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New Program Toolkit

Toolkit for New Program Development

Below you will find materials, information, and administrative resources available to faculty to support the identification and development of a proposal for a new undergraduate degree. (Similar materials for new graduate degrees coming soon.)

For questions or access to the support outlined below, please contact Naoko Kada, Coordinator for Academic Program Development (nkada@ucmerced.edu).

Note: Please discuss your plans with your school dean before contacting the Academic Planning and Budget Office.

Undergraduate Proposal - Template and Example Proposal

 

Proposal Template

 

A word document providing, in template form, the proposal requirements outlined by Undergraduate Council in its policy for the Review and Approval of Undergraduate Degree Programs.

Please reach out to us for the current template.

Example Proposal

An example of a well-reviewed proposal, including review correspondence. Provided with permission from Professor Sarah Kurtz, the lead author.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal Components - Data and Guidance

For support for gathering data and development of the following specific proposal components, contact Naoko Kada (nkada@ucmerced.edu).

  • Job market projections

  • Projected student enrollment

  • Program assessment plan, associated program learning outcomes, and learning outcome - curriculum alignment

Administrative Support - Proposal Development

For administrative support for proposal development, contact Naoko Kada (nkada@ucmerced.edu).

Our intent is to provide guidance on and support for any aspect of the proposal development process, as needed. Examples of the support we can provide follow.

  • Research on example programs

  • Content development

  • Assisting with drafting, reviewing, and editing

  • Guidance on the proposal development process and associated campus timelines

  • Connections to campus resources including transfer pathway guidance

  • Project management support: work plans, meeting agenda, tracking action items, organizing consultations, support for drafting emails, etc.

General Proposal Approval Process & Timeline

This diagram outlines the key steps of the proposal approval process and timeline for a new undergraduate major, with a focus on launching a new major in fall 2025.
 
For fall 2026 and later, the stages will remain the same, although the due date for submitting the proposal to Undergraduate Council (UGC) will change slightly with the year.
 
UGC's annual calendar is available on UGC's website under the heading Calendars of Academic Programs and Courses.

What is ACE funding?

  • A $21 million temporary investment made by the Office of the President to help the campus jump start approximately 20 new undergraduate majors that are projected by our Institutional Research and Decision Support office to contribute substantially to campus enrollment growth.
     

  • ACE funds are for the faculty and/or staff lines necessary to start up a new mediam/large undergraduate major as determined by IRDS enrollment projections. ACE funds cannot be used to support the addition of an emphasis track, or a BS/BA, to an existing program or to support new graduate programs.

  • The enrollment growth resulting from the addition of new majors is intended to fund both the lines allocated to the new majors as well as future faculty hires in other departments, including those that may not be able to contribute to a major that qualifies for ACE funds.
     
  • Funds are requested through the annual budget call process and are allocated following a proposal’s approval by Undergraduate Council. A decision to allocate funds depends upon the teaching plan, program of study, and the department's instructional capacity.
     
  • Departments are encouraged to discuss program hiring/staffing needs with their dean as they develop a proposal. Teaching plans are an important component of demonstrating instructional need.
     
  • For more information, please visit the FPA webpage on Budget Call Process, where you will find the March 9, 2023 presentation (ACE funding on slide 12) as well as the FY 23-24 Budget Call Letter (ACE funding is detailed on p.4, paragraphs 1 and 2).

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