forwarded to the Dean of the
Faculties for approval.
8. If approved by the Dean of the Faculties, the proposal for a change of name for degree, major, or certificate is
forwarded to the Academic Leadership Council for approval (if an IU program). For Purdue programs, the proposal
is forwarded to the Associate Provost at Purdue-West Lafayette.
Changes in the name of a minor do not require approval beyond that of the Dean of the Faculties.
9. Following ALC approval (of IU programs), the change of name for a degree or certificate is reported to the
Trustees as an information item. In some cases it also is reported to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education
as an information item. A change of name for a major does not need additional action beyond ALC. See approval
matrix for additional details.
10. Following University-level approval, the Dean of the Faculties will send notification of approval to the dean of
the originating unit, Office of Communications and Marketing, the IUPUI Registrar, and the Director of Admissions
where the name of the program will be changed in the appropriate university systems.
12. The IUPUI Dean of the Faculties office, in concert with ALC, APPC, Graduate Affairs, and the Registrar, will
regularly review this process for evaluation of results, value to the institution and compliance with institutional
academic policies and procedures.
Approved by APPC 2/4/2011
Editorial updates 3/18/2011
Updated for new ALC form 8/23/2013