At the University of Windsor, faculties and departments initiate new programs in response to the evolving needs of the local and global community and the emerging patterns of knowledge construction within and among disciplines. New programs are initiated with attention to curriculum design, the development of learning outcomes, the alignment of effective teaching and assessment methods, and the responsible management of the requisite human, instructional and physical resources within the institution.
New program development is important to students, departments, the University and society. The increasing complexity of these approval requirements, however, can be a significant burden to proponents seeking to navigate the process and can slow the pace of development and innovation on campuses. In response to these challenges, the University sought to establish an approach that will ensure that proponents have access to the information, consultation and expertise they will need to expedite the process and optimize proposals’ chances of external approval and smooth implementation.
Please read the document outlining the University’s procedures for the approval of all new program developments, Introduction to New Program Development.
New program development at Windsor requires the following additional preliminary steps:
- Proponents complete the New Program Notice of Intent (NOI) and submit it to the Office of Quality Assurance (iqap@uwindsor.ca or pkollar@uwindsor.ca).
Please Note: The PDC Form A is not available through the website. The PDC Form A will be emailed to you by the Office of Quality Assurance following the NOI stage which includes a meeting with the New Program Steering Committee (NPSC) and the Associate Vice-President, Academic (AVPA) Approval. The PDC Form A process differs from the other PDC Form processes and you will begin your New Programming journey with the New Program Notice of Intent.
All New Program Proposals require institutional review and approval by the AAU Council, Dean, the Faculty Coordinating Council (where appropriate), the Graduate Studies Council (where appropriate), the Provost, and the Senate.
Please see the New Program Approval Process Flow Chart to see the IQAP process for new program approval.
Get Started with the New Program Notice of Intent
New Programs include:
AAUs considering new program proposals should contact the Office of Quality Assurance for guidance before they start the process.
All new undergraduate or graduate new degree program proposals begins with the Notice of Intent (NOI).
Once the NOI has been submitted, a meeting with the New Program Steering Committee will be arranged by the IQAP Office.
The NOI and meeting notes will be forwarded to the Provost by the NPSC for approval to move forward to the PDC Form A stage. Once this approval has been received, the IQAP Office will email you the PDC Form A. We will work continuously with you to complete the Form A.
Get started with a New Degree Program (undergraduate, graduate)
All new undergraduate diploma proposals begins with the Notice of Intent (NOI).
Once the NOI has been submitted, a meeting with the New Program Steering Committee will be arranged by the IQAP Office.
The NOI and meeting notes will be forwarded to the Provost by the NPSC for approval to move forward to the PDC Form A stage. Once this approval has been received, the IQAP Office will email you the PDC Form A. We will work continuously with you to complete the Form A.
Note: 13 - 29 courses are required for a diploma program.
Get started with new Diploma Programs (new non-degree, undergraduate)
Universities may grant diplomas in acknowledgement of students’ participation in either for-credit or not-for-credit activities at the undergraduate and graduate level. Not-for-credit and for-credit undergraduate diploma programs are not subject to approval or audit by the Quality Council. The Quality Council recognizes only three types or categories of Graduate Diploma and has specific appraisal conditions (and an associated submission template) applying to each:
- Type 1: Awarded when a candidate admitted to a master’s program leaves the program after completing a certain proportion of the requirements. Students are not admitted directly to these programs. When new, these programs require submission to the Quality Council for an Expedited Approval (no external reviewers required) prior to their adoption. Once approved, they will be incorporated into the schedule for cyclical reviews as part of the parent program.
- Type 2: Offered in conjunction with a master’s (or doctoral) degree, the admission to which requires that the candidate be already admitted to the master’s (or doctoral) program. This represents an additional, usually interdisciplinary, qualification. When new, these programs require submission to the Quality Council for an Expedited Approval (no external reviewers required) prior to their adoption. Once approved, they will be incorporated into the schedule for cyclical reviews as part of the parent program.
- Type 3: A stand-alone, direct-entry program, generally developed by a unit already offering a related master’s (and sometimes doctoral) degree, and designed to meet the needs of a particular clientele or market. Where the program has been conceived and developed as a distinct and original entity, the institution will use the Expedited Approval. All such programs, once approved, will be subject to the normal cycle of program reviews, typically in conjunction with the related degree program.
All new undergraduate or graduate new degree program proposals begins with the Notice of Intent (NOI).
Graduate Diploma Program (for-credit, graduate)
Thinking of proposing a New Program? Please contact the IQAP Office for guidance before beginning this process.
Things to keep in mind before applying for a New Program
- There are different timelines for approval for each of the new program categories. These timelines can be found in their category tabs.
- The initial process for all New Program proposals begins with the Notice of Intent stage.
- All New Program proposal proponents will meet with the New Program Steering Committee at this Notice of Intent stage and prior to moving forward to the PDC Form A.
- All PDC Form A proposals will be finalized with the IQAP Office before the final PDC Form A can be uploaded to the PDC Workflow Approval Process.
Deadlines / Timelines:
Approvals for New Program Proposals can take up to 18 months. There are various deadlines that are required to be met to move through the complete process.
For graduate new programs, these proposals must go through Graduate Studies Council before moving to the Program Development Committee (PDC) and to Senate and finally to the Quality Council. Some proposals will also require MCU approval for funding.
Resources:
Blackboard Curriculum Development Fund Information – has many resources for market and student surveys to help build the PDC Form A in the market survey section. For access to this, please contact the Office of Quality Assurance and provide you UWin ID.
The Research Ethics Board at the University of Windsor undertakes ethics review of all research involving human subjects, including funded and unfunded faculty research, graduate research, and administrative research. A simplified procedure for REB approval applications is available for surveys to be conducted specifically as part of the University of Windsor Institutional Quality Assurance Process (IQAP).
- Individuals considering surveys for use in cyclial program reviews or new program development should contact the IQAP office for guidance and submit the completed Application form prior to administering the survey.
- Surveys that fall within the IQAP Ethics Board requirements will be reviewed by the IQAP Ethics Board (IEB), as delegated by the REB. Surveys that do not fall within the IQAP survey requirements, outlined below, must be submitted through the standard REB review process.
- IQAP Ethics Board - Application form and requirements
- Letter of Information for Potential Survey Participants- template