The
University Senate of Michigan Technological University
PROPOSAL
17-11
(Voting
Units: Academic)
“Proposal for
Shelving and Eliminating
Degree Programs and Certificates”
Basis for the
Proposal: There
is a need for a mechanism to be in place whereby the University can remove
programs offered at Michigan Tech. Such removals can be temporary and reversible
(shelved), or permanent (eliminated). This proposal details mechanisms whereby
programs can be shelved, and following five years as a shelved program they can
be eliminated, re-shelved or reinstituted.
Definitions: In this proposal the phrase ‘program
needing state approval’ is used for degrees, majors, and concentrations that
need state approval for implementation or elimination. The phrase ‘other programs’
is used for minors, certificates etc. that do not need state approval. Programs
that are currently suspended are considered to be shelved under this proposal.
Program Shelving
- A shelved program would be
administratively removed from recruiting and new admissions. Those students already enrolled would be
allowed to complete the program requirements under a mutually agreed upon
plan.
- A shelved program would be
described as such on the University database system, but would not be
submitted to the State as an officially eliminated program. It would only be internally inactive.
- A shelved program could be revived
in the future without having to go through a State approval process.
Who. Program shelving
can be initiated by department chairs, deans, and/or the University Provost.
This can be the result of a review process, at any time at the initiative of
the department offering the program, or at any time at the initiative of the
Provost. A proposal to shelve a program will need Senate approval via the
Curricular Policy Committee.
When.
Shelving proposals need to be submitted to the Provost’s
office by October 31st of each academic year to coincide with deadline for the
curriculum review process. If approved, the shelving will take effect June 30
of the following year (20 months).
A program should not remain shelved indefinitely.
After five years, a shelved program will be reviewed by the academic unit that
administers the program and the Provost’s office, and a recommendation will be
made to the Senate via the Curricular Policy Committee as to whether the
program should be reinstated, eliminated or remain shelved. If re-shelved, the
program will be reviewed after a further five years.
Format for Proposals to Shelve Programs
Shelving of any type of degree program
(certificate, minor, associate, bachelor, master and/or Ph.D.) requires a brief
(approximately one page) proposal that includes:
- Full
name of program to be shelved
- Final
term program will be open for new admits
- Plan
to complete all enrolled students and any returning students
- Reason
for shelving
- Financial
impact (if any) to the department and university
Procedure
for Shelving Programs
- Program
shelving proposals are forwarded to the provost's office
- Administrative review will include notification
to publications, admissions, the registrar’s office and any other
potentially affected units.
- After administrative review, review by Dean’s
council, and, in the case of graduate programs, review by Graduate Faculty
Council, the provost submits the shelving proposal to
the Senate. Senate and University approval is needed for all shelving proposals.
- A written plan must be in place for current
students so that they can complete the program requirements or an
alternative to those requirements.
Program Elimination
- A
program may not be eliminated without having been shelved for at least
five years.
- An
already shelved program
may be eliminated.
- For programs needing state
approval, a program elimination proposal would be submitted to the State
in an official elimination process.
Once elimination has occurred, a program could not be revived in
the future, but would have to start again with a new program proposal.
- Elimination of other programs
would not have to be submitted to the State in an official elimination
process. Once eliminated, other
programs could not be revived in the future, but would have to start again
with a new proposal.
Who.
Program elimination can be initiated by department
chairs, deans, and/or the University Provost.
When. Elimination proposals
may be submitted to the Provost’s office at any time after a program has been
shelved for a period of five years.
Format for Proposals to Eliminate Programs
Elimination of any type of degree
program (certificate, minor, associate, bachelor, master and/or Ph.D.) requires
a brief (approximately one page) proposal that includes:
- Full
name of program to be eliminated
- Final
term program will be open for new admits
- Plan
to complete all enrolled students and any returning students
- Reason
for elimination
- Financial
impact (if any) to the department and university
Procedure
for Elimination of Programs
- Program
elimination proposals are forwarded to the provost's office
- Administrative review will include notification
to publications, recruiting, admissions and any other potentially affected
unit.
- After administrative review and review by
Dean’s council, the provost submits the elimination proposal to
the Senate.
- Elimination
proposals for undergraduate programs needing state approval are sent to
the provost's office, senate, Board of Control, and the State of Michigan
President's Council for review.
- Elimination
proposals for graduate programs needing state approval are sent to the
provost's office, Graduate Faculty Council, senate, Board of
Control and the State of Michigan President's Council for review.
- Other
undergraduate program elimination proposals are forwarded to the provost's
office, then to the senate for review.
- Other
graduate program elimination proposals are forwarded to the provost's
office, Graduate Faculty Council, then to the senate for
review.
- A written, mutually agreed upon plan must be in
place for current students so that they can complete the program
requirements or an alternative to those requirements.
Introduced to Senate: 2 March 2011
Adopted by Senate: 23 March 2011
Approved by Administration: 31 March 2011
Became Senate Procedures 414.1.1