Program Changes and Approval
The Office of the Provost & Vice-President (Academic) provides support and advice to faculties and departments that are considering program changes or the development of new programs. The goal is to ensure changes and new programs are moved forward in a timely manner while ensuring that the University is compliant with policy and legislation.
Faculties and departments are encouraged to contact the Office early to seek guidance in the required processes. Graduate Program proposals are coordinated in collaboration with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Changes to Existing Programs
Program changes require approval at various University Governance committees and from the government and/or Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC). Even a minor change to a program, such as an adjustment to the program name, will require consultation and approval at varying levels within and outside of the University. Other types of changes may include but are not limited to: academic standing, admission criteria, program requirements, required courses, course name changes, program suspensions and/or program terminations.
Proposals for New Programs
Before new programs can be offered by the University of Alberta, they must be approved by the Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education. Proposed new programs will follow a prescribed path of approval through University Governance, the Ministry of Advanced Education, and the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC). The Office will provide advice on budget considerations, recommended consultation, governance approval pathways, and timelines.
Infographic of the Program Proposal Approval Process can be viewed here.
Tool Kit
- Academic Program Proposal Checklist
- Guidelines: Indigenization, Decolonization, Responding to the TRC Calls to Action in Academic Programs and Curricula
- Executive Summary: Program Changes (Other) - to be used only following consultation with the Provost's Office
- Internal Program Proposal Template
- Undergraduate Embedded Certificate Framework
- Embedded Certificate Template
- Handbook on University Certificate Development - under development
- Non-Credit Programming Framework
- Non-Credit Micro-credential Development Guide
- Non-Credit Certificate and Diploma Template
- Ministry Template: Undergraduate Degree Template (Part A)
- Ministry Template: CAQC New Degree Proposal Template (Part B)
- Ministry Template: New Master's and Doctoral Degree Template (Part A)
- Briefing Note: Suspensions
- Internal Suspension and Termination Template
- Ministry Template: Program Suspension Template
- Ministry Template: Program Name Change Template
- Ministry Template: Program Termination Template
- Ministry Template: Program Reactivation Template
- Ministry Template: Load Change Template
- Ministry Template: Certificate, Diploma, and Non-Credential Template
