Undergraduate Degree Proposals
This guidance describes the steps required to launch an Undergraduate 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.
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 Undergraduate Degree
Time to Complete: 180-270 days (90-180 days of this are estimated to complete external review and approval steps)
New degrees require a full review by the Undergraduate Educational Affairs Council (UEAC), 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.
- Complete home college steps and have approval to advance your proposal from your Department Head.
- If the degree will be offered at Indianapolis, please see Purdue University in Indianapolis steps to ensure timely review.
- Complete the New Degree proposal in Curriculog, which will require the following:
- Select CIP based on curriculum and outcomes
- Searchable taxonomy of CIP codes
- Searchable list of approved degrees and CIP by the ICHE Academic Program Inventory
- Searchable list of active curricula and CIP by Office of the Registrar Active Curricula
- Complete Board of Trustees Financial Tables in partnership with your college's financial office.
- Complete Board of Trustees Executive Summary Template.
- Complete Indiana Commission for Higher Education Academic Degree Program Submission.
- Evidence of labor
- Market need
- Letters of support
- Complete Indiana Commission for Higher Education Articulation Planning.
- Select CIP based on curriculum and outcomes
Key Planning Consideration
- The UEAC meets monthly, except in July.
- 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
- Evidence to support the benefits to students and alignment with market need are critical across many reviewers.
- Consider language in the proposal that will connect with a 16-year-old to help with converting proposal during implementation.
- New degrees may offer more than one major. At the time of 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.
Existing Undergraduate Degree
Time to Complete: 45 days
Actions to existing undergraduate degree programs include revisions, suspension, or expiration. Guidance is available for suspend/expire (PDF) or adding online to an existing program; these actions undergo UEAC review.
Curricula revisions are available only during the annual Plan of Study update. Plan of Study updates are available once per year – revisions must be submitted by or before April 1 for inclusion in the next academic year catalog.
- Complete home college steps and have approval to advance your proposal from your Department Head.
- If the degree will be offered at Indianapolis, please see Purdue University in Indianapolis steps to ensure timely review.
- Complete the Change Existing Curricula proposal in Curriculog.
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.
- Undergraduate Proposals
- Course
- Degree
- Major
- Minor
- Certificate
- Concentration