New Degree Program
New Degree Program
Introduction
The process of starting a new degree program at a college involves different stages. It is vital to address these stages in order to facilitate for a successful process. The education sector is extremely sensitive and this forms the basis of scrutinizing new degree programs. Approval of such programs is mandatory in order to ensure their validity. The approval process is also critical in evaluating the necessity of these programs in colleges prior to introduction.
It would be impractical to introduce a program that has no value in the academic or professional world. Consequently, the new program should seek to fill an existing void. The new degree program should also have the ability to strengthen the college’s stature as an educational institution. This implies that the new program should not demonstrate any form of redundancy. In essence, the new program should also have research components. These components help in strengthening the new program in the future. The financial perspectives must be clarified while developing the blueprint of a new program. These perspectives highlight the relevant resources required for the initiation of the new program.
Need for the New Degree
This is the first stage of proposing a new degree program in a university or college. In essence, this step serves as the justification of the new program. Firstly, it is crucial to highlight sufficient proof of the market demand for the new program. There has to be a target audience for the program. This might be from a professional or academic point of view. Secondly, the proposal of the new program should specify the potential enrollment rates as well as the criteria. This encompasses the identification of the rationale for admitting students into the new program (Smart, 2010).
The degree program must not only benefit the university but also the society. These gains might be categorized into economic and social benefits. The proposal should also highlight the availability or absence of similar degrees in other colleges. Additionally, the new program should conform to the university’s values and long term goals. Consequently, the new program should have the capacity to contribute positively towards the realization of the institution’s vision (Kezar, 2011).
Description of the Program
After addressing the need for the new program, the second stage encompasses a comprehensive description. The description should highlight the academic credentials relevant for students to pursue the course. For instance, some degree programs might have a diploma as a prerequisite. The description must also provide a comprehensive outline of the program. This involves the fine details about the curriculum for the new program (Kezar, 2011).
The teaching methods are also necessary in the description. Additionally, the description stage should also document the credentials required for lecturers or professors to teach the new course. For instance, experience in similar fields might be necessary. The final aspect of this stage is the preparation of tentative timelines for the implementation framework of the new degree program. These perspectives indicate that the description should capture as much detail as possible (Smart, 2010).
Resource Requirements
The resource framework for the new degree is another critical component of the initiation process. This framework should provide valid details about the human resource as well as financial requirements for the program. In most cases, the budget plan for the new program should be long terms. This helps in evaluating the program’s sustainability (Kezar, 2011).
This framework must specify the faculty that would be responsible for administering and offering the new degree. For a degree that relates to sciences, the human resource framework should identify the relevant human resource officers such as technicians and laboratory experts. The blueprint must also document the financial resources required to roll out the new program. Student financing is another essential aspect of consideration while developing the resource framework for the new program. The research components such as the library are also essential in establishing the resource plan for the program,
Assessment
This stage of the initiation process encompasses the identification of appropriate evaluation mechanisms for the new degree. For instance, some degrees require frequent assessments while others do not. The assessment framework of the new degree should also describe the pass mark. Similarly, the proposal must specify the standards used by lecturers to deal with failures (Smart, 2010).
Approval
Approval is obtained when the new degree program meets the criteria described in the paper. Approval implies that the college is ready to implement the new degree while disapproval indicates otherwise. The value proposition of the new degree program is always a crucial factor that determines approval or disapproval a new program. Other vital components include financial perspectives, implementation framework and the need for the new program. When a program does not get approval, the draft proposal might be amended in accordance with the board’s recommendations. The approval board should be comprised of experts who have adequate academic credentials. Additionally, they should have the previous experience in the introduction of new programs in colleges or universities (Kezar, 2011).
References
Kezar, A. (2011). Improved practices in higher education, Innovative Higher Education, 36(4)
Smart, J. C. (2010). Higher education: Handbook of theory and research, New York,NY: Springer Science
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