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Combined Graduate Degree Programs

Proposals for formally registered integrated graduate degree programs that are to result in the award of multiple degrees to students are referred to in SUNY Guidelines as “Multi-Award Programs.” Such combined or multi-award programs may integrate existing registered University graduate degree programs, or may integrate a UAlbany graduate degree program with that from another institution. In the latter case, the Guidelines additionally refer to such programs as “Multi-Institution Programs.” Proposal content requirements for multi-award and/or multi-institution proposals are detailed in the SUNY Guidelines. Assuming that multi-award or multi-institutional proposals couple existing degree programs, the procedural review requirements are abbreviated in comparison to those for entirely new graduate degree programs.
 

Step-by-step procedures – Approvals implied at all steps

  1. A Proposal to establish a Combined Graduate Degree Program prepared according to SUNY Guidelines using Form 3B at SUNY Forms for Academic Program Planning, along with the University at Albany Campus Impact Form (CIF) are directed from the originating departments or committee to the school or college dean(s).
  2. The school or college dean(s) may seek consideration of the Proposal by school/college governance bodies.
  3. The school/college dean(s) endorse the Proposal and transmit it to the Provost.
  4. The Provost forwards the Proposal and CIF to the Graduate Dean for consideration and transmittal to governance. The Graduate Dean’s Office will forward the Proposal and CIF to (1) the University Planning & Policy Council (UPPC) for consideration in regard to (a) harmony with campus mission and (b) resource implications. The Graduate Dean’s Office will also forward the Proposal and CIF to the Graduate Academic Council (GAC) for consideration of its academic plan.
  5. Upon approval by UPPC and GAC, the Proposal shall be prepared by the Graduate Dean’s Office as a bill for joint introduction to the Senate by its two councils.
  6. Upon Senate approval, the bill will be forwarded to the Provost and President for final campus consideration.
  7. Upon Presidential approval the Graduate Dean’s Office shall prepare correspondence to the SUNY System Provost for transmittal of the Proposal by the President or UAlbany Provost. In the case of multi-institutional multi-award programs, supporting correspondence from the President or Chief Academic Officer at the cooperating institution must be included.
  8. The SUNY Provost will forward the Proposal to the NYS Education Department (SED) for consideration, final approval and registration.
  9. SED will notify the SUNY Provost upon final approval and registration and, if multi-institutional, the President or Chief Academic Officer at that institution as well. The SUNY Provost will, in turn, notify the campus President. The President’s Office will forward the approval notice to the campus Provost who will, in turn, direct it to the Graduate Dean for implementation purposes. The Graduate Dean’s Office will notify the school/college dean, the initiating department, and all appropriate administrative units for program activation purposes.