Academic Programs

Overview

Inventory of Academic Programs

   • OHSU Academic Programs Database

   • OUS Academic Programs Database

Program Review and Approval Process

   • Changing Existing Academic Programs

   • Proposing New Academic Programs

   • Process Flow Charts

   • Required Forms

   • OUS Academic Program Policies and Procedures

   • Proposal Tracking System

Overview

Oregon Health & Science University is an academic health center that provides high quality academic programs in health professions and related fields throughout the state. The university offers degree and certificate programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral (professional and research) levels.

Instructional programs offered at OHSU are approved through formalized review processes with both internal and external components. The development of a successful proposal is an iterative process. Proposers should be prepared to address concerns or issues raised by the reviewers at any stage of the proposal including how it supports the University's Strategic Plan or other considerations.  The 12-step end-to-end quality review process requirements are outlined below. For more specific detail, refer to the decision making flow charts.

IMPORTANT: To ensure version control as your proposal is reviewed, please follow the prescribed naming format in the footer of your proposal. This format includes program name (or abbreviation), date and version number as follows: programname_mmddyy_v#

 

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Inventory of Academic Programs

OHSU maintains an inventory of its approved academic programs and authorized degrees and certificates. The database may be searched by program or school.

Oregon University System (OUS) maintains an inventory of all programs and degree levels approved and operating for each for the seven OUS institutions and OHSU.

 

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Program Review and Approval Process

Academic program review is a comprehensive evaluation of a curriculum leading to a degree or certificate. The review process is an instrument to assure program quality and is a central feature of academic program planning. The review of academic programs happens at three transitions:

(1) A proposed change to an existing program

(2) A proposal of a new academic program

(3) The follow-up review of an approved new program after five years

 

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Changing Existing Academic Programs

The two types of proposed changes to existing programs: Minor Changes (Category I) and Substantive Changes (Category II). The type of proposed change prescribes the extensiveness of the review process in required documentation, approvals and timeline.  Minor changes do not require OSBHE approval, but implementing a new degree program would be regarded as a substantive change. To determine the level of approval you need for a proposed change, please consult the Proposed Change Matrix.

                                                                                                                                        

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Proposing New Academic Programs

OHSU follows the Oregon University System's Program Approval Process that is required of all member schools pursuing approval of new academic programs. The flowcharts below document the processes required to adopt a new academic program.

Prior to initiating the OUS Program Approval Process, program proposals must successfully go through the OHSU review process at both the school- and institution-levels and takes about 18 months to complete as shown in the Timeline of Approval Process.

 

IMPORTANT: A department may not advertise or recruit students for a program until it has successfully passed though all of the required internal and external review and approval processes.

                                                                                                                                        

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Process Flow Charts

The processes are depicted in the flowcharts at the internal (school and institution) and external (state and regional) review levels.

School-Level

Each school has a process for reviewing proposed new programs and changes to existing programs. Please consult the appropriate school-specific information below:

Institution-Level

After a proposal successfully passes through the school-level process, the Dean notifies the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. The addition of new academic programs or degrees is the purview of the OHSU Faculty Senate. The proposal must pass through these quality assurance checkpoints before it is advanced to the state-level process. Breakdown of OHSU Process.

State- and Regional Levels

The Provost or designee notifies the Chancellor's Office of the intention to forward a proposal for a new academic program or substantive change to an existing program. Breakdown of OUS Approval Process.

                                                                                                                                         

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Required Forms

Please print and submit the following forms with your proposal:

 

IMPORTANT: Please use the program name, date and draft number on each form you are using for your application that matches the requirements for the proposal's footer.

                        

                                                                                                                 

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Oregon University System's Academic Program Policies and Procedures

                                                                                                                         

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Proposal Tracking System

To check the status of submitted proposals please use our online tracking system.

                                                                                                                     

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