How to Propose a New Online Degree, Concentration, or Certificate

The department can proceed to the steps below if all the degree courses have been developed for online delivery through the MTSU Online development process. If the courses are not developed, each course should be proposed through the MTSU Online course proposal and development process and then developed with the support of an MTSU Online instructional designer.

1. If this is a graduate program, the department representative contacts Dr. Amy Harris (Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, [email protected]) to discuss plans to offer an online program option or to close the on-ground option. For undergraduate programs, please proceed to step two.
2. The department representative (typically the chair or program coordinator) emails MTSU Online (Dr. Trey Martindale, Associate Vice Provost for Online Learning, [email protected]) and expresses interest or a plan to offer an existing on-ground program online.
3. Martindale emails Layne Bryant (Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation, [email protected]), who will confirm if the program has previously been reported to SACS-COC as a substantive change. Martindale emails Amy Aldridge to confirm THEC notification as a program action.
4. The proposing department representative completes this simple Online Program Proposal form, which includes a list of online courses in the program and the terms they will be offered. This is the department’s commitment to offer a rotation of online courses so a student can complete the degree online in a timely manner. The proposing department representative emails the form to Carol Hayes, who completes her part of the form.
5. MTSU Online (Carol Hayes) reviews the shared Online Program Proposal form and the department’s online offerings from the two most recent academic years to determine the current state of the program or concentration: 0-49% online, 50-99% online (hybrid), 100% online. Carol Hayes adds to the shared Online Program Proposal form her notes about which courses must be developed or completed. Carol shares the form with Trey Martindale.
6. Martindale confirms with the department representative that the implementation plan is feasible.
7. The department representative notifies the appropriate academic officer (see below) who will assist with the Modern Campus Curriculum submission. The department representative is required to enter the intended launch term in Curriculog when submitting the proposal.
   1. Graduate programs will email Dr. Amy Harris (Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, [email protected]), with a cc to Dr. Amy Aldridge (Vice Provost for Academic Programs, [email protected])
   2. Undergraduate programs will email Dr. Amy Aldridge
8. The department representative submits a new proposal using the Program: Program Change Form in Curriculog (listed under the “All Proposals” tab). Instructions:
9. The proposal will route through the review process: departmental curriculum committee to department chair to college curriculum committee to college dean to university curriculum committee (undergraduate programs) to graduate council subcommittee, council, and dean (graduate programs) to the provost and VP for Academic Programs (VPAP).
   NOTE: The online form will not be submitted to THEC until MTSU Online notifies the VPAP that the entire program has been approved for online. Also, the program cannot be advertised as online until THEC grants approval.
10. Upon approval:
    1. If the program needs to be reported to SACS-COC, Layne Bryant will create a notification letter indicating the program name, level, credential, and implementation date. Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle (Vice Provost for Planning and Effectiveness, [email protected]) will upload it to the SACS-COC substantive change portal.
    2. Dr. Aldridge will submit a notification for the amended instructional delivery mode to THEC.
    3. Mitzi Brandon (Curriculum Specialist, Provost’s Office, [email protected]) will add an online program notation to the catalog once THEC approves it.
11. MTSU Online receives the notification of the final approval and adds the program to the list of online programs on the MTSU Online website (noting the semester the program will be available fully online).
12. The Director of MTSU Online ensures that the MTSU program website includes information about online student support resources and text indicating that the program is available online.

1. If this is a graduate program, the department representative contacts Dr. Amy Harris (Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, [email protected]) to discuss the feasibility of the proposed program and the proposal process. For undergraduate programs, please proceed to step two.
2. The department representative (typically the chair or program coordinator) contacts MTSU Online (Dr. Trey Martindale, Associate Vice Provost for Online Learning, [email protected]) to discuss interest and plans for the online delivery of the new academic program.
3. The department representative contacts Dr. Amy Aldridge (Vice Provost for Academic Programs, [email protected]) to discuss the feasibility of the proposed program and the proposal process. Viable programs will begin with the Program: New Academic Program / Program Reactivation process in Curriculog, which begins with a Letter of Notification (LON) to be submitted to THEC.
   1. Dr. Mary Hoffschwelle (Vice Provost for Planning and Effectiveness, [email protected]) and Layne Bryant (Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation, [email protected]) will receive a notification from Curriculog and will work with the department to determine if the new program qualifies as a substantive change for SACS-COC.
   2. THEC will evaluate the LON and post it on the THEC website for public comment.
4. Once the LON is approved, the department will begin the next phases for Academic Affairs:
   1. The department prepares the New Academic Program Proposal (NAPP) for THEC.
   2. Bryant and Hoffschwelle work with the department to create the substantive change prospectus (as applicable).
5. The proposing department representative completes this simple Online Program Proposal form, which includes a list of online courses in the program and the terms they will be offered. This is the department’s commitment to offer a rotation of online courses so a student can complete the degree online in a timely manner. The proposing department representative emails the form to Carol Hayes, who completes her part of the form.
6. MTSU Online (Carol Hayes) reviews the shared Online Program Proposal form and the department’s online offerings from the two most recent academic years to determine the current state of the program or concentration: 0-49% online, 50-99% online (hybrid), 100% online. Carol Hayes adds to the shared Online Program Proposal form her notes about which courses must be developed or completed. The department chair determines which courses must be developed online and approves faculty developers for this task. Carol shares the form with Trey Martindale.
7. Martindale confirms with the department representative that the implementation plan is feasible.
8. Individual faculty course developers submit a proposal form for each required online course to be developed for the online program. Detailed instructions are at the MTSU Online course development process.
   1. These proposal forms (dynamic forms) are automatically routed to the department chair for approval and then to Trey Martindale. Martindale approves the individual course proposal forms (or returns for revision).
   2. Carol Hayes (MTSU Online Coordinator of Faculty Services, [email protected]) initiates an Agreement Form (a dynamic form), which is signed electronically by the faculty developer and by Trey Martindale, then the department chair, dean, and provost.
   3. The faculty course developer works with an MTSU Online instructional Designer to develop the online course. Upon completion, the course is reviewed and approved by the department chair.
   4. Carol Hayes notifies the scheduling center that the approved course may be added to the schedule for student registration.
9. MTSU Online monitors the course development process and updates the department representative as courses are completed to ensure the program is on track for launch by the planned term.
10. Once the NAPP (THEC) is complete:
    1. The Curriculog proposal will proceed through the approval steps, which are more extensive than for a change of delivery method proposal. After the Provost, the NAPP must be approved by the President, MTSU Board of Trustees, and THEC.
    2. The substantive change prospectus (as applicable) will be submitted to SACS-COC for review and approval.
11. Once THEC and SACS-COC approve the new program:
    1. Mitzi Brandon (Curriculum Specialist, Provost’s Office, [email protected]) will add an online program notation to the catalog.
    2. MTSU Online adds the program to the list of online programs on the MTSU Online website (noting the semester the program will be available fully online).
    3. MTSU Online ensures that the MTSU program website includes information about online student support resources and text indicating that the program is available online.