New Program Development

Request for Inclusion

The UNC System Office (UNC-SO) policies lay the groundwork for new degree program development. ECU derives a campus process based on those policies, and the ECU Faculty Manual details how they are applied. Academic Planning and Accreditation (APA) uses these resources to support faculty in their academic planning efforts.

Additional online sources of data can be found on the resources page on this site. Sources include ECU, UNC System Office, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and various sites for statistics and supplemental information for program planning.

Request for Inclusion 2024-2026

The Office of the Provost is kicking off an accelerated Request for Inclusion for the 2024-2026 Academic Program Plan. We are asking faculty to carefully consider our portfolio of degree programs and how our students and university could benefit from elevating existing concentrations into new degree programs. Only concentrations that have a track record of steady enrollment and completion numbers will be considered. Only concentrations with existing faculty resources will be considered.

If approved to move forward, planners will complete the UNC-SO Request to Plan and Request to Establish templates in Curriculog following the full campus approval process in one academic year. New programs could be established as early as fall 2025. When considering expanding a concentration into a new degree program, please consider return-on-investment data and whether the remaining concentrations within the parent program can remain above low productivity thresholds without the concentration.

If your college intends to respond to this call, please complete one form for each concentration proposed. Please submit forms by July 10th, 2024.

If approved, the official notification to begin the process in Curriculog will come from APA in August. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Dr. Cyndi Bellacero at 252-737-3614 or bellaceroc18@ecu.edu.

Request for Inclusion (RFI) Process:

  • Faculty planners start a new proposal in Curriculog, (Form O – New Academic Degree Program Request for Preliminary Authorization) and include all required documents, etc. listed in the form. See submission instructions below. Deadline: All proposals must be approved by department and college curriculum committees and be approved by the college dean in Curriculog by September 15th, 2024
  • Planners present to EPPC (and Graduate Council, if graduate proposal) October 2024 (dates TBD).
  • If approved by EPPC, planners will be invited to present to campus and feedback is gathered, aggregated, and forwarded to the Provost in Late October 2024.
  • Feedback is aggregated and forwarded to the Provost within one week of campus-wide presentations.
  • The Provost makes final decision on inclusion on the academic program plan, early November 2024.
  • Planners have one year to complete and enter the Request to Establish in Curriculog before being removed from the 2024-2026 Academic Program Plan.

For questions or assistance, please contact Cyndi Bellacero or 252-737-3614.