New Program Proposal Process

Getting Started

Talk to Your Academic Dean

All new academic program proposals must have the support and input of the Academic Dean(s). Your very first step in starting a new program is to visit with your Academic Dean.

Schedule a Meeting with APLI

Once you have the support of your Academic Dean, your next step is to contact Academic Planning & Learning Innovation (APLI). If your proposal is Graduate-level, you may start by contacting Vika Shock at shockv@newpaltz.edu or Shala Mills at millss@newpatlz.edu. If your proposal is Undergraduate-level, you may start by contacting Val McAllister at mcallisv@newpaltz.edu or Shala Mills at millss@newpatlz.edu.

EMSI Report and Cabinet Briefing Document

APLI will explain the program proposal process to you and help you complete an EMSI Report Request. EMSI is a SUNY vendor used to gather information about competitor programs and labor market demand. APLI will submit your EMSI Report Request to SUNY on your behalf. Once you have received the EMSI report, APLI will help you identify salient information from that report and then help you prepare a Pre-proposal Approval Document. (See Sample Pre-proposal Approval Document). APLI will submit the Pre-proposal Approval Document to the Provost and the Provost will determine whether it is ready to go to Cabinet for consideration.

Important Links

HEGIS and Program Codes: New Paltz Campus Code: 233500
CIP Codes
Master Plan Amendments (See page 15 of SUNY's Guide to Academic Program Planning. MPAs are only needed where the proposal is for an altogether new degree, a new degree level for the institution, a new degree level for one of the 10 Hegis code areas, or a branch campus).
New York State Education Department Inventory of Registered Programs
Middle States Commission on Higher Education, SUNY College at New Paltz
New York State Education Department Program Registration Guidance Documents
New York State Licensed Professions

Program Proposal Paperwork

Once you have cabinet support for the program idea, then you can begin work on the program proposal. APLI will assist you in developing the proposal and navigating the approval processes. Follow the guidance for either Graduate or Undergraduate Program Proposals as appropriate. Either way, the phases include:

+ Preparing the Proposal Paperwork

Preparing the Proposal Paperwork for a Draft Proposal

Development of the program proposal paperwork may move quickly or slowly, depending upon things such as the complexity of the proposal, the number of new/revised courses associated with the proposal, the degree of interdisciplinary negotiation involved, and other factors.

Program Lead meets with APLI to discuss program proposal during which APLI provides an overview of the process, including checklists, timelines, and relevant forms. APLI will pre-fill documents where possible or provide samples where pre-filling is not possible.
APLI will assist the Program Lead in selecting appropriate codes such as SED, HEGIS, and CIP and will offer guidance as needed for identifying appropriate/available course numbers.
In collaboration with faculty of relevant departments, the Program Lead will develop the curriculum plan including drafts of forms identified by APLI as pertinent to the program proposal (e.g, program proposal/revision forms, course proposal/revision forms, distance education forms, and syllabi). Use of correct forms/templates and carefully proofread documents are required for a successful proposal.
APLI will provide a review for spelling, grammar, formatting, content, and compliance with New Paltz, SUNY, and NYSED expectations.
Once a clean draft is complete, the Internal Review and Approval Process begins.

Internal Review Phase

+ Institutional Planning

While the Internal Review process is underway, APLI will guide the program lead, depatment chair, and academic dean in initial planning for program marketing and, if applicable, for remote modality deliveries.

Marketing Team

While the program proposal is under campus review, APLI gathers together the program lead, department chair, academic dean, graduate admissions, and the office of communication & marketing to review the program proposal, develop a marketing strategy, and discuss collateral needs.

Online/Hybrid Team

If the program proposal includes online/hybrid modality, APLI gathers together the program lead, department chair, continuing & online education, and the office of instructional technology for certification planning to discuss training and certification needs.

Academic Program Planning

Getting Started

Internal Review Phase

Program Launch