Guide for Submission of Academic Proposals

Guide for Submission of Academic Proposals

(These documents and processes are currently under review.
Revised materials will be available on the Secretariat website shortly).

1. ABOUT THE GUIDE

The Guide is intended to assist in the preparation of new and revised program or course (subject) proposals and to ensure that all the information necessary for consideration of a proposal by the relevant committees and other approval authorities is included in the submission.

It identifies the committees which must consider different types of proposals and the approval process for each. The guide also indicates what procedures to follow when proposals include the imposition of University charges for tuition fees.

The Secretariat should be consulted early in the development of a program or course (subject) proposal as we can provide advice on the form that the proposals should take. We can also advise on the flow of the academic proposal through the University committee structure to assist you to gain approval by the final authority as swiftly as possible.

Do not hesitate to contact your relevant Committee Officer if you have any queries:

Lynda Ho Deputy Head, Secretariat Services ext 53070	Academic Board Policy Advisory Committee
Andrew May ext 52792	Academic Services Committee Postgraduate Coursework Committee Faculty of Engineering Faculty of Law Faculty of Science
Kit Palaskas ext 53289	Committee on Research Pre-University Education Committee Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty of Medicine
Fatima Velosa ext 53073	Committee on Education Undergraduate Studies Committee Australian School of Business Faculty of the Built Environment Faculty of the College of Fine Arts

For further advice on preparing academic proposals contact your Registrar's Nominee:

For advice on subject prefixes contact:

Mr Richard Sanchez, ext.3362 or email richard.sanchez@unsw.edu.au Student Information & Systems Office, ext 53118

New programs are submitted to Council for approval, on the recommendation of the Academic Board.

• restructuring a program to such an extent that the next intake of students will enter a program which is sufficiently distinct to justify the allocation of a new program code. This generally involves a significant change in workload or program requirements or reorganisation of the compulsory components of the program, and

is considered a major program proposal and must be approved by Council on the recommendation of the Academic Board.

• reorganisation of the program structure which does not involve dislocation of the students, that is, students could transfer between the old and new programs freely and without jeopardy;

is considered a minor program proposal and requires approval of the Academic Board. In these cases a new program code is not required.

Proposals should address changes to the whole program at the same time. Revisions to each year of a program should not be put forward on separate occasions.

A course proposal must be completed for each new or revised course in the new or revised program. The authorisation of the Dean, the Head of School, and the University Librarian, however, is not required on each individual course proposal. A course proposal is not required if previously approved courses form part of the new or revised program (a copy of the current Faculty Handbook Entry for each course should be provided instead).

Only certain sections of the Form should be completed where the course revision involves a change to the course number or name only. Alternatively a letter or memorandum with details of the current and new course number/name can be submitted. A Form does not have to be completed for a course deletion.

Individual courses which do not form part of a new or revised program proposal must include an authorisation from the Dean, the Head of School, and University Librarian.

The University charges tuition fees for:
• all postgraduate coursework programs and some undergraduate programs offered to Australian citizens and permanent residents;
• undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered to International Students; and
• enrolment in voluntary non-award courses (ie.courses (subjects) from an award program which will not be counted towards an award program at UNSW or elsewhere).

The setting of the above fees are subject to
• University policy and procedures, and
• Commonwealth Government legislation and guidelines.

As tuition fees for award programs are approved annually by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the Executive Director, Business and Finance, if a proposal involves fees, a Business Plan should be completed and submitted to the Business Office for approval by the Vice-Chancellor. Contact the Business Office for advice on completion of the Business Plan - ext 51815.

3. APPROVAL PROCESS

A flow chart of the approval process to assist in determining the time it will take to obtain approval for a new and revised program or course (subject), follows. This should be taken into account when planning implementation dates and publicity.

A proposal for a new or revised Postgraduate Program must be considered initially by the Faculty Higher Degree, Research or Education Committee (as appropriate), then the Faculty Standing Committee. Once endorsed, the proposal can then proceed to the Postgraduate Coursework Committee (or Committee on Research if appropriate), and the Academic Board and Council for approval, as required.

A proposal for a new or revised Undergraduate Program is considered initially by the Faculty Standing Committee, before proceeding to the Undergraduate Studies Committee, and the Academic Board and Council for approval, as required.

A proposal for a new or revised course (subject) which does not form part of a new or revised program is considered initially by the Higher Degree Committee (for Postgraduate Courses (subjects) ) before proceeding to the Faculty Standing Committee for final approval (which also approves Undergraduate Courses (subjects)).

Academic proposals IN ELECTRONIC FORM & IN HARD COPY should be submitted to the Secretariat at least ten days before the meeting to enable circulation to Faculty Standing Committees and Academic Board Standing Committees. Please note that the Secretariat is unable to process incomplete proposals.

Please note that where tuition fees are proposed, the funding arrangements require the approval of the Vice-Chancellor (via the Business Office) before the proposal can be submitted for final consideration by Council. To avoid delays, approval of tuition fees via the Business Office should be obtained as early as possible in the process.

Significant lead times must be allowed where tuition fees are involved, especially for programs offered to International students and this should be taken into account when preparing proposals.

Please keep in mind the University's Equal Opportunity in Education Policy Statement in preparing a program or course (subject) proposal.

The University is required not to discriminate against students or prospective students on the grounds of age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, race, nationality, national or ethnic origin, colour, homosexuality or disability. The University also declares that it will not discriminate on the grounds of religious or political affiliations, views or beliefs.

As well as recognising its statutory obligations as listed, the University will eliminate discrimination on any other grounds which it deems to constitute disadvantage. The University is committed to providing a place to study free from harassment and discrimination, and one in which every student is encouraged to work towards her/his maximum potential. The University further commits itself to course design, curriculum content, classroom environment, assessment procedures and other aspects of campus life which will provide equality of educational opportunity to all students.

Schools and faculties should monitor program content (including course (subject) titles), teaching methods, assessment procedures, written material (including study guides and handbook and Calendar entries) and audiovisual material to ensure that they are not discriminatory or offensive and that they encourage and facilitate full participation in education by disadvantaged people.