Review and Revision
of Academic Program Planning
March 6, 2008
Dr. Alan Mabe
Vice President
for Academic Planning
and University-School Programs
Board of Governors’ Authority
in Degree Program Approval
The Board of Governors shall determine the functions,
educational activities, and academic programs of the
constituent institutions. The Board shall also determine
the type of degrees to be awarded by each constituent
institution…The Board, after giving adequate notice to the
affected institutional board of trustees and affording it an
opportunity to be heard, shall have the authority to
withdraw approval of any existing program if it appears
that the program is unproductive, excessively costly, or
unnecessarily duplicative.
[G.S. 116-11(3)]
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and
Programs’ Authority in Degree Program Approval
The Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and
Programs shall consist of nine voting members. It shall
receive the advice and recommendations of the president
and make recommendations to the Board in all areas
pertaining to the development of a coordinated system of
higher education in North Carolina, including: (a) the
definition of mission and assignment of functions of each
constituent institution; (b) the review of requests for the
initiation of new degree programs and recommendations
for the termination of existing programs….
[Chapter III, Section 301C]
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Current Degree Program Inventory
Degree Level
Total
Baccalaureate
1,073
Master’s
719
Intermediate
13
Doctoral
207
First Professional
TOTAL
9
2,021
1st-Professional
Degrees
Doctoral
Degrees
PhD
179
MD
2
EdD
18
JD
2
DrPH
6
LLB
1
AuD
1
DVM
1
DPT
2
DDS
2
DMA
1
PharmD
1
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Changes in Academic Program Inventory
since 1972: Programs Established
Program Area
Bachelor's
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Architecture & Environmental Design
Area Studies
Biological Sciences
Business and Management
Communications
Computer & Information Sciences
Education
Engineering
Fine and Applied Arts
Foreign Languages
Health Professions
Home Economics
Law
Letters
Library Science
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Public Affairs & Services
Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
TOTAL
Master's 1st-Prof
6
3
15
8
22
13
13
32
25
20
5
28
3
3
1
4
15
19
3
16
66
17
9
4
30
6
12
7
6
14
3
29
19
25
7
11
5
28
13
13
301
277
Doctoral
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
3
4
7
10
5
19
39
44
17
30
109
51
30
9
79
9
0
21
1
15
28
11
60
36
45
87
668*
16
3
1
1
11
9
1
3
3
TOTAL
18
[* Plus 1 Intermediate (CAS or EDS) program, for a 669 total of all programs]
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Changes in Academic Program Inventory
since 1972: Programs Discontinued
Program Area
Bachelor's
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Architecture & Environmental Design
Area Studies
Biological Sciences
Business and Management
Communications
Computer & Information Sciences
Education
Engineering
Fine and Applied Arts
Foreign Languages
Health Professions
Home Economics
Law
Letters
Library Science
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Psychology
Public Affairs & Services
Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
TOTAL
5
2
7
14
4
Master's 1st-Prof
2
1
1
3
2
1
76
12
9
11
21
8
1
4
2
2
8
1
5
17
8
98
3
4
13
5
5
217
180
1
Doctoral
2
3
1
1
1
2
3
4
8
10
2
13
2
1
1
11
TOTAL
7
1
3
13
16
5
0
177
16
13
25
27
15
1
7
2
6
16
12
7
30
10
409*
[* Plus 18 AA, 1 AAS, and 80 CAS & EDS programs, for a 508 total of all programs]
The University of North Carolina General Administration
UNC-GA Academic Planning/ARM-wmd/03-6-2008
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Impact of UNC Tomorrow
on Academic Program Planning
UNC should examine the missions of its 17 constituent institutions in
the light of state and regional needs from a “system” perspective so
that the programs and resources of all institutions serve the State
and its regions in a manner that complements each other, maximizes
resources, and avoids unnecessary duplication.
UNC should review the academic planning process to ensure that the
needs of North Carolina are fully considered in establishing and
discontinuing degree programs.
UNC should continue to seek an efficient use of available resources
in the fulfillment of its mission.
UNC should encourage and facilitate interdisciplinary and interinstitutional collaboration among its institutions.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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General Guidelines
for Degree Program Assessment
State needs will be the primary consideration in program
development and discontinuation.
Degree program proposals for high-need areas will have priority over
other programs.
All levels should become more nimble, efficient, and responsive.
