Timeline

Approval timeline for programs and units: 2024-2025

The table below outlines the approval timeline for proposals related to academic programs and units, with seven different start dates during the 2024-2025 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 and requiring few revision, 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 September 12, 2024.

Submission
Deadline		 GCEC SCEP Senate Senates
Conference		 BOT IBHE
07/01/2024 08/30/2024 09/04/2024 09/26/2024 10/08/2024 11/13/2024 & 11/14/2024 March 2025 (Tentative)
08/05/2024 09/27/2024 10/10/2024 10/23/2024 11/21/2024 01/22/2025 & 01/23/2025 June 2025 (Tentative)
09/03/2024 10/25/2024 New Date: 11/06/2024 12/04/2024 12/20/2024 01/22/2025 & 01/23/2025 June 2025 (Tentative)
10/07/2024 11/15/2024 01/16/2025 01/30/2025 02/06/2025 03/19/2025 & 03/20/2025 June 2025 (Tentative)
11/18/2024 01/24/2025 02/05/2025 03/12/2025 04/08/2025 05/21/2025 & 05/22/2025 August 2025 (Tentative)
01/06/2025 02/14/2025 02/27/2025 03/12/2025 04/08/2025 05/21/2025 & 05/22/2025 August 2025 (Tentative)
02/03/2025 03/21/2025 04/02/2025 04/24/2025 05/28/2025 07/23/2025 & 07/24/2025 November 2025 (Tentative)

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 3, 2025 may not be reviewed by AP staff and by campus governance until Fall 2025.
  • 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. via Zoom. 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.