Undergraduate & Graduate Program Proposal Preparation

• The first step in the development of a new degree program begins with the submission of a New Degree Program Intent Document.
• Once approval for the proposed new program has been received from the Provost, complete an RIT New Academic Program Proposal for all proposed new undergraduate and graduate level programs.
• Create the proposal as a Word document and complete all information required.
• Be sure to use the exact numbering system that matches each section on proposal.
• Be sure you include a table of contents.
• Use this same proposal form for modification to a currently registered program which represents 33 1/3 % or more revision of a total program, i.e., a substantially modified program.
   

NOTE: Programs will need to use judgment with respect to what constitutes a change of 1/3 or more revision of a total program. Substantial change may mean a significant change to 1/3 of the credit hour content in the program or change may mean that the programmatic focus and expected outcomes have been significantly modified.

When is External Review Required?

• External review of a new program proposal by a recognized expert in the field  is required for certain types of proposals.  Such proposals include:
  • All graduate programs below the doctoral level
  • Undergraduate degree program in an emerging or new field
  • Applications that require a master plan amendment
  • Proposals for registration of new graduate-level teacher, educational leader, or pupil personnel services programs that lead to an area of certification that is new for the institution
  • Other proposals for which the Department determines an external review is necessary in order to make a registration decision

Reviewer Selection

• Program proposer should contact the Office of the Academic Program and Curriculum Management as early as possible to determine if an external review is required.
• If an external review is determined to be required, the program proposer should send the Office of Academic Program and Curriculum Management the names, CV's, and brief rationale for 2 individuals proposed to be the external reviewer. 
• Selection requirements for proposed external reviewers:
  • It is expected that the proposed external reviewer will not be from New York State and will be a recognized expert in the field of the program, as demonstrated by appropriate educational credentials, professional experience and academic teaching and/or administrative experience in similar programs.
  • NYSED guidelines imply that the reviewer will have a national focus and a strong background in the American Higher Education System. It would be preferable to have reviewers who are able to speak to similar programs offered in the United States.
  • Individuals proposed cannot have any real or perceived conflict of interest with RIT (see below).
  • NYSED review and prior approval of reviewers is required for some program types. The Office of Academic Program and Curriculum Management will arrange the NYSED review, if applicable.

Conflict of Interest Requirements:

• There is a conflict of interest/appearance of a conflict of interest when the potential reviewer:
  • Is a present or former employee, student, member of the governing board, owner or shareholder of, or consultant to the institution that is seeking institutional accreditation from the Board of Regents; this includes those persons who may have consulted or helped develop the proposed program.
  • Is a spouse, parent, child or sibling of an individual or person listed above;
  • Has expressed an opinion for or against the proposed program;
  • Is seeking or being sought for employment or other relationship with the institution under review;
  • Has a personal or professional relationship with the institution under review that might compromise objectivity; and/or
  • Has a competitive relationship with the institution that might compromise objectivity.

NOTE:  If NYSED finds that the external reviewer chosen by the institution has a conflict of interest, it will terminate the review of the application and notify the institution that the application is incomplete and will be closed.

External Review Report:

• External Reviewer must complete the External Reviewer Conflict of Interest Statement.
• External evaluators are required to use the External Review Evaluation Report Form for Program Proposals in preparing their response. Please allow at least 4 weeks time for the review.
• Don’t forget that the program proposer is required to provide a response to the external evaluation including information on how the program proposal was modified in response to the reviewer’s comments as part of the program proposal submitted.
• The reviewer’s report and RIT’s response should be included in the proposal submitted to ICC or Grad Council for review

NOTE: A copy of the signed Conflict of Interest Statement must be on file in the Office of Academic Program and Curriculum Management

Best Practice Examples:

This response to the External Reviewers Evaluation Report receieved the following comments from RIT's liaison from the New York State Education Department (NYSED):

“I am sharing this external review/response narrative because I think it reflects a particularly thorough and thoughtful review (including both praise and some blunt concerns). Likewise, the response notes changes made in response to the observations—as well as areas of disagreement with the reviewer. Just the way [the process] should work, in my view….”

Example Evaluation Report Form for Program Proposals

Example Response to External Reviewer's Evaluation Report