Online degree offerings are to be expanded and integrated into the
consideration of program duplication.
The University must remain committed to excellence.
The broader values of the University set the context for program
planning.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Guidelines
for General Administration
(slide 1 of 2)
Proactively and regularly scan for degree program needs that lead to new, expanded,
jointly developed, revised, or discontinued academic programs.
Track workforce needs and anticipate areas for new degrees or expansion of existing
programs to meet new or growing needs.
Do an annual scan of state needs and produce an annual high-needs list and a revised
response plan.
Develop a proposed systematic list of programs for online delivery and a plan for
seeking campus development of the programs.
Develop a mechanism to scan for underserved regions of the State and a way to
address the findings.
When needs are identified, use a formal or informal RFP process for seeking a campus
or campuses to develop or expand a program.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Guidelines
for General Administration
(slide 2 of 2)
Promote collaboration in developing or expanding degree programs.
Continue the study of productivity of all programs and newly established programs.
Develop new methodology for addressing duplication, whether regarding new degree
proposals or existing degrees.
Develop standards for campuses’ periodic reviews for quality and responsiveness to
regional and state needs (utilize campus best practices).
Review internal GA processes for efficiency and speed of response.
The University must balance nimbleness and responsiveness with due diligence and a
state-wide perspective.
Review and revise standards for offering degree programs at various levels and by
various methodologies.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Guidelines
for Campuses
Campuses are to be demand-driven and not so much internally driven.
Identified state and regional needs (new or expanded) will be the key driver for
academic program development.
Review and develop ways to make campus program development processes more
efficient and less time consuming.
Provide an avenue to nimbleness in program response at the campus level.
Include expansion of existing programs and collaboration as key considerations in
the review process for proposed new degree programs.
Include consideration of whether there are degree programs that could be
discontinued and resources reallocated as part of the justification for a proposal to
establish a new degree program.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Current Process:
Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs
1. Campus notifies GA by posting online their intent to plan a new
degree program.
2. After appropriate planning and endorsement by the campus, the
proposal for establishment is transmitted to GA.
3. GA analyzes the proposal and discusses any campus concerns
that are expressed.
4. The focus is on student demand for program, jobs for graduates,
and resources for the program.
5. GA gives recommendation to Educational Planning Committee.
6. Educational Planning Committee acts and recommends to BOG.
7. BOG acts on program proposal.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Current Process:
Doctoral and First-Professional Planning
1. Program is proposed to GA for planning; proposal is normally
reviewed internally but outside reviews are sometimes sought.
2. Proposal is taken to University Graduate Council for recommendation;
presentation is made by campus’s representatives.
3. GA gives recommendation to Educational Planning Committee.
4. Educational Planning Committee takes action on the proposal.
5. If the program is approved for planning, then the campus can develop
a plan to establish it.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Current Process:
Doctoral and First-Professional Establishment
1. Proposal to establish a new program comes to GA.
2. Proposal is reviewed internally and then by two external reviewers.
3. A summary of reviews is presented to campus (outside reviews masked).
4. Campus representatives make presentation to University Graduate Council for
recommendation.
5. GA reviews the program in all stages in terms of students for the program, jobs
for graduates, quality of faculty and research level, appropriateness for campus,
similar programs in the system, and resources for the program.
6. GA makes recommendation to Educational Planning Committee.
7. Educational Planning Committee makes recommendation to BOG; BOG acts.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
UNC-GA Academic Planning/ARM-wmd/03-6-2008
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Proposed Changes
to Academic Program Planning
GA will have a proactive responsibility for determining the need for
new degree programs.
System priorities for program development will be identified on a
periodic basis.
Priorities for the process will be identified.
Productivity, quality, and effectiveness of programs will be assessed
regularly for continuation and discontinuation.
The process will be speeded up to be nimble and responsive, yet
compatible with due diligence for meeting state needs.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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General Administration’s
Proactive Responsibility
Needs assessments will be done for new degree programs in which
data will be examined to establish need and productivity, with attention
to number and percent that need to be produced in the State and
number and percent that need to be produced by public universities.
GA commissions needs assessments.
GA assembles disciplinary roundtables for review of select areas.
GA uses reviews by disciplinary experts, including on-site visits by
disciplinary experts.
