Updated: SCEP, 1/13/06

December 19, 2005

TO:Robert Mrtek, Chair

Senate Committee on Educational Policy

FROM:Roger Nelson

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

A group of representatives from various campus administrative units are working towards developing methods to better manage students enrolled in joint degree programs. Included in the proposed solutions are: a) the completion of a memorandum of understanding regarding the administrative procedures for operating each joint program and; b) coding in the Banner system to better track and identify each joint program student.

We think it very timely to create a policy regarding joint programs, since currently there is no written policy on joint programs on this campus. Attached is a policy document that we would like the Senate Committee on Educational Policy to consider. The attached policy document was approved by the Graduate College Executive Committee on November 4, 2005.

Also included for your information is a template for the Joint Degree Articulation Agreementthat the GraduateCollege is currently developing. Although the Joint Degree Articulation Agreementitself is not subject to action as part of the policy document, it is being provided for SCEP’s information.

Should you have any questions, I will be happy to respond.

Copy: R. Betts

L. Kaufman

C. Hulse

S. Kragon

Joint Programs – Definitions and Policies

Joint programs consist of officially approved degree programs whereby the student receives two separate degrees but is allowed to apply a certain percentage of shared course hours to both degrees so that the resulting total hours for the joint programare less than if the student obtained the degrees separately. In addition, there may be other incentives beneficial to the student. The degreesawarded in the joint program must be approved, established degree programs that are typically at the same level. The number and percentage of shared course hours are detailed in each program proposal.

The following policies apply to joint programs:

  1. Joint programs should have no more than 25% of the total hours for both degrees as shared coursework. More than 25% indicates that there may be inherent overlap in the content of the two degrees, thus making the establishment of a joint degree inappropriate.
  2. There should be a specific timeframe in which joint program students be allowed to matriculate into a joint program. Students should not be allowed or encouraged to apply to a joint program toward the end of their program of study.
  3. Except in rare circumstances, receipt of both degrees should occur during the same term. This is keeping with the spirit of admission and completion of a joint program. Should one degree be awarded before completion of the joint program and the student decides to withdraw from the joint program, the student will have completed a program that is different in content (and, perhaps, hours) from the parent degree.
  4. Each proposed joint degree program proposal must include a Joint Degree Articulation Agreement regarding the administrative procedures for operating the joint program. Theagreement should be updated whenever any terms of the original memorandum of understanding require revision.

The “Format for Academic Program Changes” document at

should be used to create proposals for joint programs. The description of the joint degree program should address the specific admission requirements and degree requirements (with shared courses clearly identified, usually in narrative form and in table format). The justification should articulate the usefulness of the joint degree as well as sufficient rationale for the specific shared coursework.

Approval of the joint program follows the procedures for a degree program proposal, with the departments and colleges working through Academic Affairs, and review and approval obtained from the GraduateCollege (when necessary), the Senate Committee on Educational Policy, and the Senate. Joint programs are reported to the Board of Trustees and the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

Sample joint program proposals are available from the Office of Academic Programs.

OAA, revised on 01/13/06

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