Stages in RIT’s Curriculum Review Process

• New Program Proposals

• Substantially Modified Current Programs (more than 1/3 change)

Stage 1: Concept Paper Review

Ideas for new (or significantly modified) programs are normally generated by faculty members, faculty committees, department and program chairs. Certificates and Advanced Certificates are excluded from the Concept Paper requirement. Review important information on process found in Undergraduate Curriculum Review Flowchart, (including timeline), and the Concept Paper Template.

Please note that Graduate Programs have a slightly different flowchart, Graduate Curriculum Review Flowchart.

1. Concept Paper:
   While extensive documentation is not needed please follow the Concept Paper Template for New Degree Program Proposals. Among other things, the Concept Paper includes the   following information:
   1. Description of the goals of the proposed program;
   2. Description of how the program fits with RIT’s mission and strategic directions;
   3. Indication of specific curricular linkages with other academic programs and associated interdisciplinary connections;
   4. Discussion of marketability and future sustainability of program based on input provided by Enrollment Management and Career Services;
   5. Description of the impact of the proposed new program on the unit and college. Specifically, address how the development of this program uses resources already assigned to the academic unit/college (space, faculty/staff, etc.) and the plan for reorganization or re-allocation of resources.
2. Public Vetting:
   ​​When the concept paper is ready for review, it should be sent by the Dean to the Provost for a two week posting to the Provost’s Curriculum and Academic Program Management website with a call for comment by the RIT community. The call for comment by the RIT community will be sent out by the Provost's Office. Comments should be made utilizing the website electronic feedback option. Among other things, the purpose of community input is to identify potential synergy and /or overlap between the proposed program and other programs in the same college and different colleges or units across campus. In addition, in order To further engage the RIT community, the initiator is encouraged to provide an appropriate opportunity for a public forum where questions and comment regarding synergy and overlap can be discussed.
3. Summary of Community Feedback: ​
   Following the public vetting stage, the Dean should summarize and include all feedback with final concept paper and forward to Provost who will provide direction and final approval to move to full proposal development stage. Prior to this, Provost will bring concept paper to the Council of Deans for discussion if either the Provost deems it necessary or if one or more of the deans requests such a discussion.
4. Joint Proposals:
   ​​In the case of joint proposals, each academic unit and the related deans should provide evidence of support at concept paper stage. Formal review of full proposal by curricular review bodies associated with each unit is also expected. 

Stage 2: Formal Department and College Review*

Each college has a structure and process for reviewing and approving proposals for new or substantially modified academic programs. These college-level policies and procedures are in accordance with RIT Policy D.1.

*NOTE: In the case of Graduate and Doctoral Degree program Proposals and certain other types of proposals, external review by recognized experts in the field is required by NYSED, This revue should occur prior to review by ICC or Grad Council and is coordinated through the Office of the Senior Associate Provost, (further detail on this requirement is found at  External Review for New Program Proposals.

Stage 3: Institute Level Review

• Graduate Council or ICC
• Academic Senate

Stage 4: Final Review and Approval by Provost with Alignment to Budget Process

Formal proposals for new (or substantially modified) academic programs that will require incremental resources (personnel, space, equipment, etc.) for implementation must obtain the approval of the appropriate Institute level curriculum review process and gain the endorsement of the Provost before the end of January, in order for the program to be considered for implementation by the fall of the next academic year. Adherence to this timeline allows the Dean(s) to include the needed program resources in the budget request process, which occurs during February and March. Through the annual budget approval process, it will be the responsibility of the dean or deans to include needed program resources in all subsequent budget requests for the years that follow. This shall particularly apply to deans from colleges that provide support to the curriculum.

A new program will not be submitted for registration by the New York State Education Department until the requisite resource requests have been approved through the budget approval process.

If there are no resource implications associated with a proposal for a new (or substantially modified) academic program, the Provost may allow the proposal to be forwarded to the New York State Education Department for registration in a timely manner, independent of the normal budget approval cycle, once the proposal has gained the approval of the appropriate RIT governance groups.