GA circulates degree proposals to all campuses for review in terms of
expansion and collaboration.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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System Priority
for Program Development
Assessment of regional and statewide needs will be done periodically.
Based on state needs, priorities will be established for the development
of degree programs: expanded programs, new programs, modified
programs.
Priority needs will be fully met in program development.
In high-need areas, priorities will be addressed beyond degree
offerings; for example, professional development in teacher education,
or continuing medical education
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Priorities for the Process Will Be Identified
Normally the following will have priority in the academic program
planning process:
•
Identified high-need degree programs
•
Expanding a degree program
•
Establishing a joint degree program
•
Collaborating in the offering of a degree program
•
Availability of an online degree program
•
Development of an online degree program
The University of North Carolina General Administration
UNC-GA Academic Planning/ARM-wmd/03-6-2008
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Productivity, Quality, and Effectiveness of Programs Will Be
Assessed Regularly for Continuation and Discontinuation
GA will continue periodic productivity reviews.
GA will collaborate with campuses to establish the standards for periodic
campus-based reviews for productivity, effectiveness, and quality of
programs by degree level.
GA will explore replacing multiple low-enrolled programs with one or
more online degree programs.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
UNC-GA Academic Planning/ARM-wmd/03-6-2008
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Speed Up the Process to be Nimble and Responsive, yet
Compatible with Due Diligence for Meeting State Needs
Review GA process for responsiveness.
Campuses review their processes to streamline them compatible with
preserving their faculty’s role in curriculum decision making.
Explore experimental degree programs that would provide latitude for
campus experimentation with new programs at bachelor’s and master’s
levels.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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UNC’s Doctoral-Granting Universities
Research Universities (very high research activity)
Research Universities (high research activity)
Doctoral/Research Universities
NCSU
UNC-CH
NCA&T
UNCG
ECU
UNCC
New Carnegie Basic Classification (March 2006)
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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UNC’s Master’s Colleges and Universities
ASU
Master’s Colleges & Universities (larger programs)
NCCU
UNCW
WCU
Master’s Colleges & Universities (medium programs)
Master’s Colleges & Universities (smaller programs)
UNCP
FSU
WSSU
New Carnegie Basic Classification (March 2006)
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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UNC’s Baccalaureate Colleges
and Special Focus Institution
Baccalaureate Colleges (diverse fields)
ECSU
Baccalaureate Colleges (arts and sciences)
UNCA
Special Focus Inst’s (schools of art, music, & design)
NCSA
New Carnegie Basic Classification (March 2006)
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Number of UNC Degrees Granted in 2006-07
1st-Prof
Doctoral
Master’s
Bacc
TOTAL
75
411
1,457
4,601
6,544
601
512
1,871
3,787
6,771
NCA&T
0
6
324
1,321
1,651
UNCG
0
74
915
2,199
3,188
60
59
1,377
3,402
4,898
UNCC
0
48
976
3,118
4,142
ASU
0
3
639
2,425
3,067
NCCU
123
0
348
774
1,245
UNCW
0
1
348
2,268
2,617
WCU
0
13
496
1,255
1,764
UNCP
0
0
228
683
911
FSU
0
2
162
685
849
WSSU
0
0
77
747
824
Baccalaureate (diverse)
ECSU
0
0
18
350
368
Baccalaureate (arts & sciences)
UNCA
0
0
4
578
582
Special Focus
NCSA
0
0
40
131
171
859
1,129
9,280
28,324
39,592
Carnegie Classification
Research (very high)
Research (high)
Doctoral/Research
Master’s (larger)
Master’s (medium)
Master’s (smaller)
Institution
NCSU
UNC-CH
ECU
TOTAL
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Number of Doctoral and First-Professional
Degree Programs, by Campus
Campus
Doctoral
ASU
1
ECU
17
FSU
1
NCA&T
5
1st-Professional
2
2
NCCU
NCSU
61
1
UNC-CH
75
4
UNCC
18
UNCG
26
UNCW
2
WCU
1
TOTAL
207
9
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Impact on Development of Doctoral Programs
General priorities for all programs hold for doctoral programs:
 Identifying high-need degree programs
 Expanding a degree program
 Establishing a joint degree program
 Collaborating in the offering of a degree program
 Availability of an online degree program (limited)
 Development of an online degree program (limited)
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Differentiation among Doctorates
Distinguish among types:
 Research
 First-professional
 Applied
 Clinical
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Long-Range Planning
for Doctoral Programs
Establish rolling five-year period for campus development at the
doctoral level.
