Office of the Provost

Graduate Degree Proposals

This guidance describes the steps required to launch a Graduate Degree proposal originating from Purdue West Lafayette for University approvals. Please see Purdue Fort Wayne or Purdue Northwest guidance for proposals originating from these campuses, or reach out to campus contacts.

A Graduate Degree proposal may be a master’s or doctoral degree program distinct by Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code from any other programs offered at Purdue University. Lists of existing degrees can be found on the Office of the Registrar Active Curriculum Reports website.

Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis once they enter the workflow. Time to complete indicates the typical completion timeframe from proposal launch to completion in workflow. Some proposals may complete faster, while others may need more time based on when they are launched. Please see Key Planning Considerations below.

New Graduate Degree

Time to complete: 180-270 days (90 to 180 days of this are estimated to complete external review and approval steps)

New degrees require a full review by the Graduate Council, Purdue Board of Trustees, and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE). A new degree may be marketed after the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's approval. Preview requirements in Curriculog or use this printable checklist.

Key Planning Consideration

  • The Graduate Council generally meets seven times per year (September – November and January – April). The proposal must arrive at the Graduate Council step in workflow at least two weeks before the scheduled Council meeting to be considered for the agenda.
  • The Purdue Board of Trustees meets  six times a year: February, April, June, August, October, and December.
  • The Academic Affairs & Quality Committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education meets monthly, except in December.
  • The full Indiana Commission for Higher Education meets six times a year: January, March, May, July, September, and November.
  • Following state approvals, new degree programs are screened by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to determine if any additional approvals may be required (uncommon).

Tips

  • Checklist of criteria to be used by the commission in taking action on new degree programs
  • New degrees may offer more than one major. At the time of proposing a new degree, you may batch supporting majors and/or concentrations specific to the new degree for a seamless review. Provide all plans of study in the submission.
  • Evidence to support the benefits for students and alignment with market need are critical for many reviewers.
  • International recruitment requires re-certification of the institutional I-17 to include new degrees and majors.
Existing Graduate Degree

Time to complete: 45 days (15 to 30 days of this are estimated to complete external review and approval steps)

Actions to existing graduate degree programs include revisions, suspension, or expiration. Guidance for suspend/expire (PDF) or adding online to an existing program are available. The Graduate School conducts the review.

The following require external approval by ICHE and/or HLC:

  • Changes to modality
  • Changes to location
  • Changes to the CIP
  • Change in credit hours
  • Name change
  • Curricular or credit changes of 25% or more to the existing program
  • Suspension
  • Expiration

Key Planning Considerations

  • The Academic Affairs & Quality Committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education meets monthly, except in December.
  • Following state approvals, changes to existing programs may be screened by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to determine if any additional approvals are required (uncommon).

Tips

  • Suspension is designed to “turn off the valve” for admissions so that a college can begin the teach out process. Suspended programs may be reinstated.
  • Expiration should be used only once all students eligible for teach out have completed the program. Expired programs cannot be reinstated.

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