Approval Process Timelines
Consult the charts below to determine the deadlines for approval through faculty governance, CHE and SACS.
New Programs
All programs need to be fully approved by SACS before a major code is assigned and before admitting students. The process can take up to 6 months from date of notification to SACS, and may take longer if SACS requests additional information.
These dates reflect the shortest amount of time it takes to process a proposal through the approval cycle. If the deadlines in one approval process are not met, the proposal will rotate into the next subsequent approval cycle.
It is recommended that proponents vet a draft CHE New Program Proposal Form with Academic Programs prior to the due date. Due dates to Academic Programs are firm; if dates are not met, proposals will rotate into the next subsequent cycle.
New Program Approval Process Timeline
| Approving Entities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Nov 2018 FS: Dec 2018 |
C&C: Mar 2019 FS: Apr 2019 |
C&C: Apr 2019 FS: Jun 2019 |
C&C: Aug 2019 FS: Sept 2019 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Jan 2019 | Mar 2019 | May 2019 | Sept 2019 |
| CHE New Program Proposal Form due to Academic Programs | 1/30/2019 | 4/15/2019 | 7/30/2019 | 10/15/2019 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee (BOT AA) | 3/15/2019 | 6/7/2019 | 9/13/2019 | 12/17/2019 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 4/26/2019 | 6/21/2019 | 10/11/2019 | 12/17/2019 |
| Academic Programs notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of intent to submit proposal | 5/1/2019 (TBD) | 7/1/2019 | 10/30/2019 | 2/1/2020 |
| Final Proposal due to CHE from President; Provost notifies SACS*** | 5/1/2019 (TBD) |
8/1/2019 |
2/1/2020 | 2/1/2020 |
| Proposals reviewed at Advisory Committee on Academic Programs (ACAP) meeting | 6/20/2019 (TBD) |
9/12/2019; or 11/21/2019 |
3/28/2020 | 3/28/2020 |
| Proposal reviewed at Committee on Academic Affairs & Licensing (CAAL) meeting | 8/29/2019 |
10/31/2019; or 2/13/2020 |
5/14/2020 | 5/14/2020 |
| Proposal reviewed at Commission on Higher Education (CHE) meeting | 10/3/2019 |
12/5/2019; or 3/5/2020 |
6/6/2020 | 6/6/2020 |
| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval |
Fall 2020 (approximate) |
Fall 2020 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Program Modifications
All programs need to be fully approved by SACS before a major code is assigned and before admitting students. The process can take up to 6 months from date of notification to SACS, and may take longer if SACS requests additional information.
These dates reflect the shortest amount of time it takes to process a proposal through the approval cycle. If the deadlines in one approval process are not met, the proposal will rotate into the next subsequent approval cycle.
It is recommended that proponents vet a draft CHE Program Modification Proposal Form with Academic Programs prior to the due date. Due dates to Academic Programs are firm; if dates are not met, proposals will rotate into the next subsequent cycle.
Program Modifications Approval Process Timeline
| Approving Entities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Nov 2017 FS: Dec 2017 |
C&C: Mar 2018 FS: April 2018 |
C&C: Apr 2018 FS: June 2018 | C&C: Aug 2018 FS: Sept 2018 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Jan 2018 | Mar 2018 | May 2018 | Oct 2018 |
| CHE Program Modification Proposal Form due to Academic Programs | 1/25/2019 | 5/15/2019 | 8/15/2019 | 11/15/2019 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee | 3/15/2019 | 6/7/2019 | 9/13/2019 | 12/17/2019 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 4/26/2019 | 6/21/2019 | 10/11/2019 | 12/17/2019 |
| Academic Programs notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of intent to submit proposal | 5/1/2019 (TBD) | 7/1/2019 | 10/30/2019 | 2/1/2020 |
| Final Proposal due to CHE from President; Provost notifies SACS*** | 5/1/2019 (TBD) | 8/1/2019 | 10/15/2018 | 2/1/2020 |
| Proposals reviewed at Advisory Committee on Academic Programs (ACAP) meeting | 6/20/2019 (TBD) |
9/12/2019; or 11/21/2019 |
11/30/2018 | 3/28/2020 |
| CHE Staff Approval | 8/1/2019 | 11/1/2019; or 1/1/2020 | 1/15/2019 | 5/15/2020 |
| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval | Fall 2020 (approximate) |
Fall 2020 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Program Terminations
All program terminations must be fully approved by CHE and SACS before being removed from the Bulletin.
