New Graduate Certificate Program
The approval of a new graduate certificate program involves oversight by stakeholders within the university. These stakeholders represent program faculty, college units, college deans, university graduate faculty, the Academic Committee, and the Provost.
The steps of program approval are described below in the flow-chart and corresponding narrative. It typically takes one to two semesters for a new graduate cetificate program to receive formal approval and begin admitting students.
The Graduate School has developed a template for drafting a New Graduate Certificate Proposal. If the new certificate program will be offered in an Online or Blended/Hybrid Delivery format, then the Oniline Delivery Request OBR Form (starting on page 2 - "Institional Support") should also be completed and submitted as an appendix to the PDP.
NOTE- Certificate programs requiring 21 or more semester credit hours must undergo review by the Ohio Board of Regents (see OBR Guidelines, Part A, Section VI, B). This process is similar in nature to the approval process of a New Graduate Degree Program.
Please review the detailed process information below and reach out to Robert Zierolf (robert.zierolf@uc.edu) when you are ready to begin the process of developing a proposal. Also, if you have questions or would like to talk out any aspect of the review process, you are welcome to contact Stacey Ritter (stacey.ritter@uc.edu).
Narrative of the Approval Process for a New Graduate Certificate Program
- Development of the Graduate Certificate Proposal by the College
- Program faculty complete the New Graduate Program Proposal Form.
- Heads from all units making a contribution to the program review the proposal and sign the face page indicating their approval and intent to provide resources as proposed in the document.
- All college deans who have units participating in the proposed new program review the proposal and sign the face page indicating approval and a college commitment to providing college resources as proposed in the document.
- Graduate School Review Process
- The proposal is forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School for initial review by the New Programs Committee (NPC) of the Graduate Council (GC). The NPC reviews the proposal, provides feedback, and if necessary meets with representatives from the proposed program faculty to discuss the proposal. The NPC meets monthly during the academic year and the NPC recommends to the Dean of the Graduate School whether the proposal should proceed through the approval process.
- If recommended by the NPC, the proposal is forwarded to the Graduate Council (GC) for approval. The GC meets with representatives from the proposed program faculty to discuss the proposal. The GC meets monthly during the academic year (schedule).
- Integrated Decision-Making Review Process
- If recommended by the GC, the proposal is submitted for approval to the Academic Committee (AC) through the Integrated Decision-Making review process.
- The AC meets with representatives from the proposed program faculty to discuss the proposal and will seek advice from the Fiscal Coordinating Committee (FCC) as necessary. The AC will endorse the proposal or return it to the originating body for additional information. The AC meets bi-monthly during the academic year (schedule).
- If recommended by the GC, the proposal is submitted for approval to the Academic Committee (AC) through the Integrated Decision-Making review process.
After Approval: Logistics of Setting-up the Certificate Program
- Creating a PASLA
- After official approval is received, the submitting faculty will complete a New Academic Program Submission form, attach a copy of the approved proposal, and obtain the necessary signatures (Dean, Graduate School, and Provost) by sending interdepartmental mail to the Graduate School, ML 0627.
- The form will then be submitted to the Registrar's Office for creation of a PASLA for the new certificate program.
- After official approval is received, the submitting faculty will complete a New Academic Program Submission form, attach a copy of the approved proposal, and obtain the necessary signatures (Dean, Graduate School, and Provost) by sending interdepartmental mail to the Graduate School, ML 0627.
- Creating the Certificate (M-1) in eCurriculum
- Once a PASLA is created by the Registrars Office, the faculty can develop a M-1 in eCurriculum.
- Graduate School Paperwork
- Additional forms will be submitted to the Graduate School for the program to be available in the Online Apply system and Graduate Program Outlines. Please contact Emily Kregor (emily.kregor@uc.edu) in the Graduate School for more details.
- Additional forms will be submitted to the Graduate School for the program to be available in the Online Apply system and Graduate Program Outlines. Please contact Emily Kregor (emily.kregor@uc.edu) in the Graduate School for more details.