Academic Programs

Academic Affairs Division

New Program Proposal Resources

The process for proposing new degrees and programs typically begins at the institutional level when an identified need aligns with the institution's overall mission and strategic priorities.  The new degree program process can take months or sometimes years to establish the appropriate direction, identify potential partners (e.g., industry, K-12, other institutions of higher education), develop, seek the necessary campus approvals, university system approvals, as well as all applicable accreditation approvals.  Institutions are strongly encouraged to engage the University System Office early on in the development process to discuss potential program viability, supply/demand, and overall mission fit.  The information below is also provided to aid institutions through this process.

General Resources

General Resources

University System Office Points of Contact

  • Looking for guidance (at any point in the development process)?
    • Laura Lynch is the primary point of contact in the system office for all new degree proposals.
  • Will the new program be part of a consortium?
    • There are a number of sections of the new proposal proposal form, including the budget, that are more nuanced and require broader participation in the proposal development process.
    • If your new collaborative program will be part of the Georgia Film Academy, you should confer with Jon Sizemore and Wendy Guttin before submitting the proposal.
    • For all other collaborative programs (such as eMajor), you should confer with Jon Sizemore and Sarah Kuck before submitting the proposal.
  • For questions specific to...
    • general education/field of study guidelines, contact Melanie Largin.
    • healthcare-related programs, contact Shawn Little.
      • Note:  The Nursing RAC reviews all new nursing programs and provides recommendations to the system office.
    • microcredentials (including certificates, certifications, badges tied to high demand careers), contact Jill Lane.
    • workforce need, contact Laura Lynch and/or Jill Lane.
      • We can provide labor market data and feedback, including reports from JobsEQ's labor market tools, as well as training for things like how to use ONet and/or the MEDLI tool listed in the Resources section of this page.
Workforce Demand Resources

CIP and SOC Code Information

Outlooks, Employment Trends, and Wage Details

USG Resources

State of Georgia Resources

National Resources