SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS
COMMISSION ON COLLEGES
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE PROSPECTUS
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
(insert name of program)
Name of Institution:University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Location:
9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28223
Name and Title of Individual Completing the Prospectus:
Dr. Joan Lorden, Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
Dr. Christine Robinson, Executive Director, Office of Assessment and Accreditation
Dr. (insert chair name), Chair, (insert department name) / Telephone:
(704) 687-5962
(704) 687-5385
(704) 687-5032
Internet Address:
(insert chair email)
Fax Number:
(704) 687-6912
(704) 687-0966
Date Submitted:
(insert date), 201X
List of Degrees
List degrees that the institution is authorized to grant. As a subset of each degree, list majors available. (Photocopy from catalog is acceptable)[t1]
List of Programs related to the Proposed Program
- List certificate, diploma and degree programs which are related to the proposed program(s)[t2]
List of Institutional Strengths Supporting the Proposed Program
- List institutional strengths that facilitate the offering of the proposed program(s)[t3]
List of Existing Approved Off-campus Sites and Addresses
- List of existing approved off-campus sites and their addresses[t4]
Abstract
Include this information:
In 1965, the North Carolina legislature approved bills creating the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), the fourth campus of the statewide university system. In 1969, the University began offering programs leading to master’s degrees. In 1992, it was authorized to offer programs leading to doctoral degrees.
UNC Charlotte serves as North Carolina’s urban research university and the only doctoral research university in the Charlotte area. It is the fourth largest of the 16 institutions within the University of North Carolina system. The University comprises seven professional colleges and currently offers 19 doctoral programs, 64 master’s degree programs, and 86 bachelor’s degrees. More than 900 full-time faculty members comprise the University’s academic departments and the 2013 fall enrollment exceeded 26,000 students. UNC Charlotte is committed to expanding graduate education options to serve the greater Charlotte region.
Add this information about your program here from sections IA and IIC of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Describe the proposed degree program’s nature, scope, and intended audience.
Provide projected enrollment (baccalaureate programs should include only upper division majors, that is, juniors and seniors).
Add this information about your program here:
Identify theproposed date to establish degree.
Identify that the projected life of the program is ongoing.
Identify if there are plans to offer all or a portion of this program to students off-campus or online.
If the change involves the initiation of an off-campus site, provide its complete physical address. (Note the Center City Building is not considered an off-campus site.)
Background Information
Include this information:
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) has been a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina since the North Carolina General Assembly initially established the state University system in 1965. Section 116-4[t5]of the General Statutes of North Carolina establishes UNC Charlotte as one of 16 baccalaureate degree-granting institutions that, along with the North Carolina School of Science and Math, a high school for gifted students, comprise the University of North Carolina (UNC). The authority to plan and develop a coordinated system of higher education in North Carolina is vested in the UNC Board of Governors (the trustees of the University of North Carolina).Section 116-11[t6] of the General Statutes authorizes the UNC Board of Governors to determine the functions, educational activities, and academic programs of the constituent institutions and to determine the types of degrees to be awarded.UNC Charlotte is authorized by the UNC Board of Governors to offer baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees and post-baccalaureate and post-master’s certificates.
Add this information about your program here from section IIA of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Describe the proposed program as it relates to the institution’s mission.
Add this information about your program here:
Identify if there are plans to offer all or a portion of this program to students off-campus or online. (Note the Center City Building is not considered an off-campus site.)
If the change involves the initiation of an off-campus site, provide its complete physical address. (Note the Center City Building is not considered an off-campus site.)
Assessment of Need and Program Planning/Approval
Include this information:
As North Carolina’s urban research university, UNC Charlotte’s mission is to address the cultural, economic, educational, environmental, health, and social needs of the greater Charlotte region.
Assessment of Need
Add this information about your program here from section IIA of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Identify how program relates to the strategic plan, student demand, and societal demand and employability of graduates.
Program Planning
Include this information:
Within Academic Affairs, all departments complete five-year strategic plans[t7]that address outcomes based on strategic goals linked to institutional goals (Section III of departmental Strategic Plans entitled “New Strategic Goals, Action Plans, and Performance Outcomes”). These reports include action plans to achieve goals (Section C), effectiveness measures and methods to assess outcomes and goal attainment (Section D), assessment schedules (Section E), and performance outcomes (Section G). Progress is annually reported toward the accomplishment of each strategic plan by completing the annual progress and assessment of performance outcomes (Section I) and follow-up plans to make changes as a result of assessment findings (Section J). In addition to the strategic plan, colleges and departments submit an Annual Report[t8]which highlights the major accomplishments for the year.
