Approval Process Timelines
Consult the charts below to determine the deadlines for approval through faculty governance, CHE and SACS.
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 at least 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: April 2020 FS: June 2020 |
C&C: Aug 2020 FS: Sept 2020 |
C&C: Nov 2020 FS: Dec 2020 |
C&C: March 2021 FS: April 2021 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals must be in queue by the 1st of the month Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
April/May 2020 |
Aug/Sept 2020 |
Nov/Dec 2020 |
Jan/Feb 2020 |
| CHE New Program Proposal Form due to Academic Programs |
8/1/2020 |
10/15/2020 |
12/15/2021 |
2/15/2021 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Excellence Committee (BOT AE&SE) |
9/11/2020 |
12/15/2020 |
2/19/2020 |
4/9/2021 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees |
10/9/2020 |
12/15/2020 |
2/19/2021 |
4/9/2021 |
| Academic Programs submits proposal to CHE; notifies SACS*** |
2/1/2021 |
2/1/2021 |
8/1/2021 |
8/1/2021 |
| Proposals reviewed at Advisory Committee on Academic Programs (ACAP) meeting |
3/25/2021 |
3/25/2021 |
9/16/2021 |
9/16/2021 or 11/18/2021 |
| Proposal reviewed at Committee on Academic Affairs & Licensing (CAAL) meeting |
5/13/2021 |
5/13/2021 |
10/28/2021 |
10/28/2021 or 2/10/2022 |
| Proposal reviewed at Commission on Higher Education (CHE) meeting |
6/3/2021 |
6/3/2021 |
12/3/2021 |
3/TBD/2022 |
| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2022 (approximate) |
Fall 2022 (approximate) |
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 at least 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
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| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals must be in queue by the 1st of the month Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
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| CHE Program Modification Proposal Form due to Academic Programs |
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| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Excellence Committee (BOT AE&SE) | 9/11/2020 | 12/15/2020 | 2/19/2021 | 4/9/2021 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 10/9/2020 | 12/15/2020 | 2/19/2021 | 4/9/2021 |
| Academic Programs notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) of intent to submit proposal |
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| Academic Programs sends proposal to CHE; notifies SACS*** |
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| Proposals reviewed at Advisory Committee on Academic Programs (ACAP) meeting | 3/25/2021 | 3/25/2021 | 9/16/2021 | 9/16/2021 |
| CHE Staff Approval (approximate 3 months post-ACAP) |
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| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval |
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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 at least 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Apr 2020 FS: Jun 2020 |
C&C: Aug 2020 FS: Sept 2020 |
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| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals must be in queue by the 1st of the month Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
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| CHE Program Termination Proposal due to Academic Programs |
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| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Excellence Committee (BOT AE&SE) |
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| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees |
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| Academic Programs/Provost Office notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and SACS |
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| Program to be removed from USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval |
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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 at least 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
C&C: Apr 2020 FS: Jun 2020 |
C&C: Aug/ Sept 2020 FS: Sept 2020 |
C&C: Nov 2020 FS: Dec 2020 |
C&C: Nov 2020 FS: Dec 2020 |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
May 2020 | Sept 2020 | Dec 2020 | Jan 2021 |
| CHE Program Termination Proposal due to Academic Programs | 7/15/2020 | 10/15/2020 | 12/15/2020 | 2/15/2021 |
| Proposal discussed by Board of Trustees Academic Excellence Committee (BOT AE&SE) | 9/11/2020 | 12/15/2020 | 2/19/2021 | 4/9/2021 |
| Proposal discussed by Full Board of Trustees | 10/9/2020 | 12/15/2020 | 2/19/2021 | 4/9/2021 |
| Academic Programs/Provost Office notifies Commission on Higher Education (CHE) and SACS | 10/30/2020 | 2/1/2021 | 3/1/2021 | 5/1/2021 |
| Program to appear in USC Bulletin after CHE and SACS approval | Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 (approximate) |
Fall 2021 or Fall 2022 (approximate) |
Academic Planning Calendar
Consult the planning calendar below to determine deadlines for getting proposals approved for entry into the academic bulletin.
| Approval Entities | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Senate and C&C Committee APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Oct 2020 C&C Nov 2020 FS |
Oct 2021 C&C Nov 2021 FS |
Oct 2022 C&C Nov 2022 FS |
Oct 2023 C&C Nov 2023 FS |
| Graduate Council and GC Committees APPS proposals due 10 days prior to meeting Meets 9 times each Academic Year Schedule |
Nov 2020 | Nov 2021 | Nov 2022 | Nov 2023 |
| FINAL DEADLINE FOR FACULTY GOVERNANCE APPROVAL | Dec 2020 | Dec 2021 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2023 |
| BULLETIN FREEZE DATE (Registrar's Office) | Dec 15, 2020 | Dec 14, 2021 | Dec 20, 2022 | Dec 19, 2023 |
| MASTER SCHEDULE & BULLETIN PUBLISH DATE |
Feb 2021 | Feb 2022 | Feb 2023 | Feb 2024 |