Approval Pathways Narrative Description
This page provides a narrative description of the Indiana University Academic Program Approval Matrix and its approval pathways following completion of campus-level approval processes. Proposal approval requirements vary based on proposal type.
ALC Approval Pathway
The following proposal types require approval through the Academic Leadership Council (ALC) approval process:
- New Major (including graduate concentrations and licensure programs)
- New Area Certificate
Approval sequence:
- Campus Approval Process(es)
- APPEAR Entry
- ALC Tech Review
- ALC Approval
No additional university or state approvals are required beyond ALC approval for these proposal types.
ICHE Staff Approval Pathway
The following proposal types require review through the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE) staff approval process:
- New Standalone Certificate (fewer than 13 semester credit hours)
- Routine Changes to Existing Academic Program
Approval sequence:
- Campus Approval Process(es)
- APPEAR Entry
- ALC Tech Review
- ALC Approval
- ICHE Staff Review
- ICHE Academic Affairs and Quality Committee (AA&Q) Information Item
- ICHE Full Commission Agenda Information Item
For these proposal types, ICHE staff review the proposal and report the action to the Academic Affairs and Quality Committee and the Full Commission as information items.
ICHE Full Commission Approval Pathway
The following proposal types require approval by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Full Commission:
- New Degree Program
- New Standalone Certificate (13 or more semester credit hours)
Approval sequence:
- Campus Approval Process(es)
- APPEAR Entry
- ALC Tech Review
- ALC Approval
- Indiana University Board of Trustees Approval
- ICHE Academic Affairs and Quality Committee (AA&Q) Review
- ICHE Full Commission Approval
These proposal types require review and approval by the Indiana University Board of Trustees prior to consideration by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Definitions
Academic Leadership Council (ALC)
The Academic Leadership Council is composed of senior academic leaders from Indiana University, including chief academic officers from each campus, academic vice presidents, and other designated university academic leaders.
ALC Tech
ALC Tech is the technical review committee charged by the Academic Leadership Council with receiving and reviewing academic program proposals prior to ALC consideration.
APPEAR
APPEAR (Academic Program Proposal, Evaluation, And Review) is Indiana University's system for submitting, tracking, reviewing, and approving academic program proposals.
Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE)
The Indiana Commission for Higher Education is the State of Indiana's coordinating agency for public higher education.
Academic Affairs and Quality Committee (AA&Q)
The Academic Affairs and Quality Committee is a committee of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education that reviews new degree proposals and certain certificate proposals before action by the Full Commission.
Full Commission
The Full Commission refers to the voting members of the Indiana Commission for Higher Education acting at a regularly scheduled Commission meeting.