GRADUATE COUNCIL POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
The Graduate Council approves new degree programs, certificates, majors, and areas of emphasis, as well as program changes and terminations. New degree programs, majors, certificates, and most program and certificate terminations must also be approved by the Board of Governors. Some minor program changes, dual degree programs, and accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs may be approved by the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs without Graduate Council review.
Proposals for new degree programs, new certificate programs, and new majors require approval of an intent-to-plan before full proposal submission. All intents to plan new programs, new program proposals, and requests for program changes or termination must be submitted using the Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) Programs system. Instructions for using CIM are available; further assistance can be provided by the Office of the University Registrar. Proposals for new courses or course modifications or changes must be made using the CIM Courses system. New courses or course modifications are reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Committee of the WVU Faculty Senate. However, at the graduate level, new courses do not need to be approved before the Graduate Council review of proposals for new programs or program changes.
Proposals to be considered by the Graduate Council must be received (via the CIM system) by the Associate Provost for Graduate Academic Affairs (including all required approvals) by Monday at noon, 10 days before a scheduled meeting. Full proposals for new degree programs, new certificate programs, and new majors must be submitted within one year of approval of the Intent to Plan proposal. All changes to existing degree programs must be ratified by all approval levels no later than April 30 to go into effect for the next academic year. New degree programs, majors, and certificates must be ratified by all approval levels (including the Board of Governors) no later than April 30 to go into effect for the next academic year.