All distance education programs require authorization by the UNC General Administration to be added to the General Administration Inventory of Distance Education Programs. UNC General Administration Policy 400.1.1.2[G]*, Guidelines for Alternative, Online, or Distance Education Delivery of Approved Degree Programs, governs distance education program planning and delivery by the constituent universities. Additions to the General Administration Distance Education Inventory are accomplished through the G.A.'s Academic Planning Process "New Distance Education Programs" paperwork which are Appendices to GA Policy 400.1.1.2[G]. The Office of Extension and Distance Education initiates the appropriate paperwork and works with the assigned academic program coordinator to complete it before it is forwarded to the department chair for approval and then to the dean, before seeking the approval of Academic Affairs and transmission to the General Administration.

Each type of program (add-on teacher licensure, for-credit certificate programs at any level, and degree) is added to the GA Distance Education Inventory using the specified forms and procedures. The Distance Education Inventory, in addition to being a reference for administrators, is also a marketing tool, and every effort should be made to keep it accurate and up-to-date. Consideration of start date/roll out should take into account all of the time required to achieve all of the required approvals/authorizations along with the time to market the program sufficiently in advance of application deadlines.

• Add-on Teacher Licensure programs may require only the submission (on a web-based form) of a very limited set of information and a brief description of the program or the submission of a Prospectus to SACS (prior approval) depending upon the percentage of the degree credit-hour requirement that the add-on licensure requires. The Office of Extension and Distance Education has created a form that insures that all of the required information is gathered before our office sends Add-on Licensure programs to Institutional Research for entry (via the password protected web-based form) into the Distance Education Inventory. The deadline for entry is equivalent to the SACS "Notification Prior to Implementation" requirement.
• Certificate programs require the submission (on a web-based form) of a very limited set of information and a brief description of the program. The same form used for Add-on Licensure programs will be used to gather the required information to insure that our office has it all before we send the program to Institutional Research for entry (via the password protected web-based form) into the D.E. Inventory. The deadline for entry is equivalent to the SACS "Notification Prior to Implementation" requirement.
• Degree programs require the submission of the 1. Appendix F (Notification of Intent to Plan a Distance Education Program) to UNC GA Policy 400.1.1.2[G]. The Appendix F asks for information specific to the CIP and approved institutional academic program inventory along with a very brief description of the program. 2. Appendix G (Request to Deliver a Distance Education Program) to UNC GA Policy 400.1.1.2[G]. The Appendix G requires a detailed description of the program, the plans for delivering and supporting it (both academic and administrative), and the plan for meeting the costs of delivery. This form requires a significant amount of attention and time to complete and should be used to create a roadmap for planning and delivery. It may also serve when required, as the SACS prospectus.

*To find Policy 400.1.1.2[G] on the GA Policy Manual website, 1. click on the hyperlink. 2. in the "Browse/Search" window, click on "The Policy Manual". 3.In the Table of Contents click on "Chapter 400" 4. In the fly-out, select Policy 400.1. 5. In the fly-out select Policy 400.1.1.2[G].