Frequently Requested Administrative Changes (change degree program length, change degree name, or change CIP code)

For convenience, the visual flow chart for Frequently Requested Administrative Changes is displayed here to assist faculty to understand the internal and external governance process at a glance.

The frequently requested administrative changes are listed below with embedded links to the appropriate webpages.

• Request to Change Degree Program Length (SCH) for Single Major Degree Programs

  This particular state approval process only applies to single major degree programs. Please refer to the section on how to change the program length for double major undergraduate degree programs because the process is different.

  Program length changes for single major degrees may require SACSCOC prior approval in accordance with the SACSCOC Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

  Effective July 1, 2021, The UT System Office of Academic Affairs delegated the authority to the institution's chief academic officer (provost) to approve the program length—semester credit hour (SCH)—change.

  Internal Review

  1. Request from program head or associate dean with rationale
  2. Complete the Request to Change Semester Credit Hours Form (1.26.12 version)
  3. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty^[1]
  4. Endorsement from the school’s associate dean and dean with rationale
  5. Submit the completed form to Dr. Serenity Rose King, associate vice president for institutional success and decision support, by email; she will review and route the request through the governance approval process.
  6. Council for Undergraduate Education or Graduate Council approval or both
  7. Committee on Educational Policy approval
  8. Academic Council/Senate approval
  9. Provost reviews, approves, and signs the Request to Change Semester Credit Hours Form.
  10. Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support (OISDS) submits paperwork to the THECB with an automatic copy to The UT System Office of Academic Affairs.

  External Review

  1. THECB approval
  2. SACSCOC approval per substantive change policy
• Request to Change Degree or Certificate Program Name or Degree Designation

  Effective July 1, 2021, The UT System Office of Academic Affairs delegated the authority to the institution's chief academic officer (provost) to approve the degree or certificate program name change as well as the degree designation change.

  Internal Review

  1. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty^[1]
     • Examples:
       • Degree or program name change: Historical Studies to History
       • Degree designation change: Bachelor of Arts to Bachelor of Science
  2. Endorsement from the school’s associate dean and dean with rationale
     • Complete THECB Existing Degree Program - Title Change Request Form (Updated 10.20.15 version) for the degree program name change
     • Complete the THECB Notification Form for Administrative Changes (Updated 4/2021) for the degree designation change
     • Email the completed form to Dr. Serenity Rose King, associate vice president for institutional success and decision support, by email; she will review and route the request through the governance approval process.
  3. NOTE: If a certificate program needs to be renamed and/or modified, please notify Dr. King by email only before the request is submitted and routed through the annual catalog revision process.
  4. Council for Undergraduate Education or Graduate Council approval or both
  5. Committee on Educational Policy approval
  6. Academic Council/Senate approval
  7. Provost reviews, approves, and signs the THECB Title Change Request Form for the degree program name or the THECB Notification form for the degree designation change.
  8. Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support (OISDS) submits paperwork to the THECB with an automatic copy to The UT System Office of Academic Affairs.

  External Review

  1. THECB approval
  2. SACSCOC annual institutional profile update
• Request to Change Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code

  Effective July 1, 2021, The UT System Office of Academic Affairs delegated the authority to the institution's chief academic officer (provost) to approve the CIP Code reclassification.

  NOTE: THECB will phase out and will not approve any CIP Codes with the .99 suffix, specifically, XX.XX99.00 and encourages the use of specific CIP codes available. THECB will evaluate the CIP Code request for any case-by-case exception for an interdisciplinary or new/emerging discipline.

  Internal Review

  1. Request from program head or associate dean with rationale
  2. Evidence of vote/approval by program and/or school faculty¹
  3. Endorsement from the school associate dean and dean with rationale
  4. Submit the completed THECB Existing Degree Program - CIP Code Change Request Form (Updated 10.27.15 version) to Dr. Serenity Rose King, associate vice president for institutional success and decision support, by email; she will review and route the request through the governance approval process.
  5. Council for Undergraduate Education or Graduate Council approval or both
  6. Committee on Educational Policy approval
  7. Academic Council/Senate approval
  8. Provost reviews, approves, and signs the THECB CIP Code Change Request Form.
  9. Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support (OISDS) submits paperwork to the THECB with an automatic copy to The UT System Office of Academic Affairs.

  External Review

  1. THECB approval

If you need to create new degree programs or new certificates, please review the Academic Forms website to obtain instructions.

These frequently requested administrative changes must be submitted using the appropriate form, either the THECB Notification Form for Administrative Changes (Updated 4/2021) or the specific Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) form(s). These types of changes no longer require approval by The UT System Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) but still require THECB approval. However, changing a degree's program length may require Southern Association of Colleges Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) notification and/or approval per its Substantive Change Policy and Procedures.

For assistance with any of these frequently requested administrative change request or creating new academic programs, please contact Dr. Serenity Rose King, associate vice president for institutional success and decision support via email or by telephone at 972.883.6749.

1. Pursuant to school’s bylaws.