Interinstitutional Committee on Academic Program Planning

New Program Planning Process

Role and Purpose

ICAPP will have a role in the planning stages of both new baccalaureate and graduate degree programs and existing programs for new locations or modalities. Its purpose will be to provide a forum for communication, transparency, feedback, collegial resolution of differences, and exploration of partnership opportunities among the members.

Process

• Emphasis will be placed on maintaining and updating the “grid,” which will distinguish between short-term and long-term planning. It will continue to reside on the COP website as a (lightly) password protected page and, at its regular meetings, ICAO will be updated about additions or deletions to the grid.
• Members will provide summaries, consistent with agreed upon guidelines (see below), of internal program proposals for posting on the COP website for review and comment. Proposals will be provided early on in the internal review process and will be posted for a minimum of 30 days.
• COP will notify “all interested parties” whenever a new proposal is posted. The notification will request that any comments be directed to both COP staff and the ICAO member from the proposing institution.
• As needed, and at least once a year, ICAPP will convene to assess its work and its processes, to review the current statewide degree goals and needs assessments, to identify and refer to ICAO any outstanding program planning differences among members, and to identify any upcoming opportunities for collaboration.

Membership

Membership will consist of the following entities, with specific individuals designated by their CEOs:

• Six public baccalaureate institutions. UW and WSU may elect to have their branch campuses represented at meetings and on listservs, but there will be one designated representative for each institution.
• The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
• The Executive Director of the Council of Presidents, or designee, will serve as the ICAPP liaison to the Washington Student Achievement Council.

WSAC Database and Approval

COP understands that WSAC, unless it or the Legislature determines otherwise, will continue to approve the following:

1. As an aspect of mission and mission change, whether certain major lines of study or types of degrees, including applied degrees or research-oriented degrees, are assigned uniquely to some institutions or institutional sectors.
2. The creation by an independent college or university, in collaboration with a community or technical college, of off-campus or new degree programs.

And that WSAC will continue to maintain a statewide degree, certificate, and location inventory, so the following information will be provided to WSAC as it occurs:

1. New degree and certificate programs, options, and locations;
2. Changes in title and/or CIP code of existing programs; 3. Discontinued programs, options, and locations.

And that WSAC will continue to maintain a statewide degree, certificate, and location inventory, so the following information will be provided to WSAC as it occurs:

1. New degree and certificate programs, options, and locations;
2. Changes in title and/or CIP code of existing programs;
3. Discontinued programs, options, and locations.

Guidelines for Proposals

The following areas will be covered in the summary of any proposal for either new programs or new locations.

Program Description

Describe the proposed program, including where and when the program will be offered, modality, credit hours, anticipated enrollment, student demographics to be served, focus, overview of the curriculum, change in mission if any, and rationale for offering the program. For undergraduate programs, outline the plan for articulation with associate degree programs, including any applicable major-ready pathways.

Institutional Role and Mission

Note if and, if so, how the new program or location would result in any change in mission.

Documentation of Need for the Program

Describe context for the degree program including how the program and/or location will support the state’s goals for higher education; student demand; demand for graduates in the degree program; presence or not of similar programs at other public or private, non-profit institutions in the region, in-state as well as out-of-state and differentiation from similar programs; and options for collaboration.

Format and Articulation

Note where and when the program will be offered (day/evening/weekend/campus/distance/etc.) and, for undergraduate programs, the plan for articulation with associate degree programs, including any applicable major-ready pathways.

Students

Describe the student population to be served, and project enrollments for five years.

Resource Implications

Identify whether the program will be state-supported or, for graduate and fee-based programs, the level of tuition to be charged, and any other significant resource implications.

Other Institutions Contacted

List any institutions and individuals contacted about the degree program outside of the ICAPP process.