University of California San Francisco

II. Academic Degree Programs

The Systemwide Compendium provides information on undergraduate and graduate degree programs. As UCSF only confers graduate degrees, the UCSF Compendium focuses on graduate degree programs.

II.A. Establishment of New Graduate Degree Programs

UCSF should aim to include in their Five-Year Planning Perspectives new graduate degree program proposals as early as possible in the proposal development process. UCOP and the UC Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs (CCGA) review proposals for all new graduate degree programs, including self-supporting and professional degree programs, Master of Advanced Studies (M.A.S.) titles, multi-campus programs, and programs offered jointly with other higher education institutions (e.g., CSU). CCGA also reviews proposals for new M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., Pharm.D., Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), and J.D. degree programs.

The process for establishing a new graduate degree program is as follows:

1. Consultation: Faculty members consult with the Graduate Division and the Budget and Resource Management (BRM) Office. In the case of Self-Supporting Professional Graduate Degree Programs, the briefing addresses topics including, but not limited to, the Self-Supporting Professional Graduate Degree Program policy and the Cost of Education Template.
2. Degree Program Proposal: Faculty members work with their department(s) and school to draft a proposal in consultation with the Assistant Dean in the Graduate Division.
3. Proposal Review: The proposal is reviewed by the Graduate Dean’s Office. Then the proposal and a single letter is forwarded to both the Graduate Council and the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Resource Management at once for simultaneous review.
   
   Review period: one to two months
4. Simultaneous Review:
   1. Administrative Review: The BRM Office reviews the proposal budget for financial and administrative viability. Once their review is complete, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Budget and Resource Management communicates their approval to the Academic Senate Office, copying the Graduate Dean’s Office.
      
      Review period: one month
   2. Graduate Council: The Graduate Council reviews the degree proposal. During its review process, the Graduate Council must consult with the Committee on Educational Policy, the Committee on Courses of Instruction, and/or the Committee on Academic Planning & Budget.
      
      Review period: two to three months
5. Academic Senate Vote: Once the BRM Office and the Graduate Council have approved the proposal, and each separate letter from the simultaneous review has been independently received by the Academic Senate, the Academic Senate’s Graduate Council Analyst forwards the proposal to the Academic Senate Coordinating Committee. With the Executive Council’s approval vote, the Academic Senate staff (i.e., the Graduate Council Analyst) launches an electronic vote on the proposal for all UCSF faculty (i.e., the Division of the Academic Senate). Once the proposal is approved by the Division, the Graduate Council Analyst sends a letter to the Graduate Dean and the Associate Dean, Budget and Resources Management, for the School sponsoring the proposal as well as the faculty point of contact for the proposal to notify them of the outcome of the vote.
   
   Review period: two months
6. Chancellor and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost (EVCP) approval: The Academic Senate’s Graduate Council Analyst forwards the proposal to both the EVCP and the Chancellor for review and approval. The letter is addressed to both the EVCP and the Chancellor for concurrence prior to the final sign-off by the Chancellor, which is indicated by the Chancellor’s letter to UCOP (Provost and Executive Vice President and CCGA Chair). The original letter, signed by the Chancellor, is transmitted to CCGA and the Academic Senate, the Graduate Division, the BRM Office, the School sponsoring the proposal, and the faculty point of contact for the proposal are copied on the transmission.
   
   Review period: one month
7. UC Systemwide Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs review: Once the proposal reaches CCGA, a lead reviewer is assigned. The review includes a full committee discussion, an interchange with the campus to clarify issues, a written review of the proposal by two experts in the discipline, and a site visit by the lead reviewer. The recommendation for approval is forwarded to the UC President’s office.
   
   Review period: four to six months
8. University of California Office of the President approval: The President approves the implementation of the new degree program based on recommendations from CCGA and the Provost and Executive Vice President.
   
   Review period: one month

II.B. Name Changes of Graduate Degree Programs

1. Consultation with Graduate Council Chair: When requesting a name change for a graduate degree program, the responsible faculty member(s) should consult with the Graduate Council Chair to determine whether the request constitutes a “simple” name change or a name change that requires expedited review.
   1. A “simple” name change applies only when the name change does not also involve a fundamental modification of the program, a change in degree requirements, or a need for substantial new resources.
   2. If the name change constitutes a fundamental modification of the program or a change in degree requirements or implies that substantial new resources are required, CCGA conducts an expedited review. This review consists of an evaluation by an internal and an external reviewer and the submission of a full program proposal (as if the degree program is being proposed for the first time).
2. Proposal: The responsible faculty member prepares a brief proposal describing the rationale for a new name for the graduate degree program and certifying that there is no associated change in the program’s degree requirements and no need for substantial new resources. The proposal is submitted to the Divisional Graduate Council.
3. Division Review: The Divisional Graduate Council informs the Chancellor of the approval of the name change. If the Graduate Council determines that the action does not involve a fundamental modification to the program, a change in the degree requirements, or a need for substantial resources, then the Chancellor favorably reviews the name change. If the Graduate Council determines that the action implicates substantial changes, then the Divisional Graduate Council asks CCGA to conduct an expedited review of the program.
4. System-level Review: All proposed name changes for graduate degree programs must be forwarded to CCGA for system-level review. CCGA has the final authority to deem a proposal either a “simple” name change or one that necessitates an expedited review of the program. The campus transmits all materials from the responsible faculty members, Divisional Graduate Council, and Chancellor to CCGA for review.
   1. If CCGA concurs with the campus that the action is a “simple” name change, then the system-level review is complete, and the campus decision is final.
   2. If CCGA concludes that the name change involves a fundamental modification of the program, a change in degree requirements, or a need for substantial new resources, then it conducts an expedited review. For expedited reviews, the campus must submit a full program proposal (as if the degree program is being proposed for the first time). The new program proposal must be approved by the Divisional Graduate Council before being submitted to CCGA for review. After approval by the Divisional Graduate Council, CCGA conducts an expedited review with an external and an internal review.

