Program or Change Proposal Criteria

Approval Process

I.  Before submission, determine if the proposed program/change meets the following criteria:

1. The proposed program is a partnership between at least two of the Tri-College partnering institutions.
2. The proposed program is consistent with the mission of Tri-College with a defined purpose to work cooperatively in an effort to enrich the academic environment for the benefit of students, faculty, and the community.
3. Campus generated ideas from faculty, staff, and administration should follow these guidelines: a. individuals should seek out campus stakeholder feedback and follow the academic unit's chain of organization structure to gain approval and support, b. final campus approval is required by the campus Vice-President/Provost of Academic Affairs who serves as the Tri-College Commissioner before consideration by Tri-College.   

II.  Submit a Campus Approved Request for Approval/Change to the Tri-College Provost that includes the following information:

1. Explain how the change enhances the student's academic experience. 
2. Detailed narrative of the purpose and history (if applicable) of the proposed program. 
3. Justification regarding the need for cooperation and why it can benefit by inclusion of multiple campuses.
4. Description of community involvement or contributions to the campus community and/or community at large.
5. Detailed operating budget that includes an administrative overhead cost line item, with the amount to be determined (Please contact Tri-College to discuss) or how existing budgets would be impacted. ​​
6. A plan to deal with potential budget shortfalls.
7. Operational plan or agreement to address the following, but not limited to: a. definition of the program – is this a cooperative program and/or one that will seek accreditation, b. mission, philosophy, goals/objectives, outcomes, and governance of the program, c. action steps and timeline for implementation, d. define how resources from individual campuses will be utilized and shared.
8. ​​​​​Evaluation Plan to include: a. organizational chart to propose administrative reporting and accountability; listing steering committee, campus representatives, the Tri-College Board of Directors and Provost, program coordinator, etc.  (Examples supplied upon request), b. exit strategy and process to dissolve the program; the exit strategy will include conditions and reasons that would trigger dissolution of the program (i.e., budget shortfalls, or inactivity for 3 or more consecutive years, etc.).
9. Signed statement by program administrators agreeing to: a. turn over complete fiscal oversight and responsibility to the TCU Board of Directors, to be administered by the Tri-College Provost, b. to attend commissioner and/or board meetings as requested to explain, c. and/or justify budget proposals as the TCU Commissioners and Board of Directors must approve all budgets annually.
10. New programs will be branded as Tri-College University (TCU) – and name of program. Such as Tri-College University Educational Leadership Program and Tri-College University NEW Leadership Institute. The program will not be branded without the Tri-College University prefix.
11. Meet with Tri-College staff to go over procedures for purchasing supplies, setting up meetings, understanding financial reports, staffing needs, and whatever else is deemed appropriate. 

III.  Meet with Tri-College Provost with preliminary proposal ideas reviewing the need and purpose of the proposed program. Revise the proposal as advised by the Tri-College Provost and staff, if necessary.

IV.  Attend a Tri-College Commissioners meeting (Vice Presidents/Provosts of Academic Affairs) to present proposal/change and answer questions. The commissioners will then:

1. Vote to approve and forward the proposal to the Tri-College Board of Directors.
2. Vote to deny, with recommendations to revise.
3. Vote to deny and not forward to the Board if program does not fall within the mission, criteria and parameters of Tri-College.