These dates reflect the shortest amount of time it takes to process a program termination through the approval cycle. If the deadlines in one approval process are not met, the proposal will rotate into the next subsequent approval cycle.
It is recommended that proponent vet a draft program termination memo with Academic Programs prior to the due date. Due dates to Academic Programs are firm; if dates are not met, proposals will rotate into the next subsequent cycle.
Program Termination Approval Process Timeline
| Approving Entities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Nov 2017 FS: Dec 2017
|
C&C: Mar 2018 FS: April 2018 |
C&C: Apr 2018 FS: June 2018 |
C&C: Sept 2018 FS: Oct 2018 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Jan 2018 | Mar 2018 | May 2018 | Sept 2018 |
| CHE Program Termination Proposal due to Academic Programs | 1/24/2018 | 4/18/2018 | 7/25/2018 | 10/24/2018 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee | 3/16/2018 | 6/8/2018 | 9/14/2018 | 12/18/2018 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 4/13/2018 | 6/22/2018 | 10/9/2018 | 12/18/2018 |
| Academic Programs/Provost Office notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and SACS | 5/1/2018 | 7/1/2018 | 10/15/2018 | 1/15/2019 |
| Program to be removed from USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval | Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
New Certificates, 18 hours or less
All programs need to be fully approved by SACS before a major code is assigned and before admitting students.
These dates reflect the shortest amount of time it takes to process a proposal through the approval cycle. If the deadlines in one approval process are not met, the proposal will rotate into the next subsequent approval cycle.
It is recommended that proponents vet a draft CHE New Certificate Proposal Form with Academic Programs prior to the due date. Due dates to Academic Programs are firm; if dates are not met, proposals will rotate into the next subsequent cycle.
New Certificates Approval Process Timeline, 18 credit hours or less
| Approving Entities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Nov 2017 FS: Dec 2017 |
C&C: Mar 2018 FS: April 2018 |
C&C: Apr 2018 FS: June 2018 |
C&C: Aug 2018 FS: Sept 2018 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Jan 2018 | Mar 2018 | May 2018 | Sept 2018 |
| CHE Program Termination Proposal due to Academic Programs | 1/24/2018 | 4/18/2018 | 7/25/2018 | 10/24/2018 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee | 3/16/2018 | 6/8/2018 | 9/14/2018 | 12/18/2018 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 4/13/2018 | 6/22/2018 | 10/9/2018 | 12/18/2018 |
| Academic Programs/Provost Office notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and SACS | 5/1/2018 | 7/1/2018 | 10/15/2018 | 1/15/2019 |
| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval | Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Fall 2019 (approximate) |
Pre-Authorizations
Pre-Authorization TImeline for 2017-2018
Faculty Senate
| Pre-Authorization Due to Academic Programs |
Currricula and Courses Meeting | Faculty Senate Meeting |
|---|---|---|
| December 20, 2017 | January 22, 2018 | February 7, 2018 |
| January 30, 2018 | February 19, 2018 | March 7, 2018 |
| February 27, 2018 | March 19, 2018 | April 4, 2018 |
| March 30, 2018 | April 16, 2018 | June 6, 2018 |
Graduate Council
| Pre-Authorization Due to Academic Programs |
Humanities or Sciences Sub-Committees | Graduate Council |
|---|---|---|
| December 19, 2017 | January 8, 2018 | January 22, 2018 |
| January 30, 2018 | February 12, 2018 | February 26, 2018 |
| February 27, 2018 | March 12, 2018 | March 26, 2018 |
| March 27, 2018 | April 19, 2018 | April 23, 2018 |
| April 24, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | May 15, 2018 |
Academic Planning Calendar
Consult the planning calendar below to determine deadlines for getting proposals approved for entry into the academic bulletin.
| Approval Entities | 2018-2019 | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Oct 2017 C&C Nov 2017 FS |
Oct 2018 C&C Nov 2018 FS |
Oct 2019 C&C Nov 2019 FS |
Oct 2020 C&C Nov 2020 FS |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Nov 2017 | Nov 2018 | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 |
| FINAL DEADLINE FOR FACULTY GOVERNANCE APPROVAL | Dec 2017 | Dec 2018 | Dec 2019 | Dec 2020 |
| BULLETIN FREEZE DATE | Dec 15, 2017 | Dec 15, 2018 | Dec 15, 2019 | Dec 15, 2020 |
| MASTER SCHEDULE & BULLETIN PUBLISH DATE |
Feb 2018 | Feb 2019 | Feb 2020 | Feb 2021 |