At the system level, program modifications include anything that changes DMA data fields as well as establishments/changes to academic arrangements between institutions for the specified programs (e.g., collaborative programs, joint/dual degrees, articulation agreements).

Approval Items

Board approval is required for any modifications to degrees/majors that are not within the original program scope (i.e., program level change and some name/CIP code changes).  Otherwise, program modifications that require administrative approval include changes to any of the following:

• Program Level (e.g., bachelor's versus master's)
• Degree/Certificate Acronym (e.g., BS versus BSN)
• Degree/Certificate Name
• Major Name
  • Some degrees are approved without majors (e.g., “Bachelor of Science in Nursing” is a degree that is discipline specific and does not require a major.  Many discipline-specific degrees still have majors to allow for focus on specific subdisciplines; e.g. Bachelor of Business Administration where many institutions then are authorized to offer majors in subjects such as Management and Marketing.
• CIP Code
  • CIP Codes are composed of a 6-digit code from the National Center for Education Statistics' Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) database along with a 2-digit program-specific extension code.  The 2-digit extension code is crucial to academic data collection; it is for example how the USG separately tracks enrollment between BSN programs (CIP 51380101) and RN-BSN programs (CIP 51380105).
• Minimum Required Credit Hours
  • Any increase/decrease in the minimum required number of credit hours to complete a program must be submitted to the USO.   If the change is within the allowable thresholds set by Board Policy 3.8.1 and Academic and Student Affairs Handbook Section 2.3.1, this is simply a notification item.  Otherwise, a waiver must be requested and approved by the USG Chief Academic Officer.
• Program Delivery Mode, which is one or more of the following:
  • On Campus: A program of study leading to a degree completed with 50% or more of courses offered consistently on-site in a classroom setting at a campus, center or instructional site. (Consistent with SACSCOC requirements concerning notification of changes in delivery mode.) ​
  • Hybrid: A program of study leading to a degree completed with more than 50% offered consistently online, but some courses in the program will require on-site attendance at a campus, center or instructional site.​
  • Online: A program of study which can be completed entirely at a distance. No campus visits are required for coursework. Students may be required to attend program orientations or to complete coursework in a specified instructional setting (clinical, internship, practicum).
• Program Locations (i.e., all campus and off-campus instructional sites where a student can complete at least 50% of the coursework necessary for graduation from the program)

Institutions may wish to use the below paper forms; notification to the USG must be submitted through Smartsheet.

• Curriculum Change Form: Individual Program Curriculum Revision
• External Degree Offering of an Approved Program at an Existing Instructional Site
• External Degree Offering of an Approved Program at a Contractual/Time-Limited Location

Notification Items

Program modifications that are notification items include any of the following:

• Program Webpages (i.e., the webpage that is used on the Georgia Degrees Pay program search tool to provide students with more information)
• Comprehensive Program Review Dates
  • If proposed CPR dates are not within the thresholds set by Academic and Student Affairs Handbook Section 2.3.6, this becomes an administrative approval request.
• Establishing/Dissolving a Joint/Dual degree
  • As with SACSCOC, only agreements between two or more institutions require notification to the University System Office.  For guidelines and other information, please refer to the Academic and Student Affairs Handbook Section 2.3.9  for Dual Degrees and Section 2.3.10 for join degrees.
• Establishing/Dissolving Articulation Agreements from TCSG into a specific USG program
• Establishing/Dissolving a Cooperative Academic Arrangement (e.g., a collaborative program)

Institutions may wish to use the below paper forms; notification to the USG must be submitted through Smartsheet.

• Joint Degrees with a SACS-COC Accredited Institution Prior Notification Form
• Joint Degrees with a USDE-Recognized Accredited Institution Other Than SACSCOC
• Joint Degrees with a Non-USDE-Recognized Accredited Institution Prior Notification Form
• Dual Degree Between Institutions

Items where approval/notification not needed

Except in special cases where noted, neither approval nor notification to the University System Office is required for the below items.  Note, however, that these may be considered a SACSCOC substantive change, in which case SACSCOC approval/notification may be needed.

• Adding/modifying/removing concentrations
  • If such changes necessitate a change to the overall degree acronym, degree/major name, or CIP Code, then administrative and/or Board approval is required.
• Adding/ modifying/removing courses
  • If courses are in Core IMPACTS, such changes require approval and/or notification to the USG General Education Council.
• Adding/ modifying/removing minors
• Adding/ modifying/removing program admissions pathways
  • Note that the USG separately tracks pre-licensure BSN and RN-BSN programs.  If you are approved for one and wish to establish the other, please submit a program modification request for administrative approval.
• Changing program admissions criteria