Review of Academic Programs

MDHE staff is involved in the approval of new academic program proposals, changes to existing programs, and the off-site delivery of existing programs by public institutions. MDHE staff also reviews and offers comments on programs from independent institutions.

The Policy for the Review of Academic Program Proposals helps to ensure that Missouri's higher education institutions offer programs that effectively serve the citizens of the state. Effective service is achieved through

• provision of high quality programs,
• efficient use of resources,
• collaboration between institutions, and
• elimination of unnecessary program duplication within a service region.

Each month, the MDHE posts new program requests for review and comment and maintains an archive of requests from the previous twelve months.

Academic program action requests must be approved by the institution's President/Chancellor or Chief Academic Officer. To submit new and off-site program requests and program changes, a written narrative and specific forms are required. Please see Section 10.2 of the Policy for the Review of Academic Program Proposals when submitting a new program request and Section 11.2 when submitting a request to offer an off-site program.

Form NP - New Program Proposal
Form SE - Student Enrollment Projections
Form CL - Collaborative Programs
Form PS - Program Structure
Form FP - Financial Projections
Form PG - Program Characteristics and Performance Goals
Form OS - Off-site Delivery of an Existing Program

Please refer to the "Review Process for Program Changes" within the Policy for the Review of Academic Program Proposals and Form PC to make title changes, combine programs, add certificates, add program options, and/or inactivate or delete programs or options from the state program inventory.

Form PC - Existing Program Change

Clarifying Comments on the Policy for the Review of Academic Program Proposals
The Clarifying Comments provide more explicit descriptions of the type of information that the CBHE and MDHE staff use to evaluate new academic program proposals.

Public Policy Guidelines on Lower Division Coursework, Lower Division Certificate, and Associate Degree Delivery
This policy provides a framework that clarifies CBHE expectations concerning public institutional practices associated with lower-division coursework, lower-division certificate programs, and associate degree delivery.