Do system review by discipline to establish state-wide and
regional needs.
Reflect expansion, collaboration, and online in meeting identified
needs.
Integrate analysis of types of public institutions needed in North
Carolina.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Establish Conditions for
Institutional Readiness for Doctoral-level Work
Identify readiness for different levels of degree
activity.
•Collaborate with another campus.
•Do a joint degree with another campus.
•Applied degree: 1-3; more than three
•Research degree: 1-3; more than three
The University of North Carolina General Administration
UNC-GA Academic Planning/ARM-wmd/03-6-2008
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Second Draft
of Proposed BOG Policy Statement
(slide 1 of 3)
UNC General Administration and the constituent universities are to be guided in their
academic degree program development and discontinuation activities by the needs of the
people of North Carolina. Processes and procedures are to be organized to be nimble,
efficient, and responsive to those needs at all levels.
UNC General Administration will assume a lead role in determining state needs that require
an academic program response and formulating the best ways to meet these needs. In this
role, General Administration will develop procedures to regularly review workforce needs
and, on an annual basis, determine the high-need areas in the State and coordinate a
response to those identified needs in collaboration with the campuses. Constituent
institutions should review regional as well a state-wide needs and plan a response for
meeting those needs in collaboration with General Administration. In General
Administration’s role of reviewing for unmet state needs, it is to pay special attention to
assessing whether all regions of the state are adequately served by the University.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Second Draft
of Proposed BOG Policy Statement
(slide 2 of 3)
General Administration should take the lead, in collaboration with the campuses, in
expanding the availability of online degree and other programs that can open access to
higher education to more people from high school and college students to life-long learners
of any age. As the availability of online offerings matures, General Administration should
incorporate online offerings into the assessments regarding program duplication and develop
new methodologies for dealing with program duplication.
In program development and discontinuation activities at all levels, expansion of existing
programs and collaboration among institutions should be carefully integrated into the
assessment of the best option to pursue and will normally have priority. General
Administration will share all proposals for program establishment or discontinuation with the
campuses for comment and recommendations for expansion or collaboration. Campuses
should regularly review the priority of their offerings and be prepared to discontinue
programs that no longer meet any significant need. Consideration of whether there are
degree programs that could be discontinued and resources reallocated will be part of the
justification for a proposal to establish a new degree program.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Second Draft
of Proposed BOG Policy Statement
(slide 3 of 3)
General Administration will be responsible for ongoing reviews of quality and productivity of
programs, though the ultimate responsibility for quality, efficiency, and productivity rests at
the campus level. In this regard, General Administration will be responsible for periodic
reviews to determine whether productivity and quality review processes are effectively being
followed on the campuses. General Administration should also review and revise standards
for offering degree program at various levels and by various methodologies.
The University must balance nimbleness and responsiveness with due diligence and a state wide perspective.
It is understood that in serving the needs of the people of North Carolina the University will
be serving the nation since the goal of UNC Tomorrow is to make the State globally
competitive in multiple arenas, thereby contributing to the strength of national
competitiveness.
The President is authorized to provide regulations to implement the Board’s policy, and
General Administration, subject to the President’s approval, is authorized to revise and
provide documents and Web sites to guide campuses in their academic program development
and discontinuation activities.
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Three Vehicles of Revision
New Board policy on the academic program planning process
President’s regulations for the academic program planning process
Revised documents/web sites to guide campus program change requests
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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Tentative Timeline
Policy discussion with BOG
Mar. 2008 Board meeting
Discussion and review of draft policy
by Educational Planning Committee
Mar. 2008 meeting of
Educat. Planning Comm.
Review/discussion of policy changes
Mar., Apr. 2008
Approval of new policy by Educ. Planning Committee By Apr. 8, 2008
Notice to BOG of recommendation regarding new
academic program planning policy
By Apr. 8, 2008
BOG acts on new academic program planning policy
May 2008 Board meeting
President’s regulations drafted and circulated for
comment between March and May Board meetings
Mar.-May 2008
Revised documents/web sites
Jun. 1, 2008
The University of North Carolina General Administration
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The University of North Carolina General Administration
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The University of North Carolina General Administration
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