Program Development
The Provost’s Office supports Faculties and Schools through the entire process of new program development (including undergraduate or graduate degrees, certificates, diplomas, and other non-credit learning opportunities) from program and budget development through to Senate, Board, and Ministry approval and program launch. See below for more resources on the process to create new programs.
Processes for Creating Programs
- New Degree Program Proposals (Undergraduate & Graduate)
- New Credit Diplomas & Certificate Program Proposals
- New Non-Credit Proposals
For a list of program proposals that are currently under consideration, see Proposals Underway.
New Degree Programs Proposals (Undergraduate or Graduate)
In order to ensure that new proposals meet the high academic standards that UBC is known for there are multiple levels of approval that need to be obtained. The following information outlines the steps and levels of approval needed.
These reflect the overall process, not the processes within specific Faculties or accreditation.
Please note that although this process seems linear, some steps can be done simultaneously.
Additional resources for understanding this process (such as visual representations of the process) can be found below under the heading Program Proposal Process – Alternative Formats.
Program Proposal Process
This duration of this step varies greatly depending on the proponent and their Faculty
The purpose of this step is to determine the program’s fit with UBC’s mandate and UBC’s broader academic goals. It also determines the program’s financial viability for the Faculty and the institution.
Deliverables:
- Concept Paper (preliminary)
- Viability of program assessment (preliminary) – this template is completed in conjunction with the Faculty Financial Manager
This step can take up to 2 months
Follow your Department and Faculty’s internal process of approval. An early consultation with Enrolment Services, the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the College of Graduate Studies (if appropriate) is suggested.
Deliverables:
- Consultation with the Centre for Teaching and Learning
- Consultation with Enrolment Services
- Consultation with the College of Graduate Studies
- Draft of Curriculum proposal package
- Senate Required Consultations
- Final viability of program assessment
- Curriculum Budget Impact Form
This step can take up to 2 months
Following Faculty approval the proposal moves through the required Senate committees with the assistance of the Senate Secretariat.
Simultaneously, the proponents can begin planning for the student tuition consultation process and start working with the recruitment and marketing teams.
Deliverables:
- Complete curriculum proposal
- Plan for student consultation policy
- Plan for program promotion and marketing
- Curriculum budget impact form
- Senate Proposal Submission Deadlines
For graduate programs: Contact Enrolment Services at this point to start CoGS online application process
BOARD OF GOVERNORS APPROVAL
This step takes 3 months minimum
Following Senate approval, the Senate will forward the curriculum proposal* for the Board of Governors’ approval.
Simultaneously, the Provost’s Office will forward the Student Tuition Consultation Report* for the Board of Governors’ approval.
*Please note that the Board of Governors needs to approve both the curriculum proposal and the tuition pieces at the same time.
Deliverables:
MINISTRY APPROVAL
This step takes 6-8 months minimum
This step is required for new degree programs and is not required for Diplomas and Certificates Proposals.
Upon the Board of Governors’ approval, the Provost Office works with the proponent to finalize the Stage 1 Form (and any other Ministry required forms) and forwards the proposal to the Ministry of Advanced Education for approval. The Provost Office will advise proponents of ministerial approval once it has been granted.
Deliverables:
- Stage 1 Form (Ministry application including Senate approval and BoG approval)
Program Proposal Process – Alternative Formats
Below are several other resources that outline the new Degree Program Proposal as seen above. Each resource contains the same information in different formats. Please use any or all of these resources based on what is most helpful for you.
Resources for Executing process
- Concept Paper
- Tuition Consultation Policy
- Senate Required Consultations
- Senate Curriculum Guidelines
- Ministry’s Stage 1 Form
- Timeline Outline (this can be updated based on your dates/milestones to help visualize the timeline of the process)
- When using this resource the Senate Proposal Submission Deadlines and the schedule of upcoming Board of Governors meetings may be helpful
Contact
For further information or inquiries please reach out to:
Laura Prada
Manager, Academic Initiatives
Tel: 250.807.9905
laura.prada@ubc.ca
New Credit Diplomas and Certificates Proposals
Credit Diplomas and Certificates fall under Senate policy O-127 and O-128. The process to propose a new one is similar to the above process for Degree Programs but does not require Ministry approval. Please follow the steps outlined above. For additional explanation of the process please see the below flowchart.
For more information on these programs contact:
Laura Prada
Manager, Academic Initiatives
Tel: 250.807.9905
laura.prada@ubc.ca
New Non-Credit Proposals
New Non-Credit Proposals fall under policy O-129. For more information on these programs contact:
Michelle Lamberson
Director, Flexible Learning Special Projects
Tel: 250.807.9029
michelle.lamberson@ubc.ca