Create a New Program

Adding a new program or program concentration involves steps to ensure that this curriculum action is adequately justified and that all areas of the College affected by the addition are aware of its ramifications. This action will require Deans' Council approval, President's Cabinet approval and Palm Beach State District Board of Trustees approval. There are many reasons new programs/program concentrations are developed - emerging community training needs, basic student interest or new, state-approved subject areas.

The first step in the process of creating a new program/program concentration begins with the cluster. A faculty member presents his or her idea to the cluster or the cluster as a whole decides that a new program or program concentration is warranted in the discipline. If the cluster approves the idea, a faculty member is assigned to begin the formal process of program development and approval. This process is called the Curriculum Review Process.

The Curriculum Review Process is a multi-part process. For new programs, the hosting campus Provost is included in the signature process. This is accomplished by preparing a New Program Proposal Form Steps 1 & 2 following the guidelines noted on the form and gathering all the required signatures. Once final approval is given, then a Program/Concentration Addition Form is prepared. The signed Program Proposal forms and the rest of the supporting documents (related course and program action forms, course outlines, Cluster and Business Partnership Council Minutes) are sent electronically to Academic Services electronically by email. The email should copy the cluster chair, associate dean, dean of the faculty and the host campus provost creating the program. This full packet will be submitted to the President’s Cabinet for approval and Deans' Council for approval by the VPAA.

President’s Cabinet and Deans' Council examine this curriculum action to see what impact it will have on the College facilities, personnel, academic resources and budget. If approved, the Program/Concentration Addition action is added to the Palm Beach State Curriculum Committee agenda for consideration.

The Curriculum Committee examines the curriculum action details for impact on the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit and other programs and certificates. If approved, the Curriculum Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for the curriculum action.

Once approved by VPAA, the new program/program concentration is submitted to the District Board of Trustees (DBOT) for approval. This process is a two DBOT agenda read and approval process. Unless an exception is authorized by the VPAA, all curriculum action goes into effect and will be advertised according to the Curriculum Action Timeline on the Curriculum Website following the approval of the VPAA and the DBOT.

If the cluster is creating a new program or certificate that has never been offered in Florida, once the VPAA approved the program creation, further steps must be taken to seek Department of Education approval to offer this program in the state of Florida. The cluster will work with Academic Services to put together the necessary state forms and approvals.

If a new program constitutes a substantive change to the offerings of the institution, the originator is required to complete a form (www.palmbeachstate.edu/sacscoc/) justifying the change which may lead to additional follow up actions with SACSCOC.

Documents Submitted for New Program/Concentration Action:

New Program Proposal Form with Signatures

Program/Concentration Addition Form

Other Course and Program Forms Related to the Addition
Course Outlines
Cluster/BPC Minutes
Create a New Statewide Program (If necessary)
Substantive Change Form (If necessary)

Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024