Academic Departments considering:

• the possibility of offering a new program through distance education
• adding or re-introducing a cohort to a previously approved program
• offering a program at an as-yet unapproved site (a new street address)

must complete all of the required approval/authorization procedures, taking into account all of the time frames needed to do so. In addition, planners should review the responsibilities of the department and administrative personnel to insure that important tasks and details are thoroughly and appropriately addressed in a timely way. Click on these links to review approval and authorization requirements specific to distance education programming:

• Campus Approval Procedures
• SACS, COC Approval Procedures
• General Administration Authorization Procedures
• U.S. Dept. of Education (Financial Aid) Approval for Sites and Programs

They should be familiar with the minimum admission number set by the college dean and should make clear to the Academic Coordinator the deadline by which the minimum must be met.

Thoughtful planning that will move the department toward its goal of offering the program should take into consideration the time needed to get all of the approvals/authorizations and to adequately market the program early enough for students to make informed choices and to meet the application deadlines. Click here for information on the procedures/approvals/authorizations that inform the start date ("roll-out" semester) for the proposed program. The time line shown here is a general guide to planning. The chart shows the number of weeks that are required from planning to the start semester for a new program. In general, allow 8 weeks minimum for planning, 8 weeks minimum for authorization/approvals, 6-8 weeks for marketing, 12 weeks for prospective students to decide to apply, 14 weeks for the application period, and the 2 week deadline before the semester begins for the criminal background check.