Academic Affairs

In order to strategically align campus resources with new program development, Academic Affairs has implemented a few changes to the Academic Planning Process this academic year.

Beginning November 2023, the College Deans will put out a call to the faculty members in their college to submit a Prospectus - a brief summary of a new degree program that also identifies anticipated resource requirements, student and job market demand, and competitor analysis. 

Before drafting the Prospectus, faculty with ideas for new degree programs must consult with the Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, Ben Corpus.  Following consultation, faculty are invited to develop the idea using the Prospectus Template.

More detail can be found in the timeline below:

Changes to program requirements and regulations are submitted through two differing processes depending on the nature of the intended change. The AVP-APIE has the authority to determine whether a change is major or limited and, accordingly, the appropriate review process. Some major changes may be approved by the Provost (as the President’s designee) while others may require authorization from the Office of the Chancellor and/or WSCUC. If you are unsure as to whether the changes under consideration will be major or limited, please contact the Academics Programs and Policy Specialist at extension 5254 or crocchi@csumb.edu.

All curricular revision proposals, be they major or limited, follow the process as outlined in items #2-4 of the Full Program Proposal section above. In addition, whether the revision is major or limited, proposals must include a revised curriculum map, a 2- and 4-year pathways document, and if applicable, an updated AA-T/AS-T curricular table template - all found on the Templates page.

Limited Revisions

When the proposed change will have no substantial effect on the authorized objectives of the program, to a student's progress through the program, nor to other administrative processes, the proposal is considered limited. For these ‘minor changes’ to academic programs, please use the Limited Program Revision Template for 2024-25 Catalog found within the Curriculog application.

Major Revisions

When changes to the course requirements and course content of a program will substantially alter the authorized objectives of the program the change is considered major. When changes to the program regulations governing admissions, student progress, or other administrative processes will substantially change the quantity or quality of enrollees and graduates the change is also considered major. For ‘major revisions’ please use the Major Program Revision Template.

Other Types of Revisions

Title Change of an Existing Program

Changing the title of an academic program will require campus, and potentially system-wide approval, depending on the type of academic program. In general, any change to the main degree title (e.g., B.A. in English) will require campus and system-wide approval; whereas a change in the title of a concentration or a certificate program may only require campus-level approval.

Baccalaureate or Graduate Degree Designation Change

To modify an existing graduate or undergraduate degree designation (e.g., a BA to a BS, a BA to a BFA, an MS to an MA, an MA to an MFA, etc.) please use the Degree Designation Template.

Offering an Existing Program in a New Off-Site Location

If you wish to offer an existing academic program (minors excluded) in a new off-site location, please use the New Site Request Form. Such requests follow a truncated process; please contact the Academic Programs and Policy Specialist at extension 5254 or crocchi@csumb.edu for more detail.

Offering an Existing "Face-to-Face" Degree Program, Certificate, or Credential On-line

If you wish to offer a current face-to-face degree, certificate, or credential program fully online, please contact the Analyst in the Provost's Office at extension 5254 as this will necessitate a substantive review through our regional accrediting body, WSCUC.

Open the AP.ProposalTracking google sheet in order to review the approval history of the campus' curricular review and approval process.

After I submit a proposal, how do I keep track of where it is in the approval process?

At any time the program proposer should feel free to call the Analyst in the Provost's Office at (831) 582-5254 to inquire about the status of a program. You may also review the document, Approval History of the Campus' Curricular Approval Process, found under the heading above: Tracking the Program Approval Process.

How long does the approval process take?

That depends on what you are seeking approval for. Usually, program change proposals can be submitted and approved within one semester; proposals for new programs generally take longer when and if outside approval is needed. You may wish to consult the Analyst in the Provost's Office (831) 582-5254 to identify a more specific timeline.

What happens if a proposal is rejected at some point during the approval process?

If a proposal is rejected, the proposal documents, along with a detailed explanation for the rejection is returned to the program proposers. Proposal authors may make revisions to the proposal and then resubmit it. If the changes made are substantial, the proposal will have to begin the approval process from the beginning again. Whenever a proposal is returned to the proposers for revisions, it is accompanied by clear instructions for resubmission process.

When can I begin publicly advertising a new program?

An academic unit may only advertise that a program will be offered AFTER the campus has received approval from the Chancellor's Office and/or the Western Association of Senior Schools and Colleges (WSCUC). This approval, as well as other implementation information, is indicated in the Official Notification sent from the Provost's Office.

How do I know if I need WASC approval for a program I am submitting?

Contact the campus Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO). The Acting ALO at CSUMB is Dr. Jacqui Grallo and she can be reached at (831) 582-3142 or jgrallo@csumb.edu.

Do you have additional questions or concerns?

Contact the Analyst in the Provost's Office at (831) 582-5254