New Programs (not certificate programs)

New programs (not previously offered or offered over five years ago) must go through a thorough review process. When a department wants to create a new program, it is advisable to consult with the Office of the Provost to ensure the appropriate steps are followed. The CPE process must be followed when a new program is developed, a program is changed to the point of needing a new CIP code, a department wants to bring back a suspended program that is past date to reactivate, programs merge into a single program, or programs separate into different majors.

The Office of the Provost facilitates the CPE New Academic Program process.

STEP ONE: Notification of Intent (NOI) – Permission to offer a program with a selected CIP code (Reviewed by all chief academic officers at Kentucky, public institutions).  Proponents have 6 months to submit a pre-proposal form after the NOI is approved. Failure to submit after 6 months means the process must start over. After the NOI is approved, CPE enforces a mandatory 2-month program development period. During this period departments should engage with stakeholders and brainstorm possible collaborations with other Kentucky institutions. Step TWO cannot occur until the 2-month period has ended.

STEP TWO: CPE Proposal Form - After WKU’s Board of Regents Academic Affairs Committee approves the program, the Provost’s Office will submit the CPE proposal form prepared by the department and reviewed by the Dean. The Proposal Form is reviewed by CPE’s Academic and Strategic Initiatives (ASI) Committee. WKU proponents and their deans should plan to attend the ASI Committee to answer questions. After ASI approval, the Proposal is sent to the CPE Board for approval. The Office of the Provost will notify the department head, dean’s office, and proponent when the program is approved by the CPE Board. The proposal form includes a budget template, a course template, and assessment plan along with program information. Curriculum maps are required for all undergraduate majors and graduate programs. Skills maps are required for undergraduate programs.

Certificate programs not deemed substantive changes are reviewed and approved by CPE after WKU Board of Regents’ approval. If a certificate is considered a substantive change, the certificate must go through the new program steps listed above.