Degree approval process

For degrees not originating on the Vancouver campus

The following text and instructions are adapted from the WSU Provost’s Office “Academic Procedures.” Please refer to the WSU Provost's Office degree approval page for detailed information and to obtain appropriate forms.

The process outlined below applies only to changes in degree programs that do not originate on the Vancouver campus. This includes developing a new degree program, including upgrading an option to become a degree; consolidating two or more degree programs into one; extending an existing program to a new location or to Global Campus; renaming a degree; eliminating a degree; or similar changes. It applies to degree programs at all levels: undergraduate, graduate, and professional.

This process does not apply to adding or deleting options (within the same WSU degree code), certificates, minors, individual courses, or other curricular changes below the level of degrees. The curricular change process is described in our “Curriculum Change Process” document.

1. VCAA/AVCAA

  • Receives proposal from Provost
  • Reviews proposal for fit, quality and resource needs (14 day window)
  • Notifies CFR of proposal in advance, if possible
  • Obtains review from Library and VC of F and O (14 day window)
  • Sends proposal to CFR Chair
  • Provides CFR chair evidence of Library and VC of F and O approvals

2. CFR Chair

  • Initiates CFR internal process outlined in Appendix A
  • Communicates with VCAA/AVCAA to provide feedback

3. VCAA/AVCAA

  • Prepares letter of support upon review
  • Includes CFR feedback
  • Informs CFR chair of feedback submitted

4. Provost

  • Notifies Council of Deans
  • Forwards proposal to Graduate School or or Office of Undergraduate Education

5. Graduate School or Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE)

  • Reviews proposal for consistency with strategic plans, quality, responsiveness, fiscal responsibility
  • Sends proposal to library, Office of Assessment, Teaching, and Learning and budget office to send reviews to provost within two weeks

6. Provost

  • Determines whether to forward the proposal to Faculty Senate

7. Faculty Senate

  • Posts provost-approved proposals on ICAPP for posting on website and 30-day comment period for other institutions

8. Faculty Senate catalog, budget library and DOP subcommittees

  • Review proposal
  • Forward reports to appropriate undergraduate or graduate subcommittee

9. Graduate Studies or Faculty Senate Sen Academic Affairs subcommittee

  • Review proposal
  • Send to full Faculty Senate for discussion and vote

10. Faculty Senate

  • Places proposal on available meeting agenda for discussion
  • Votes on proposal at subsequent meeting
  • Returns proposal to provost with senate recommendations

11. Provost

  • Prepares document for Board of Regents
  • Notified Washington Student Achievement council and ICAPP upon implementation

Appendix A.

CFR internal process for reviewing degrees not originating on the Vancouver campus:

1. CFR Chair

  • Distributes proposal to CFR representatives with "respond by" date

2. CFR

  • Discusses proposal and provides feedback to VCAA
    • Voting will not be conducted on curricular changes that do not originate from the Vancouver campus
    • Review will not include CFR Academic Affairs Subcommittee feedback

3. CFR chair

  • Follows up on CFR discussion and feedback:
    • Complies feedback and sends summary to VCAA/AVCAA