Revised Program Approval for Public Institutions and Timeline
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The document proposes revisions to the program approval process for public higher education institutions in Massachusetts. Key changes include: 1. Requiring institutions to indicate how new program proposals align with their strategic plan in their letter of intent. 2. Circulating letters of intent to the Advisory Committee on Academic Programs and the Statewide Policy Committee for comment. 3. Having the Board of Higher Education review proposals to ensure alignment with system goals and consideration of factors like regional economic needs and affordable costs. 4. Establishing a timeline for implementing the new process starting in March 2017.
Revised Program Approval for Public Institutions and Timeline
- 1. Revised Program Approval for Public Institutions and Timeline Board of Higher Education — March 21, 2017
- 2. 5 Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Alignment with System Goals System Goals Institutional Goals/Campus Strategic Plan Academic Programs Student Learning Workforce Alignment
- 3. 6 Existing Process 1. LOI from IHE Presidents to Commissioner 2. Circulate LOI and comment period 3. Campus Prepares Proposal 4. Campus Board Approval 5. Draft Proposal Submitted to DHE 6. External Review and Campus Response 7. Staff Review of Completed Proposal 8. Revise or Recommend to AAC 9. AAC and BHE Action Recommended Process 1. LOI from IHE Presidents to Commissioner • NEW: Must indicate link to the Strategic Plan. 2. Circulate LOI and comment period • NEW: DHE forwards not only to all public campuses, but also to AAC and SPC . 3. AAC and BHE Action 4. If approved: • Campus Prepares Proposal • Campus Board Approval • Draft Proposal Submitted to DHE • External Review and Response • Staff Review of Completed Proposal • Revise or Recommend to Commissioner 5. Commissioner Action Proposed Changes to Process Program Approval Process for Public Institutions
- 4. 7 BHE review to ensure alignment between campus strategic plan and academic program Areas of review include: Alignment with system goals Consideration of regional economic and workforce development priorities Affordability and cost-effectiveness Integration with P-12 Areas of strategic disinvestment Enrollment estimates and projections Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Alignment with Strategic Planning
- 5. 8 New areas of review based on AAC feedback: Incorporation of modalities that support student completion Innovation and use of modern pedagogies for traditionally underserved students Consideration of how the program corresponds to the operational and financial objectives of the institution Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Alignment with Strategic Planning, cont.
- 6. 9 DHE staff will review: Detailed description of curriculum Faculty Resources: equipment and facilities External review Student learning outcomes Program assessment methods Measures or benchmarks of program goals Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Academic Quality and Consumer Protection
- 7. 10 Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Roles and Responsibilities BHE Role • Enrollment: Regional Need / Demand • Resources • Capacity DHE Role • Academic Quality and Integrity • Consumer Protection System Goals
- 8. 11 March 21 AAC/BHE Consent to Move Forward Week of March 27 Begin Comment Period May Compile Feedback June Present to AAC/BHE for Action Program Approval Process for Public Institutions Proposed Timelines April 15 Deadline for Campuses to Submit New Programs Under Current Process Summer 2017 Implemen t New Process Sept. 15 Campuses Begin Submitting LOIs Under New Process Implementation Policy Development