New Degree Program & Certificate Requests
Accessing the New Portal
- If you have a CB pass account but need access to the new portal contact Kara Rust (Kara.Rust@highered.texas.gov)
- For other questions related to access and submission, please contact Emma Gelsinger (Emma.Gelsinger@highered.texas.gov).
Note: If your program approval process includes submission of the forms to THECB by a system office, the new forms and portal will continue to allow for this submission process. Please contact your system office with questions related to internal routing of program approval forms.
Notification of Planning
Please submit through the new Data Submission Portal
Planning Notification Form Template
- Effective June 1, 2023, an online planning notification form must be submitted for applied and academic associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees prior to submission of the full degree program proposal (Texas Administrative Code 2.41). Planning notification for all doctoral and professional programs must be submitted one year prior to submission of the full proposal (Texas Administrative Code 2.143).
- Note: Multidisciplinary and embedded associate degrees are exempt from the planning notification requirement.
Public University & Health-Related Institutions New Degree & Certificate Programs
Please submit all new degree program forms through the new Data Submission Portal
New Embedded Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree Proposal Form Template
- Note: Budget & Enrollment Summary Spreadsheet is required for all bachelor’s and master’s degrees with 50% or more new content
New Doctoral or Professional Program Proposal Form Template
- Note: Budget & Enrollment Summary Spreadsheet is required for all new professional and doctoral program proposals
- See below for THECB Doctoral Program Approval Timeline Guidance
New Academic Certificate Notification Form Template
- Effective September 1, 2023, UHRI academic certificates do not require 50-mile notification or approval by the THECB prior to delivery. Institutions must notify Academic and Health Affairs within 90 days of delivery of a new certificate program.
Public Community & Technical Colleges New Degree & Certificate Programs
Please submit all new degree program forms through the new Data Submission Portal
New Associate Degree, Workforce Certificate, and Applied Baccalaureate Proposal Form Template
Applied Baccalaureate Degrees
- Senate Bill 2118, passed by the 85th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, authorizes public junior colleges meeting specific requirements to offer applied baccalaureate degree programs. An institution planning to launch its first applied baccalaureate degree must receive approval at a THECB quarterly board meeting.
THECB Doctoral & Professional Program Approval Timeline Guidance
The THECB approval process for new doctoral programs has several stages, including internal staff review at the THECB, a desk review from an external expert reviewer, a virtual site visit from external expert reviewers, site visit reports and responses, and final approval from the Committee on Academic and Workforce Success (CAWS) and the full Board of the THECB. The entire process can take up to 20 months at the very least from the time the THECB receives an institution’s planning notification. Once the full proposal is received, at least one year after the planning notification, the approval process takes from 6-9 months. Please keep in mind that accrediting agencies may set earlier deadlines for full THECB approval of new doctoral programs. All degree program requests submitted are required, by statute, to be approved or denied within one year of being deemed administratively complete.
Estimated Timelines
Timelines below are ESTIMATES ONLY. The quarterly board meeting at which the degree program is approved is dependent on complicating factors such as requests for additional information or revisions to an application, availability of reviewers, speed of the contracting process, or a high volume of doctoral program applications at one time.
| Action Step | Fall Semester Launch | Spring Semester Launch |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Planning Notification | August | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Submit Full Proposal | September | January |
| 30-Day Comment Period Ends | October | February |
| Initial Staff Review | November – December | March – April |
| Desk Review/Site Visit | January – March | May – June |
| CAWS/Board Meeting | April or July | July or October |
| Year 3 (minimum timeline) Year 4 (recommended timeline) | ||
| Program Launch | September | January |
- Texas Administrative Code requires degree programs to be launched within two years of approval by the Board of the THECB.
- The minimum timeline is suitable for programs that do not plan to go through a full recruitment and admissions cycle for the first year of the program, such as programs transferring existing students at the same institution.
Contact
Inquiries regarding Academic and Health Affairs should be sent to AHA.
Inquiries regarding new applied baccalaureate requests should be sent to Jessica Acton, Director, Academic and Health Affairs.