Add your information here about departmental goals related to new program. Also, make a link from a Department Goal to Academic Affairs Goal #1 and to University Goal #1. Below is an example.
The proposed (insert the name of program) program contributes to several of the goals of the (insert your department name) Department’s 2010-2015 Strategic Plan but in particular, the proposed program contributes to Goal X of the Department’s strategic plan, which is to add/develop graduate level programs. The (insert the name of program) program also supports the Academic Affairs goal of “offering a portfolio of educational programs” and the University goal of “delivering high quality, affordable, and effective educational programs that produce educated and responsible citizens and a competitive workforce”. The strategic plan [t9]and its goals were also reviewed and endorsed by the program’s stakeholders, including (identify stakeholders here).
Program Approval
Include this information:
The approval process for graduate courses establishes the review procedures for all new and modified courses. This process begins with review and approval at the departmental level, proceeds through collegiate curriculum committees and deans before reaching the Graduate Council; this is a subcommittee of the Faculty Council and consists entirely of faculty. The Graduate Council is also responsible for ensuring the quality and content of the curriculum, as well as the resulting course and curriculum approvals[t10]. Finally, any proposals to establish new courses or programs (or modification of existing courses or programs) are reviewed by the Faculty Executive Committee and the Faculty Council for approval and implementation consideration. The UNC Charlotte Graduate Council approved[t11] the (insert program name)on (insert approval date).
This program received input from faculty, administrators and industry boards at UNC Charlotte throughout the development of the proposal. In addition to the UNC Charlotte campus review process, the UNC System approval process now involves distribution of proposed new graduate programs to all institutions in the UNC System for review and comment prior to action by the UNC System Board of Governors. Comments, suggestions and questions received during this review process were addressed and incorporated at each step of the review process. The UNC System Board of Governors approved[t12] the (insert program name) on (insert approval date).
In summary, the approval process for this proposal included formal review and input from the many in faculty governance, industry and UNC System board and campus review groups. Copies of faculty committee minutes[t13] and advisory meeting[t14] materials documenting faculty and group involvement and approval of the insert program name proposal development.
Description of the Change
Add this information about your program here from sections IA, IB, and IIID of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Describe the proposed degree program (i.e., its nature, scope, and intended audience)
List of educational objectives of the program.
List of courses by title and number
Add this information about your program here:
Indicate the educational program(s) to be offered if a change involves the initiation of a branch campus or an off-campus site. (Note the Center City Building is not considered an off-campus site.)
Describe the infrastructure supporting the delivery method (training of
faculty, development of courses for distance delivery, technical support for student and faculty).
Include this information:
The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the program are that students (insert SLOs). The SLO assessment plan [t15]for the program is included in the attached.
Course Requirements
Include this information:
This (insert number of credit hours)-credit hour (insert program level) program consists of a (insert number of credit hours)-credit-hour common core. The core of the program will provide competencies in add your information about the program here. Elective courses may be selected from a broad range of topics from among: add your information about the program here.Table 1 indicates course offerings for the new program. Courses indicated with an asterisk constitute the (insert the name of program) core requirements.
Table 1. Schedule of Anticipated Course Offerings
Course Number / Course Title / Fall / Spring / Summer / **On Demand[t16]
*Required Core.
**Courses listed as On Demand will generally be offered every X semester on a rotating basis or less frequently based upon demand.
Program Admissions and Graduation
Add this information about your program here from sections IIIA and IIIBof the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Admissions requirements for proposed program (indicate minimum requirements and general requirements).
List the following degree requirements: total hours required, state requirements for Major, Minor, General Education, etc., other requirements (e.g. residence, comprehensive exams, thesis, dissertation, clinical or field experience, "second major," etc.)
For graduate programs only, please also list amount of transfer credit accepted.
Below are examples.
Masters Example: Requirements for admission and graduation are consistent with other master’s programs in the ETCM Department and are in alignment with the requirements of the UNC Charlotte Graduate School. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university (or the equivalent of a regionally accredited college or university if the degree was earned at a foreign institution), an overall grade point average of at least a 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) for all work attempted after high school, and provide a statement of purpose, three recommendations, and official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended. Students must also be in good standing at the last higher education institution attended. To graduate, students must complete at least one-third of credits toward a graduate degree to be earned through instruction offered at the University. A master’s student is expected to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved graduate level courses. Also, no more than six semester hours of graduate transfer credit may be applied toward the degree.
