Policies and Procedures
Off-Campus Graduate Certificate Program Proposal Process
Revised August 2001; August 2002
Authority is vested in the Graduate College for approval of post-baccalaureate (graduate-level) certificate programs. Certificate programs are defined as a series of graduate-level courses designed to further the professional development of specific groups. While credit earned through certificate programs may be applied toward a degree within departmental and Graduate College parameters, completion of the certificate does not lead to a degree.
Units intending to offer off-campus certificate programs should complete each section of the certificate program proposal. Once completed, the proposal is to be reviewed and approved by the unit's school and college (if applicable), the Office of Continuing Education, and the Graduate College before the program may be initiated. The Graduate College Committee on Extended Education and External Degrees (CEEED) will review all proposals.
Assistance in completing the proposal form and assuring consistency with state and University policies should be sought through the head of the campus Division of Academic Outreach (333-3061; inforequest@talon.outreach.uiuc.edu, 1406 Presidential Tower, MC-433) early in the development process.
New certificate programs not associated with an existing previously approved degree program and certificate programs requiring 18 hours or more to complete will also be reviewed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
- Program Identification
- Department
- Certificate titles
- If certificate leads to degree, please identify degree
- Geographic location or delivery method of proposed program
- Program Objectives
- Describe the program's objectives and the educational need(s) that the program will address. How were these needs assessed?
- How will the program complement and support the academic unit's teaching, research and service mission? If the program is to be offered outside Illinois, a strong rationale is particularly important.
- Program Clientele
- Describe the clientele to be served by the program. Include such characteristics as expected age of enrollees, special academic or vocational experiences, and other appropriate descriptive information.
- How many participants are expected to enroll in the program? On what basis is this projection made?
- Program Characteristics
- Describe the certificate program and state the requirements for completion.
- What is the proposed starting date? What are the minimum and optimum times for completion for off-campus students? How long is the program expected to be offered in this medium?
- Will the program's curriculum content or more of instruction be adjusted to meet any special needs of the clientele? If so, please describe.
- State the criteria and standards for admission, if any, to the program.
- Will there be an academic advising as part of this program? If so, how will academic advisement be accomplished? If not, why not?
- Courses
Please provide the following information concerning each of the courses to be offered as part of the certificate program:- Name of academic unit
- Course number and title
- Semester to be offered
- Anticipated instructor (name and academic rank). Include the name(s) of back-up instructors if possible. Please provide a rationale for any planned use of adjunct faculty members, the extent of use, the criteria and process of selection, how they will be evaluated, and attach a copy of their vitae if they have been identified.
- Whether the course will be taught on an overload or on-load basis
- Resources
- Describe the sources of budgetary support for the program. Are necessary funds available to support the program?
- If applicable, describe the physical facilities available at the proposed location and the adequacy for meeting program objectives.
- What are the requirements for library and computer resources and how will they be provided?
- Relationship to Existing Programs
- Is this certificate program related on an existing off-campus degree program? If so, describe the relationship.
- Do this or other institutions offer similar programs? If so, why is the proposed program needed?
- Program Evaluation
- Describe how the quality of the program will be monitored and evaluated.
- Describe how the continuing need for the program will be periodically evaluated.
- Describe how faculty will be evaluated.
- Administration
- How will academic control be insured? Who will be assigned to coordinate the program? How will student progress be monitored and what form of record-keeping will be maintained? In the case of out-of-state programs, what on-site coordination will be available?
- How will the academic unit insure that, prior to enrollment, students are accurately informed about the purpose, objectives, admission requirements, program requirements, cost, academic and financial policies, timelines, and the services to be provided or not provided?
- How will the academic unit provide orientation to the program to faculty?
- Are other academic units involved in supporting the program? If so, please include written commitment of their support.
- Are there any special accreditation issues related to the proposed program and, if so, how have they been addressed?
- If the program is offered out-of-state, will all necessary approvals be obtained before offering the program?
- If the program is discontinued, how will obligations to students be met?
Approval Signatures:
| ________________________________ | _____ | ||
| Academic Unit | date | ||
| ________________________________ | _____ | ________________________________ | _____ |
| School | date | Office of Continuing Education | date |
| ________________________________ | _____ | ________________________________ | _____ |
| College | date | Graduate College | date |
