General Resources

Academic Approval Matrix

This document contains the current set of approvals needed for various academic actions including new programs, changes to existing programs, courses, renaming programs and departments, and creating departments/schools/colleges.

Academic Approval Matrix (SAAP 1.1)

Existing Programs

  1. The CIM Course form is needed to request approvals for existing courses, or for new courses both at the undergraduate and at the graduate levels.
  2. The CIM Program form is necessary to request changes to existing degree, certificate, or minor programs at all levels.
  3. Courses at UWM are organized under curricular areas. These are represented by the letters that appear in course numbers. The CIM Miscellaneous form is required to create a new curricular area, delete an existing curricular area, or to change an existing curricular area.
  4. UWM Credit Hour Policy (PDF)
  5. Sample Workload Statements (PDF)

Program Reviews

Per Board of Regents policy, every degree program must undergo a periodic review to ensure quality and currency. At UWM, undergraduate degree programs are reviewed by the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee (APCC) and graduate programs are reviewed by the Graduate Faculty Committee (GFC) on a ten-year cycle. New degree programs require a review in the fifth year of implementation of the program as required by Board of Regents policy. Additionally, APCC or GFC may require intermediate reviews based on the results of the regular review.

Distance Delivery

If you are thinking of offering a degree or a certificate by distance delivery, contact Amy Mangrich, who coordinates UWM’s online offerings.

Offering a Program at Non-UWM Site

Offering more than 50% of the credits towards a degree at a location that is a non-UWM site requires approvals from the UW System as well as from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the regional accrediting body for UWM. The HLC approvals may take several months and possibly a visit to the location prior to approval. We can implement the program at the location only after receiving HLC approval.

It is a good idea to contact Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark before starting the above process.

Contractual/Consortial Agreements

If you are planning to use a partner institution to deliver 25% or more of the credits needed for a degree, then we need to obtain HLC approval to do so. We need to have an agreement with the partner institution that is reviewed by appropriate campus offices and signed by the Provost on behalf of the Board of Regents.

If the partner institution is accredited by federally recognized accrediting agency, UWM enters into a consortial agreement with that institution.

If the partner institution is not accredited by federally recognized accrediting agency, UWM enters into a contractual agreement with that institution. This includes all non-US entities.

We can implement the agreement only after receiving HLC approval. It is a good idea to contact Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Dave Clark before starting this process.