PhD example: Requirements for admission and graduation are consistent and in alignment with the requirements of the UNC Charlotte Graduate School. Applicants must possess a master’s degree in public health or a related field from a regionally accredited college or university (or the equivalent of a regionally accredited college or university if the degree was earned at a foreign institution), an overall grade point average of at least a 3.5 (based on a 4.0 scale) for all graduate work attempted, a competitive GRE score, and provide a statement of purpose, three recommendations, and official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended. To graduate, students must complete at least one-third of credits toward a graduate degree to be earned through instruction offered at the University. A PHS doctoral student is expected to satisfactorily complete a minimum of 21 semester hours of approved graduate level courses.
Definition of a Credit Hour[t17]
Include this information:
The course and curriculum development process is governed by the Standing Rules of the Faculty Council. Faculty members in academic departments develop and complete the short form for new courses and revisions to courses. As part of the proposal, faculty are asked to provide a draft catalog copy for the course which includes the amount of credit to be awarded. Graduate faculty must also submit a draft course syllabus that includes the number of credits. The departmental and collegiate curriculum committees are responsible for verifying the credit hours for new courses and revisions to courses based on documentation of the amount of work expected by faculty in the class.
Existing and new courses represent best practices of credit calculations nationwide by following the federal definition of Carnegie Units. It is recommended that faculty members include the Suggested Standard Syllabus Policies (p. 2). All departments are required to verify that the credit awarded for new courses conform to federal and Commission policy and will indicate such through a checkbox on the Short Form Course and Curriculum Proposal and Long Form Course and Curriculum Proposal.
Program Oversight
Add this information about your program here from sections VII of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Describe how the proposed program will be administered, giving the responsibilities of each department, division, school, or college. Explain any inter-departmental or inter-unit administrative plans. Include an organizational chart showing the "location" of the proposed new program.
Faculty
Include this information:
Initially, all faculty members directly involved in the program will be from the Department of (insert your department name) in the (insert name of College). The (insert your department name) faculty is (describe areas of expertise).
Add this information about your program here from sections IVC and IVD of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Estimate the need for new faculty for the proposed program over the first four years.
Explain how the program will affect faculty activity, including course load, public service activity, and scholarly research.
If appropriate, add this information about your program here
For distance learning programs, describe processes in place to ensure that students have structured access to faculty.
- For graduate programs, document scholarship and research capability of faculty;
for doctoral programs, document faculty experience in directing student research.
Overall, the percentage taught by part-time faculty and graduate teaching assistants is X%. This demonstrates that both the number and percentage of full-time faculty is adequate to perform the basic functions of the academic programs.
The (insert your department name) faculty is composed of (insert number) full-time faculty members and several part-time faculty members. The faculty members expected to teach in this proposed program are identified in the faculty roster[t18]. This demonstrates that faculty possess the required credentials or demonstrated competencies and achievements to teach in in the (insert the name of program)program. Descriptions for all courses [t19]taught by (insert the name of program) program faculty during the previous academic year (AY1X-1Y to include Fall 201X/Spring 201Y semesters) are provided.
Library and Learning Resources
Include this information:
The primary library facilitywill be the J. Murrey Atkins Library[t20] on the UNC Charlotte main campus. MSEEM students will have off-campus access to all of the resources provided on-campus through the Atkins Library’s homepage. They can request research assistance either in person, or by phone, chat, text or email from the Library’s homepage. They may contact a research librarian[t21] who has specialty knowledge of their discipline area(s) for assistance with research, or for help identifying and using the many electronic databases available. Research Guides[t22] are available electronically 24/7 for assistance with a specific course or particular subject area.
The Atkins Library facilities contain approximately 285,000 square feet, most of which is devoted to the Library’s million-volume collection. The Library’s main collections consist of materials in many formats, the most important of which include:
Books and bound journals:Over 1,087,000
Current unique serial titles: 47,000
Licensed databases 350
Ebooks 55,000
The Atkins library has 87 employees, including 30 faculty members and 57 support staff.
Add this information about your program here from sections V.A, V.B, and V.C of the Authorization to Establish a New Degree Program:
Provide a statement as to the adequacy of present library holdings for the proposed program to support the instructional and research needs of this program.
State how the library will be improved to meet new program requirements for the next four years.
If you are citing electronic databases accessed through consortial or statewide groups, please describe the discipline-specific suites of resources and not just the name of the consortium (such as Viva, Tex-Share, Galileo, Louis, etc.)