Maryland Maryland Higher Education Commission

​​​​​​​​​​​​Articulation Template (Dec 15 2018).docx​​​​​

Academic Program Proposals

Academic Program Proposal Submission Guide:                                                    ​For Degree-Granting Institutions Authorized in Maryland

​Submission Process

Institutions must submit proposals in accordance with State regulations outlined in COMAR 13B.02.03​

  • Email proposals to: [email protected]
  • Submission dates: 1st and 15th of each month
    • ​If the submission date falls on a weekend or holiday, submit your materials the next business day​
  • Information on required fees can be found in the fee schedule provided in COMAR 13B.02.03.02-1
  • Review the guidance below, as well as the Administrative Procedures Guide, to determine appropriate submission types and required documents 
Guidance​

New Academic Programs, Degrees, and Certificates:​​

Submit when proposing to:​​

  • Establish a program/award not currently authorized
  • Offer an existing subject at a new degree level or type
  • Combine coursework into a new major
  • Launch a program at a Regional Higher Education Center (RHEC) or other off campus location
  • Offer a stand-alone certificate program

Required Documents:

  • New Program/Substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer (justifying statewide need)

  • Program Proposal

Cooperative Programs:

Submissions must:

  • Be planned jointly by participating institutions
  • Include identical proposals approved through each institution's internal process
  • Include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Required Documents:

  • New Program/Substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of notifications with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer (justifying statewide need) of both institutions
  • Program Proposal

Substantial Modifications (Curricular):

Submit when proposing to:​

  • Change >50% of major coursework 
    • ​The 50% threshold is calculated based on the total credits added, removed, or replaced within the program requirements, as well as any change to the total number of elective credits required for graduation. General education requirements are excluded from this calculation
  • ​Establish or substantially modify an Area of Concentration (AoC)
  • Offer an existing program at a new location (off campus/RHEC) 

Required Documents:

Note: If changes are required by an accreditor, licensing board, or other state or national entity that governs academic program elements, submit a notification only.​​

Articulation Agreements​:

Per COMAR 13B.02.03.19 all proposals from public senior higher education institutions for new bachelor's degree programs, substantial modifications to existing bachelor's degree programs, or substantial modifications to existing associate's degree programs shall include:

  • A proposed articulation agreement with at least one community college/public senior higher education institution; or
  • Justification for why an articulation agreement is not feasible or applicable​​

Non-Substantial Curricular Adjustments:

Submit when proposing to:

  • ​​Change <50% of major coursework
  • ​Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Supporting/comparative course documentation
    • Optional Chart

  • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer

Modality Change:

Submit when proposing to:

  • Change the modality of a program
    • Modality options include:
      • On-campus - The program cannot be made 100 online. Students should have a good balance of face-to face​ and on-campus courses
      • ​Fully Online (Distance Ed) - Students are not expected to come to campus except for limited activities such as orientation, testing, or other similar required in-person experiences 
      • Dual or "Both" - Students may choose to complete the program fully online OR fully on-campus

​Required Documents:

  • ​Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet​
  • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer

  • Program Modality Change Request form

Program Title Change:​

Required Documents:​

  • ​Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer

  • Current and proposed titles

CIP/HEGIS Code Change:

Required Documents:

  • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer 

  • Current and Proposed Codes

Discontinuation/Suspension:

Required Documents:

  • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet

  • Letter of Notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer

Program Reactivation:

  • If within 3 years of suspending the required documents include:
    • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer (justifying statewide need)
    • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
      • Word Version
      • PDF Version​
  • If >3 years from suspending the required documents include:
    • Substantial Modification Cover Sheet
      • Word Version
      • PDF Version
    • Letter of notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer (justifying statewide need)
    • Full New Program Proposal

Health Manpower Designation:

Submit if you are a Community College proposing to:

  • ​​Offer students who are Maryland residents and enroll in a program that the Commission has designated a health occupation shortage program in county​ tuition rates

Required Documents:

  • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet

  • Letter of Notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer

Sta​​​​​​​​​​​tewide Designation:

Submit if you are Community College proposing to:

  • ​Per COMAR 13B.02.03.26(B) implement a specialized technical program designed to prepare students for immediate employment
Required Documents:
  • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of Notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer
  • Proposal which includes information on:
    • Maximization of student access to programs;
    • The ability of the college to accommodate additional students;​
    • The need for additional students to sustain the programs;
    • The unit cost of the program;
    • Uniqueness of the program; and
    • Current labor market demand for graduates of the program in the region

New Certificate in Existing Degree Programs:

Submit if you are proposing to:

  • ​Implement a certificate program that consists entirely of existing courses already offered within a single parent degree program (no new courses are being added)
Required Documents:
  • ​Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of Notification with justification from the President or Chief Academic Officer
  • Proposal which includes information on:
    • The centrality of the proposed certificate program to be the mission of the institution; 
    • Evidence of the market demand for the proposed certificate program;
    • The curriculum design; and
    • Faculty resources demonstrating adequate exist for the proposed certificate program

Note: All courses in the certificate must be included in the most recent catalogue entry for the parent program

Closed Site Approvals:

Submit if you are proposing to:

  • ​Offer a previously approved program at an off-campus site selected by the sponsoring agent solely for the sponsoring agent's employees (per COMAR 13B.02.03.21(D) the general public may not be recruited or admitted to these programs)
  • Offer a Prison Education Program

Required Documents:

  • Non-substantial Modification Cover Sheet
  • Letter of Notification outlining program(s) offered and affirming that there is access to library resources and faculty consistent with the scope and nature of the offerings
  • Faculty Resource Plan​

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Distance Education Programs:

Programs offered via distance education must:

  • Have internal approval to offer programs online
  • Clearly identify modality as distance education
  • Address the C-RAC Guidelines 


For questions, contact: [email protected]

​



​

​
​

​



​


​


​



​





​














​


​




























​