Timeline
Approval timeline for programs and units: 2023-2024
The table below outlines the approval timeline for proposals related to academic programs and units, with seven different start dates during the 2023-2024 academic year. The timeline is based on the current meeting schedules of the various governance bodies (e.g., Senate Committee on Educational Policy, UIC Senate, University of Illinois Board of Trustees) and may be subject to change. The rule of thumb is that a proposal meeting the deadline for submission to Academic Programs (AP) will, if complete, continue through the remaining levels of governance according to the dates listed within the row. Please note the following:
- Review the approval process on the webpage for the task you would like to complete (e.g., establish a degree, reorganize an instructional unit) and determine which levels of governance are required for that task. Keep in mind that the timeline reflects the complete path an academic program proposal can take. Not every proposal will require review/action at every stop along the path.
- Review the course request deadlines if your academic program proposal will require adding, dropping, or making revisions to courses.
- Colleges developing new programs/units or making significant revisions/reorganizations should notify AP early in their planning process and forward proposals to AP well in advance of the stated submission deadlines, as these proposals may require the notification or approval of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
- The deadlines for submission to AP assume that the submitted materials have received all necessary approvals (including the approval of other units, when necessary), include all necessary information (e.g., revised catalog statements, budget summaries when necessary, course forms), and are in final format (not in draft form). Note that any proposals requiring extensive campus scrutiny or revision may take more time to be processed.
- See the key below the table for more information about each governance level.
Please contact Dana Wright, Director of Academic Programs at dcwright@uic.edu with any questions or concerns about the timeline.
A printable copy of the timeline in PDF is also available, and was last updated August 29, 2023.
Approval Timeline for Programs and Units: 2023-2024 Heading link
| Submission Deadline |
GCEC | SCEP | Senate | Senates Conference |
BOT | IBHE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/03/2023 | 09/01/2023 | 09/06/2023 | 09/28/2023 | 10/10/2023 | 11/15/2023 & 11/16/2023 | TBA |
| 08/07/2023 | 09/22/2023 | 10/04/2023 | 10/26/2023 | 12/11/2023 | 01/17/2024 & 01/18/2024 | TBA |
| 09/05/2023 | 10/13/2023 | 11/09/2023 | 11/29/2023 | 12/11/2023 | 01/17/2024 & 01/18/2024 | TBA |
| 10/02/2023 | 11/10/2023 | 01/18/2024 | 01/31/2024 | 02/21/2024 | 03/27/2024 & 03/28/2024 | TBA |
| 12/04/2023 | 01/26/2024 | 02/07/2024 | 03/14/2024 | 03/26/2024 | 05/15/2024 & 05/16/2024 | TBA |
| 01/02/2024 | 02/16/2024 | 02/29/2024 | 03/14/2024 | 03/26/2024 | 05/15/2024 & 05/16/2024 | TBA |
| 02/05/2024 | 03/22/2024 | 04/03/2024 | 04/24/2024 | 05/29/2024 | 07/17/2024 & 07/18/2024 | TBA |
Table Key Heading link
Table Key
- Submission deadline: Colleges submit proposals to Academic Programs (AP).
- If a proposal does not require review/action by the GCEC and SCEP is the first required stop within governance, the AP submission deadline may be extended.
- Proposals received after February 5, 2024 may not be reviewed by AP staff and by campus governance until Fall 2024.
- GCEC: Graduate College Executive Committee. GCEC review is required for items that impact graduate students. AP must submit proposals to the GCEC eight (8) days prior to the meeting date. Most GCEC meetings are held at 1:30 pm in room 650 UH. View the GCEC schedule.
- SCEP: Senate Committee on Educational Policy. AP must submit proposals to SCEP eight (8) days prior to the meeting date. SCEP meetings usually begin at 1:30 p.m. in University Hall. View the SCEP website.
- The UIC Senate meets in Conference Rooms B & C of the Student Services Building, at the northwest corner of Racine and Harrison Streets. AP must submit proposals to the Senate eight (8) days prior to the meeting date. View the Senate’s schedule.
- University Senates Conference. The USC is a committee of senators from all three universities in the University of Illinois system, who ensure that all of the appropriate officials or groups have been consulted before a Senate action is implemented and that policies are not duplicated across the universities in the System.
- BOT: University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Academic program/unit items are reviewed by the Academic & Student Affairs Committee (ASAC) and the full Board. View the BOT’s schedule.
- IBHE: Illinois Board of Higher Education. View the IBHE’s schedule.
- IBHE meeting dates are for proposals requiring the approval of the full board (e.g., new degrees and units). The IBHE sets deadlines to submit materials and to resolve all technical questions. AP will advise colleges on these deadlines—commonly 10 weeks prior to the meetings—and the U of I System will transmit materials to the IBHE.
- Items reported to the IBHE for information or approved by IBHE staff as reasonable and moderate extension (RME) of UIC’s existing program authority will usually be finalized 4-6 weeks after the BOT meeting.