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Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

New Academic Program Planning Process

Updated August 20, 2025

To elevate its global competitiveness, NC State must attract the world’s best undergraduate and graduate students. The institution must offer cutting-edge educational programming that not only provides students with an exceptional knowledge base, but also with a range of real-world skills equipping them for leadership roles in a complex global society. Effective academic planning is essential for achieving this goal.

As developed by the UNC System Office, the process of initiating new degree programs at NC State is a two-step process, consisting of the Request for Planning Authorization (RPA) and the Request to Establish (RTE). Ultimately, this will be a flexible process as we work to spur innovation. This SOP is intended to establish a structured framework and systematic process to support departments and colleges in the development of new degree programs and in navigating the RPA and RTE processes. 

The Office of Academic Strategy, Innovation and Solutions (OASIS) will partner with the Office of Undergraduate Courses, Curricula and Academic Standards (OUCCAS) for undergraduate degree programs, the Graduate School (GS) for graduate degree programs, and offices in Enrollment Management and Services (EMAS) to form a New Degree Program Planning Advisory Team to facilitate the program development process.

Authorization of the Planning Process

Responsibilities

  1. Initiating Department(s): The initiating department(s) are responsible for working with the planning team to:
    • develop an initial program proposal,
    • identify financial and personnel needs,
    • seek relevant endorsements from dean(s),
    • complete the RPA, RTE, and financial worksheets, and
    • prepare responses to feedback received from the UNC System Office and UNC System institutions on the RPA and RTE.
  2. New Degree Program Planning Advisory Team (‘planning team’): The planning team is responsible for:
    • reviewing and evaluating the initial program proposal,
    • making recommendations for modification and/or approval of the initial program proposal
    • assisting with the collection of data needed to complete the required UNC System forms, and
    • providing feedback and guidance throughout the academic planning process.
  3. Authorizing Authority: The provost is responsible for:
    • reviewing the program planning memo, 
    • considering the planning advisory team’s recommendations, and 
    • making the final decision on whether to authorize the planning process.

Procedure

  1. The initiating department(s)/faculty will contact the GS or OUCCAS before starting the required documentation process.
  2. The planning team will hold an overview meeting with the initiating department(s) to provide an overview of the academic planning process, answer common questions, and address similar issues. If the program is interdisciplinary, the needs for endorsement for Step 3 will be established at this step.
  3. The initiating department(s) will obtain a letter of endorsement from the dean(s) or the parties established in Step 2, demonstrating that the program is aligned with the college and NC State’s strategic priorities and has the potential to be financially sustainable. 
  4. The planning team will hold planning meetings to create a timeline and discuss the proposal working document. The meetings will include disciplinary experts, initiators, and process experts. This process is expected to take four weeks.
  5. The initiating department(s) will identify financial commitments and requests to the Provost’s Office, which will be reviewed by the Provost’s Office and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. This will serve as the basis for completing the financial worksheets.
  6. OASIS will draft a memo for the provost, requesting review and approval to proceed with the planning process. The planning team will address any questions or concerns raised by the provost. 

If the provost approves the recommendation to proceed, preparation of the required academic planning documents can commence.

Preparation and On-Campus Routing of Required Academic Planning Documents

  1. In collaboration with the initiating department(s)/faculty, the planning team will collect initial data, including enrollment and completion data from the UNC System and peer institutions, labor market data, cost and revenue projections, student debt and return on investment, and institutional prioritization information.
  2. The initiating department(s) will begin completing the RPA, RTE, and financial worksheets simultaneously. Note: It is important that the initiating department(s) use the most up-to-date version of the RPA, RTE, and financial worksheet templates that are posted on the UNC System Office Academic Program Planning website. Failure to do so will result in the documents being returned to the department(s) for correction and may result in submission delays.
  3. Throughout the document preparation period, the planning team will continue to hold regular meetings with the initiating department(s) to provide guidance, answer questions, and share feedback. The planning team will also share a tentative submission schedule to facilitate on-campus and off-campus routing as well as to promote both transparency and communication. It is important to note that NC State’s submission schedule is based on the UNC System’s Academic Program Approval Calendar. 
  4. Once the RPA, RTE, and financial worksheets are finalized, the on-campus routing process can begin. The initiating department(s) are to route all three files at the same time. The on-campus routing process will take approximately 12 weeks. 
  5. The RPA advances through to the Chancellor’s Office, while the RTE advances through to the Board of Trustees. Financial worksheets require approval from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.

Off-Campus Routing of Required Academic Planning Documents

  1. After the RPA and financial worksheets receive requisite campus approvals, OASIS will submit them to the UNC System Office for review and approval. Review of the RPA and financial worksheets by the UNC System Office will take four weeks. Should the UNC System Office have questions or require clarification, the initiating department(s) in collaboration with appropriate members of the planning team will prepare the necessary responses.
  2. Once the UNC System Office grants approval of the RPA, OASIS will submit the RTE to the UNC System Office for review and dissemination to the UNC System institutions. Following the required four week review window, should the UNC System Office receive questions or comments on the RTE that must be addressed, the initiating department(s) in collaboration with appropriate members of the planning team will prepare the necessary responses. Note: Current UNC System Office guidelines indicate submission of the RTE must take place within 4 months of the UNC System Office granting authorization to plan.
  3. Following the RTE review period, the UNC Board of Governors (BOG) Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs will review and render a decision on the proposed degree program. If the Committee approves the proposed degree program, the Committee will recommend it to the full BOG.

Notification and Implementation

  1. Subsequent to BOG approval, the UNC System Office will notify the chancellor and provost.
  2. OASIS will communicate the approval to the initiating department(s) as well as other offices on campus, including the GS, OUCCAS, EMAS, and Institutional Effectiveness (IE).
  3. If a notification or substantive change request is required by NC State’s accreditor, IE will work with the initiating department(s) and either the GS or OUCCAS on the required submission.
  4. The initiating department(s), the GS or OUCCAS, and the Office of the University Registrar will collaborate to ensure completion of the institutional procedures  necessary for implementation of the new degree program.

Guiding Principles

The following principles should be used to inform development and prioritization of new degree programs:

  • Aligns with our mission and strategic goals;
  • Establishes a novel degree program for the university building on existing research strengths;
  • Holds potential to achieve national prominence in the area of inquiry and/or its instruction;
  • Meets existing needs in or expands the workforce;
  • Is inter- or transdisciplinary;
  • Enhances existing academic / faculty capacity and scholarship (shown by grants, publications, successful collaborations, etc.);
  • Creates or integrates into a network of certificates, digital badges, or other microcredentials;
  • Is economically viable to launch;
  • Is economically viable to sustain, with enrollment growth funding, premium tuition, fees, and other external support; and
  • Meets all UNC SO procedural requirements

Final Note

This planning and prioritization procedure is for all new degree programs that will be delivered on-campus and/or via distance education (offered either by technology or at an off-campus site). Conversion or addition of distance education delivery to an existing program (currently authorized by the UNC System Office for on-campus delivery) requires completion of the UNC System Office Request to Deliver form and should be submitted following existing OUCCAS or GS procedures, depending on the level of the degree program.