II.C. Transfer, Consolidation, Discontinuance, or Disestablishment of a Graduate Degree Program

In most cases, campus decisions are final. Upon the approval of the Divisional Senate and campus administration, the Chancellor notifies the Provost, CCGA Chair, and Academic Council Chair of the Transfer, Consolidation, Discontinuance, or Disestablishment (TCDD) action, copying the Divisional Chair. The campus decision in final, no system-level review occurs, and the review process is complete.

However, CCGA and/or the UC Provost can request a system-level review in one of two cases: 1) if the Divisional Senate is not appropriately involved in the campus process or 2) if any systemwide implications are not satisfactorily addressed.

1. UC Provost request: The UC Provost notifies the campus of any concerns, whether discovered through the Five-Year Planning Perspectives process or other means, regarding potential adverse systemwide implications of a TCDD proposal and may request a system-level review after the campus review is complete.
2. CCGA request: As soon as CCGA learns of the proposed action, it considers any systemwide implications and the involvement of the Divisional Senate. CCGA conveys any questions or concerns in writing to the Divisional Senate and/or campus administration, copying the Provost and the Academic Council Chair. CCGA also notifies the Provost, with a copy to the Academic Council Chair, as to whether or not it wishes to review the TCDD proposal.
3. Review process: If either CCGA or the Provost requests a system-level review, then the Chancellor, upon the approval of the Divisional Senate, forwards the TCDD proposal to the CCGA Chair and to the Provost, copying the Academic Council Chair. When actions involving graduate degree programs are likely to affect the functioning of the associated undergraduate degree programs, CCGA refers the proposal to the University Committee on Educational Policy (UCEP) for review and comment. CCGA completes its review of the proposal and reports its findings to the Provost with a copy to the Academic Council Chair. If needed, the Provost works with the campus to resolve any systemwide issues identified in the reviews by Academic Affairs, CCGA, and UCEP. CCGA must approve the final resolution. The Provost notifies the campus, CCGA, and the Divisional Chair of the final approval.

II.D. Review/Re-Review of Joint Graduate Degree Programs

With the passage of legislation permitting CSU campuses to offer unilateral doctoral degrees in education leadership, some CSU campuses have withdrawn or substantially reduced their involvement in joint Ed.D. programs. Such withdrawals have the potential to seriously impact the nature, quality, and curriculum of the UC program. Once a partner has formally withdrawn from a joint graduate degree program, a re-review proposal should be sent to CCGA.  

Programs may admit up to two cohorts of students after the withdrawal—formal or de facto—of any partner, without further CCGA review. However, any program for which the participation of one or more CSU campuses is withdrawn or significantly reduced will need to provide supplemental material for CCGA review before the third cohort is admitted. Any program wishing to cease operation should follow the procedures for the Transfer, Consolidation, or Discontinuance of Graduate Degree Programs, as delineated in Section II.C. Detailed step-by-step instructions for the review/re-review of joint graduate degree programs can be found in the CCGA Handbook.

II.E. Self-supporting Graduate Degree Programs

Self-supporting graduate degree programs (SSGPDPs) are graduate programs such that all program costs, both direct and indirect, are covered by revenues generated by the program, such as student charges, or from alternative revenues. These programs primarily support professionals seeking to advance their careers. SSGPDPs must adhere to the same UC academic standards as other graduate degree programs.

