How to plan a new academic program
New academic programs build on areas of teaching and research strength and are instrumental in meeting our goal of "providing an exceptional learning experience" for students.All new degree, certificate and diploma programs are reviewed by the office of the Vice-President Academic and Provost or by the Faculty of Graduate Studies to ensure program quality and sustainability, as well as consistency with UVic's mission and goals.
Criteria for creating new academic programs
When developing a new program begin by considering the following questions:
- Would the new program have intellectual value and meet a societal need?
- Is there student interest and demand?
- Is there faculty interest and expertise?
- Does UVic have the ability to be a national or regional leader in the area?
- Is there an established or planned ability to attain essential resources for program delivery?
Other key considerations in the approval process
- To what extent is the program driven by academic interest?
- Was the development process consultative within and across the university?
- Does the proposal demonstrate values of inclusion, respect, and collaboration?
- Has the program been rigorously evaluated, with multiple levels of approval?
Guidelines for developing new program proposals
The following comprehensive guides will walk you through the process for developing a proposal for a new program.
- New undergraduate degree program proposal guidelines
- New graduate degree program proposal guidelines
- New graduate certificate or diploma program proposal guidelines