Developing a New Online Degree or Certificate Program

Previously Delivered On-Ground  Not Previously Delivered On-Ground

Procedure for a new online program that has been previously delivered on-ground

If all the degree’s courses have been developed for online delivery through the MTSU Online development process, the department can proceed to the steps below. 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 and only if this is a graduate program, the department representative contacts Dr. Amy Harris (Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, amy.harris@mtsu.edu), 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) contacts MTSU Online (Dr. Trey Martindale, Associate Vice Provost for Online Learning, trey.martindale@mtsu.edu) and expresses interest or a plan to offer an existing on-ground program online.
  3. Martindale notifies Layne Bryant (Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation, layne.bryant@mtsu.edu), who will confirm if the program has previously been reported to SACSCOC as a substantive change and to THEC as a program action.
  4. MTSU Online (Carol Hayes) reviews 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. Martindale shares Hayes' review with the department representative.
  5. With help from MTSU Online, the department then writes a brief implementation plan, including:
    1. Curriculum mapping (a verified rotation of online course offerings so a student can complete the degree online in a timely manner).
    2. Scheduling any needed online course development.
    3. The intended launch term for the 100% online program. 
  6. Martindale confirms with the department representative that the implementation plan is feasible.
  7. The department representative notifies the appropriate academic officer who will assist with the Curriculog 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, amy.harris@mtsu.edu), with a cc to Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford (Vice Provost for Academic Programs, amy.aldridge.sanford@mtsu.edu)
    2. Undergraduate programs will email Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford
  8. The department representative submits a new proposal using the Program: Program Change Form in Curriculog (listed under the “All Proposals” tab). Instructions:
    1. Identify the department, college, program name, level, and effective term (the semester at which the program will be available 100% online).  Typically, changes are effective May of the following year to align with the publication of the new undergraduate and graduate catalogs.
    2. Select the box for Amend Instructional Delivery Mode (THEC form A1.5H). The department representative will fill in the THEC form offline and upload it as an attachment to Curriculog. Dr. Amy Harris and Dr. Aldridge Sanford can assist the department with the form narratives if needed.
    3. Complete all remaining sections describing the change, providing contact information, and selecting the appropriate college and curriculum committee.
    4. Submit the proposal for review and approval.
  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 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 SACSCOC, 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, mary.hoffschwelle@mtsu.edu) will upload to the SACSCOC substantive change portal.
    2. Dr. Aldridge Sanford will submit a notification for the amended instructional delivery mode to THEC.
    3. Mitzi Brandon (Curriculum Specialist, Provost's Office, mitzi.brandon@mtsu.edu) will add an online program notation to the catalog once approved by THEC.
  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 the MTSU program website includes information about online student support resources, as well as text indicating the program is available online.

Procedure for a new online program that has NOT been previously delivered on-ground

  1. If and only if this is a graduate program, the department representative contacts Dr. Amy Harris (Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, amy.harris@mtsu.edu), 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, trey.martindale@mtsu.edu) to discuss interest and plans for the online delivery of the new academic program.
  3. The department representative contacts Dr. Amy Aldridge Sanford (Vice Provost for Academic Programs, amy.aldridge.sanford@mtsu.edu) 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, mary.hoffschwelle@mtsu.edu) and Layne Bryant (Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Accreditation, layne.bryant@mtsu.edu) will receive a notification from Curriculog and will work with the department to determine if the new program qualifies as a substantive change for SACSCOC.
    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. With help from MTSU Online, the department then writes a brief implementation plan, including:
    1. Curriculum mapping (a verified rotation of online course offerings so a student can complete the degree online in a timely manner)
    2. Scheduling any needed online course development. The department chair determines which courses need to be developed online and approves faculty developers for this task.
    3. The intended launch term for the 100% online program. 
  6. 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, carol.hayes@mtsu.edu) 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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 SACSCOC for review and approval.
  9. Once THEC and SACSCOC approve the new program:
    1. Mitzi Brandon (Curriculum Specialist, Provost's Office, mitzi.brandon@mtsu.edu) 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 the MTSU program website includes information about online student support resources, as well as text indicating the program is available online.