1. New programs: The establishment of a new SSGPDP must be approved according to the procedures and requirements specified in the Compendium for the establishment of any graduate degree program. A proposal to create a self-supporting program must make a compelling academic and budgetary case for the program. In addition, it must articulate how it will ensure that the self-supporting program will not have a detrimental impact on state-supported teaching, research, or service, both academically and financially, in the unit proposing the program.
2. Conversions: The conversion of an existing state-supported program to self-supporting status is regarded as exceptional. Special justification must be given
   for a conversion application to be approved. Graduate professional degree programs converting to self-supporting status must meet the same criteria as new SSGPDPs do and are subject to the same review criteria as new SSGPDPs are.
   1. Initial review: The initial review of a conversion proposal shall be conducted by the Graduate Council of the proposing campus. The campus Graduate Council determines whether the converting program is in good academic standing and provides CCGA with a statement of support or non-support for the proposal.
   2. Conversion when changing academic requirements: A proposal to convert a state-supported program that includes changes to the program’s academic requirements shall be reviewed through the same processes as for a newly created graduate professional degree program.
   3. Conversion when not changing academic requirements: A proposal to convert a state-supported program that includes no changes to the program’s academic requirements shall be reviewed through the campus’s Academic Senate processes and at the system level to evaluate context and justification for the conversion and to assure that the program proposed for conversion is in good academic standing. For a conversion proposal to be reviewed at the system level, the program must have undergone and received a meritorious academic review within the previous five years. At the discretion of the systemwide review bodies, the system level review may be expedited.
   4. Review of conversion to SSGPDP: The first academic review of a program that converted from state-supported to self-supporting status shall be in the fourth year of establishment (after three years of operation). Thereafter, the program joins the campus’s regular academic review cycle.

II.F. Graduate Degree Programs with Unique Titles

After the procedures described above are completed, most proposed actions involving graduate degree programs are final. However, proposals to create a new degree title on a given campus or to eliminate an existing degree title from a campus require additional review and approval. These include the amendment of the Standing Order of the Regents (SOR 110.1), which specifies the degree titles each campus is authorized to confer. Note that once a degree title is discontinued and removed from the Standing Order, a campus must go through the entire review process to re-establish the degree title.

Details of the Process to Create a New Degree Title

1. CCGA approves the graduate degree program and sends the approved proposal to the Academic Council Chair, who places the authorization of campus use of the new degree title on the agenda of the next meeting of the Assembly of the Academic Senate. If there is no scheduled meeting of the Assembly of the Academic Senate within 60 days of CCGA approval of the graduate degree program, then the matter is placed on the agenda of the Academic Council in accord with Senate Bylaws.
2. Campus use of the new degree title is approved by the Assembly of the Academic Senate or by the Academic Council acting on behalf of the Assembly of the Academic Senate.
3. The Academic Council Chair notifies the Provost of CCGA’s approval of the graduate degree program and of the Assembly’s (or Academic Council’s) approval of the degree title and copies the CCGA Chair, the CCGA analyst, and the Divisional Chair.
4. The Provost prepares the recommendation (including the approvals from CCGA and the Assembly or Academic Council) to the President.
5. The President authorizes campus use of the new degree title and the Provost notifies the campus Chancellor, with copies to the Academic Council Chair, CCGA, Chair, and Divisional Chair.
6. The Secretary and Chief of Staff to the Regents adds the degree title for the campus to SOR.110.1

Details of the Process to Discontinue a Unique Graduate Degree Title

1. The Divisional Graduate Council (and the appropriate Divisional Senate body) must approve all discontinuances of all unique graduate degree titles.
2. CCGA receives notice from the campus of the discontinuance of the graduate degree program or CCGA initiates the process to approve the discontinuance of the graduate degree program. CCGA notifies the Divisional Chair, Chancellor, Academic Council Chair, and Provost that there are no longer any graduate degree programs using the particular degree title on that campus.
3. If the degree title still is not being used on the campus five years after the program discontinuance becomes effective, the Provost notifies the Chancellor, with copies to the Academic Council Chair and Divisional Chair, that in three months the President intends to authorize the removal of the degree title from those the campus is authorized to confer under SOR 110.1.
4. If the Chancellor concurs or does not respond, then the President approves the removal of the degree title from SOR 110.0 at the designated time, and the Secretary and Chief of Staff removes it. The Academic Council Chair, CCGA Chair, and Divisional Council Chair are copied on this correspondence.
5. If the Chancellor does not concur, then the Chancellor, Divisional Chair, Academic Council Chair, and Provost confer to determine a timetable for the campus to establish a new graduate degree program utilizing that title or to agree that the title should be retired from those that the campus is authorized to use.

II.G. Interdepartmental and Inter-campus Graduate Programs

CCGA requires that all proposals for interdepartmental graduate degree programs or graduate groups include a set of governance bylaws as well as other information about campus commitment to the proposed program (e.g., teaching-assistantships, library resources, courses planned, etc.).

Actions involving departments are carried out on each campus and do not involve reviews by the system-level office. Such actions include creating a new department, changing the name of an existing department, and consolidating, transferring, or disestablishing an existing department. If approved by the appropriate agencies of the Divisional Academic Senate and by the campus administration, an action involving an academic program that appoints faculty who are members of the Academic Senate and who vote as a unit under Academic Senate Bylaw 55 shall be reviewed as an action involving a department. Any proposed actions involving graduate degree programs associated with affected department(s) should be handled according to the procedures described for the proposed action for graduate degree programs. All final campus actions involving departments should be reported by the Chancellor to system-level offices within a month of the action.

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