Academic Program Development

State Academic Program Oversight (SCHEV)

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is Virginia’s managing body for higher education policy. George Mason’s compliance with SCHEV policy and procedures is coordinated by the SCHEV Liaison.

Actions that require SCHEV approval include:

  • Establishing or closing a degree program or certificate*
  • Changing the name or CIP code of an existing degree or certificate program
  • Modifying a degree or certificate program by more than three credits,* or offering a new delivery format
  • Opening, closing, or changing the name of an academic department or college

Actions that do not require SCHEV approval include:

  • Modifying a degree program by adding or removing three credits or less to the curriculum
  • Adding, removing, or modifying a degree program's concentrations, tracks, or minors

*Note: These actions may also require SACSCOC approval.

 

SCHEV Approval Process

Establishing a New Degree Program

Units should contact the SCHEV Liaison early in the program development process to establish a timeline and to ensure all materials are completed.

New degree program proposals may be submitted to SCHEV at any point throughout the year.

From the time of Undergraduate/Graduate Council approval to SCHEV approval, the process for establishing a new undergraduate or master's-level degree program takes at least one academic year.

From the time of Graduate Council approval to SCHEV approval, the process for establishing a new doctoral degree program takes up to two academic years.

Establishing a New Certificate Program

Units should contact the SCHEV Liaison immediately following Undergraduate/Graduate Council approval of the certificate to initiate the SCHEV proposal process.

New certificate program proposals may be submitted to SCHEV only during three submission cycles:

  • March 15
  • July 15
  • October 23

For initiation in a fall semester, proposals must be submitted to SCHEV by the March cycle of the desired initiation year.

Changing the Name or CIP Code of a Degree or Certificate Program

Units should contact the SCHEV Liaison to initiate the SCHEV proposal process.

Proposals to request a technical change to a degree or certificate program (e.g., CIP Code, degree designation, or name change) may be submitted to SCHEV only during two submission cycles:

  • March 15
  • July 15

For initiation in a fall semester, proposals must be submitted to SCHEV by the March cycle of the desired initiation year.

Changes to an existing program's six-digit CIP code designation (as reflected in SCHEV's Degree and Certificate inventory) are intended to respond to changes in the field or to better reflect the intent of the program, provided no significant changes have been made to program requirements, content, or emphasis, and provided that the new CIP code replaces the current code.

Modifying an Existing Degree Program

Units should contact the SCHEV Liaison to initiate the SCHEV proposal process.

Proposals to request modifications to a degree or certificate program may be submitted to SCHEV only during two submission cycles:

  • March 15
  • July 15

For initiation in a fall semester, proposals must be submitted to SCHEV by the March cycle of the desired initiation year.

Modifications that require SCHEV approval include:

  • Altering program requirements in a way that results in a fundamental change to the curriculum, purpose, focus or identity of the program as approved by SCHEV or that alters SCHEV’s common core requirements.
  • Adding or deleting a mode of delivery (e.g., adding fully online delivery) to an existing degree or certificate program. 
  • Increasing or decreasing the total credit hours by more than three (3) credits from what was originally approved by Council. In the case of a bachelor’s degree, any change to more than 124 credits will require SCHEV approval. Note: Three (3) is the maximum aggregate change in total credits that may be made without submitting a modification proposal to SCHEV; i.e., approval must be sought if/when the total increase or decrease—even if by smaller increments over time—exceeds three (3) credits. If/when the total aggregate change in credits exceeds 12, it may be necessary to submit a new degree program proposal.
  • Changing the licensure-qualifying status of a degree program as approved by SCHEV, i.e., adding or removing a licensure-qualifying option.

Modifications that do NOT require SCHEV approval include:

  • Modifying, adding, or removing concentrations within a degree or certificate program.
  • Modifying, adding, or removing minors within a degree program.

Closing a Degree or Certificate Program

Units should contact the SCHEV Liaison to initiate the SCHEV proposal process for degree and certificate program closures.

All discontinuances of degree programs must have approval from George Mason’s Board of Visitors (BOV). Notifications of intent to discontinue degree or certificate programs must be approved by SCHEV prior to the program closure or ceasing student enrollment, particularly programs in critical shortage areas. 

Proposals to discontinue a degree or certificate program may be submitted to SCHEV only during two submission cycles:

  • March 15
  • July 15

To discontinue enrollment of a degree program in a fall semester, proposals (including teach-out plans) must be approved by the February BOV meeting, and submitted to SCHEV by the March cycle of the desired discontinuation year.

Opening, Closing, or Renaming Academic Units

Organizational changes (i.e., adding, removing, or renaming academic units at or above the department level) must be announced to Graduate Council and Undergraduate Council, approved by the Board of Visitors, and approved by SCHEV.

Proposals to request organizational changes may be submitted to SCHEV only during two submission cycles:

  • March 15
  • July 15

For implementation in a fall semester, proposals for organizational changes must be submitted to SCHEV during the March cycle of the desired initiation year.

Resources