USF St. Petersburg Graduate Council

Membership

Responsibilities

Graduate Course and Program Approval:

Approval Process Flowchart

Changes to Grad Certificate

Changes to Program

Concentration

Course Proposal

New Degree Programs

New Dual Degree Programs

New Grad Certificate

 

The Graduate Council (the Council) of The University of South Florida St. Petersburg

(USFSP) is responsible for recommending to the USF St. Petersburg Regional Vice

Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and for reporting to the USF St. Petersburg Faculty

Senatel, on matters pertaining to graduate courses, curricula, and instructional

programs of USF St. Petersburg. The Council shall advise the Regional Vice Chancellor

for Academic Affairs on the development of future graduate programs of USF St.

Petersburg, to include reviewing and updating of the statement of academic goals

and objectives of USF St. Petersburg.

To this end, the USF St. Petersburg Graduate Council will address itself to questions

about graduate academic policies related to admissions criteria, academic standards,

the curriculum, and graduation requirements. In addition, the Council may serve as

a reference body to other USF St. Petersburg councils and committees on matters of

program policy and as a recipient of requests for the development of graduate courses

or programs.

Graduate Council Policies and Procedures

Graduate Council Minutes and Reports

USF St. Petersburg Faculty Senate

New Degree Proposal Preparation

The Board of Trustees of the University of South Florida is responsible for authorizing new master's and bachelor's programs.  The following was developed as Criteria for a New Master's Degree by the University of South Florida System Board of Trustees using guidelines set forth by the State's Division of Colleges and Universities.  The Florida Board of Governors Recommended Proposal Form for New Bachelor's or Master's Degree Programs can be found here.

Criteria for New Master's Degree Authorization

A.  Readiness

1.  Mission and Strength:  The goals of the program are aligned with the university's mission and relate to specific institutional strengths.

2.  Program Quality:  If there have been program reviews or accreditation activities in the discipline or in related disciplines pertinent to the proposed program, the proposal provides evidence that progress has been made in implementing the recommendations from those review, as appropriate.

3.  Curriculum:  The proposal describes an appropriate and sequenced course of study, including expected student learning outcomes, an assessment plan to verify student learning, and, in the case of advanced technology and related disciplines, industry-driven competencies.  Evidence is provided that, if appropriate, the university anticipates seeking accreditation from those reviews, as appropriate.

4.  Faculty:  Evidence is provided that a critical mass of faculty is available to initiate the program based on estimated enrollments, and that, if appropriate, there is a commitment to hire additional faculty in later years, based on estimated enrollments.

5.  Resources:  Evidence is provided that the necessary library volumes and serials; classroom, teaching laboratory, research laboratory, office, and any other type of physical space; equipment; appropriate fellowships, scholarships, and graduate assistantships; and appropriate clinical and internship sites are sufficient to initiate the program.  Fellowships, scholarships, and graduate assistantships are in place or planned where applicable.

B.  Accountability

6.  Need:  Evidence is provided that there is a need for more people to be educated in this program and this level.  If the program duplicates other programs in Florida, a convincing rationale for doing so is provided.  The proposal contains realistic estimates of headcount and FTE students who will major in the proposed program and indicates steps to be taken to achieve a diverse student body.

7.  Budget:  The proposal provides a complete and realistic budget for the program which reflects the text of the proposal, which is comparable to the budgets of similar programs, and which provides evidence that, in the event that resources within the institution are redirected to support the new program, such a redirection will not have an unjustified negative impact on other needed programs.  The proposal demonstrates a judicious use of resources and provides a convincing argument that the output of the program justifies the investment.

8.  Productivity: The proposal provides evidence that the academic unit(s) associated with this new degree have been productive in teaching, research and service.

