Process
This process is part of Dalhousie's overall academic quality assurance framework, and is consistent with the expectations of the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission.
The Senate Academic Programs and Research Committee (SAPRC) oversees academic program approvals and quality assurance of academic programs. The academic quality assurance manager in the provost’s office guides undergraduate program proposals through the approval or modification process, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies supports graduate programs.
Download the Assessment of Program Proposals [PDF-69.3KB] for a visual overview of the new program and major modification approval process at Dalhousie.
Types of Program Proposals
There are five types of program proposals at Dalhousie:
Exclusions
The information under these categories concerns proposals or changes to academic programs including requirements, structure, curriculum, learning outcomes, and degree name.
Please note the following exclusions or ‘other’ kinds of proposals:
Proposals of new, or changes to, existing program-level academic regulations (e.g., admissions, progression, etc.) follow a separate process unless they are being made in tandem with the former, in which case they can be proposed together.
For information on adding or changing program-level academic regulations, contact the senate.
A residency is a professional training program (typically post-graduate) associated with a medical or health-related field. They normally do not constitute an academic program (e.g., credit-beaing courses, assessment, etc.), and no credential is awarded (i.e., certificate), although students may receive a notation on their transcript. The following process is recommended for developing a new, or modifying an existing, residency:*
- Consult with Registrar’s Office and Financial Services around fee structure, registration, implementation, etc.
- Relevant regulatory body/hospital
- Accrediting body, where relevant (some Dentistry residencies are accredited, as an example)
- Dept Approval-Faculty Approval/Dean’s Endorsement
- Submit to RO, for implementation, and Academic Quality Assurance Manager for transmission to the Atlantic Advisory Committee on Health and Human Resources (information only) and Senate (information only) and MPHEC (for implementation/tracking and information)