Graduate Course and Curriculum
New Graduate Program proposals take approximately 9 months to complete the shared governance approval process. They must be submitted to the Graduate Council by September 10 to be launched the following Fall semester. The full approval process must be completed by the last meeting of the Board of Regents for the new program to be entered into the new academic year’s Graduate Catalog.
To have programs launched in the Spring semester of the next calendar year, they must be submitted to the Graduate School before January 10.
New Graduate Course proposals can be submitted any time during the academic year. However, it takes at least 2 months for approval by the Graduate Council. More time is required for Faculty Senate approval and Registrar’s processing.
Graduate Program Change proposals can be submitted any time during the academic year. However, it takes at least 2 months for them to be approved by the Graduate Council. The full approval process must be completed by the last meeting of the Faculty Senate for the modified program to be entered into the new academic year’s Graduate Catalog.
Important Note: Any type of graduate curriculum proposal must be submitted to the Graduate Council by September 10 to successfully navigate the entire shared governance process and be launched the following academic year.
See a complete description of the curriculum approval process on the Registrar’s website.
AY 26-27 Approval Timeline (pdf)
Sample Approval Timeline for a New Graduate Program
For a new course/program to be available in Fall 2027:
|
Process |
If all information is available |
Typical (Includes some discussion) |
If proposal requires additional work |
|
Submit Proposal |
Prior to Aug 10, 2026 |
Prior to Aug 10, 2026 |
Prior to Aug 10, 2026 |
|
GC-ARC* |
Aug. 18, 2026 |
Sept. 15, 2026 |
Oct. 20, 2026 |
|
GC-AAC* |
Aug. 20, 2026 |
Sept. 17, 2026 |
Oct. 22, 2026 |
|
Graduate Council |
Sept. 1, 2026 |
Oct. 6, 2025 |
Nov. 3, 2025 |
|
FS AAC |
Oct. 6, 2026 |
Oct. 20, 2026 |
Nov. 17, 2025 |
|
FS Exec. |
Oct. 27, 2026 |
Nov. 24, 2026 |
Jan. 26, 2027 |
|
Faculty Senate |
Nov. 10, 2026 |
Dec. 8, 2026 |
Feb. 9, 2027 |
|
Provost |
Nov. 2026 |
Jan. 2027 |
Mar. 2027 |
|
CCAO Read 1 |
Dec. 2026 |
Feb. 2027 |
Apr. 207 |
|
CCAO Read 2 |
Jan. 2027 |
Mar. 2027 |
May 2027 |
|
Council of Pres |
Feb. 2027 |
Apr. 2027 |
May 2027 |
|
KBOR |
March Meeting |
June Meeting |
June Meeting |
|
In Catalog |
Fall 2027 |
Fall 2027 |
Fall 2027 |
*New programs are reviewed by ARC and AAC simultaneously and will proceed to Graduate Council when approved by both. They do not need to proceed sequentially.
For a new course/program to be available in Spring 2028:
|
Process |
If all information is available |
Typical (Includes some discussion) |
If proposal requires additional work |
|
Submit Proposal |
Prior to Jan 10, 2027 |
Prior to Jan 10, 2027 |
Prior to Jan 10, 2027 |
|
GC-ARC* |
Jan. 19, 2027 |
Feb 16, 2027 |
Mar 23, 2027 |
|
GC-AAC* |
Jan. 21, 2027 |
Feb. 18, 2027 |
Mar. 25, 2027 |
|
Graduate Council |
Feb. 2, 2027 |
Mar. 2, 2027 |
Apr. 6, 2027 |
|
FS AAC |
Mar. 12**, 2027 |
Apr. 6, 2027 |
May 4, 2027 |
|
FS Exec. |
Mar. 30, 2027 |
Apr. 27, 2027 |
May 25, 2027 |
|
Faculty Senate |
Apr 13, 2027 |
May 11, 2027 |
Jun. 8, 2027 |
|
Provost |
Jun. 2027 |
Jun. 2027 |
Jun. 2027 |
|
CCAO Read 1 |
Aug 2027 |
Aug 207 |
Aug 2027 |
|
CCAO Read 2 |
Sep. 2027 |
Sep. 2027 |
Sep. 2027 |
|
Council of Pres |
Oct. 2027 |
Oct. 2027 |
Oct. 2027 |
|
KBOR |
December Meeting |
December Meeting |
December Meeting |
|
In Catalog |
Spring 2028 |
Spring 2028 |
Spring 2028 |
*New programs are reviewed by ARC and AAC simultaneously and will proceed to Graduate Council when approved by both. They do not need to proceed sequentially.
**Tentative. If cancelled the next meeting would be Apr. 6, 2027.