University Approval Process

All proposals must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department and college committees, and by the appropriate department chair(s)/director(s) and dean(s) before being forwarded to the Graduate Council for review.  When these levels of review have been completed, the Graduate Council will forward the proposal with its recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.  The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will present the proposal to the USF system's Academic Affairs Council for review.  If approved, Academic Affairs Council will forward to the Board of Trustee's Academic and Campus Environment (ACE) Workgroup.  The ACE Workgroup will forward its recommendation on to the USF Board of Trustees.

Before an academic unit or other faculty group begins work on a new degree program proposal, it is advisable to schedule a meeting with the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies.  (Contact Dr. Chris D'Elia at ext. 3-4812 or cdelia@spadmin.usf.edu).

What to Include With the Proposal

Once the proposal is prepared using the Board of Governors' recommended format, attach the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - New Degree Program to the program proposal.  Include a 250-word abstract that briefly explains why the program is needed and what the primary goals are.  Include a short vita (2-4) pages for each faculty member. The vita should include name, educational preparation, recent publications and presentations,and grants.  Attach a letter from the College Dean indicating how the College will provide all the resources needed to support the new program.  It is recommended that you use the budget submission tables provided by the Division of Colleges and Universities' recommended format.

Where to Send the Proposal and Supporting Materials

See program proposal flowchart for the various steps.  Start the approval process by

submitting the proposal to the USF St. Petersburg Office of Graduate Studies, BAY 204.

Changes to Program

Attach the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - Changes to Degree Programs to a summary of what the requirements of the program were, what has been changed, and why it is needed.  Begin the approval process as outlined in the program proposal flowchart.

New or Changed Concentration

Attach the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - New or Changed Concentration to:

For New Concentrations:  a 250-word abstract that briefly explains why the concentration is needed and what the primary goals are.  Include the name of the program (major) that will offer it, the requirements, total hours, budget account number, and proposed Catalog copy.  Begin the approval process as outlined in the program proposal flowchart.

For Changed or Terminated Concentrations: what the requirements were, what has been changed, and why it is needed.  The Catalog copy showing the changed that will be needed if the proposal is approved.  Begin the approval process as outlined in the program proposal flowchart.

New Dual Degree Program

Attach the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - New Dual Degree Programs to a 250-word abstract that briefly explains why the Dual Degree program is needed and what the primary goals are, the requirements for both degrees, with the common set of requirements clearly specified and the proposed Catalog copy following the template provided at www.grad.usf.edu (click on Graduate Forms).  Begin the approval process as outlined in the program proposal flowchart.

New Graduate Certificate

For a NEW graduate certificate program, attach a completed New Graduate Certificate Program Proposal Form to a list of required courses and faculty (prefix number, title, credit hours, faculty member), a brief justification (no more than 1 page), and proposed Catalog copy. 

Start the approval process by submitting the proposal to the USF St. Petersburg Office of Graduate Studies, BAY 204.

Changes to Graduate Certificate

For CHANGES to an existing graduate certificate program, attach a completed Graduate Certificate Change Form to a brief justification for the change and submit the original signed document to the Office of Graduate Studies, BAY 204.

Course Proposal

New Course Proposals require: the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - New or Changed Course, the New Graduate Course Online Proposal Form and a course syllabus that meets the USF Course Syllabus Policy (see below).

Changed or Terminated Course proposals required: the Graduate Curriculum Approval Form - New or Changed course, the Substantive Graduate Course Change form OR the Non-substantive Graduate Course Change form, and a course syllabus that meets the requirements of the USF Course Syllabus Policy (see below).

USF Course Syllabus Policy

Must include the following: 

*course title, course prefix, number and section

* instructor's name, office hours and location, phone number (email & fax suggested)

*course objectives, dates of scheduled exams, course outline including assignments and dates due

*attendance policy, grading policy, a policy statement on the make up of missed work (suggested)

*notice of permission/non-permission to sell notes or tapes of class lectures

*titles of required textbooks and readings

*a reminder that students who anticipate being absent from class due to religious observance should inform the instructor by the second class meeting (suggested)