Regulations & Policies

Academic Affairs

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

This policy establishes the process that will be used to terminate a degree/major program at the University of North Florida. Pursuant to the Board of Governors regulation 8.012 Academic Program Termination the process for terminating programs must include:

• A formal process for determining degree programs that are candidates for termination that includes review by the appropriate curriculum, financial, and administrative councils of the university;
• A plan to accommodate any students or faculty who are currently active in a program that is scheduled to be terminated; and
• A process for evaluation and mitigation of any potential negative impact the proposed termination may have on the current representation of females and ethnic minorities within the faculty and students.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

To ensure the efficient use of resources and maintain the quality and relevancy of academic programs offered at the University of North Florida, programs may be terminated. Reasons for termination of a program are not limited to but may include any or all of the following:

• Enrollments are no longer sufficient to justify the cost of instruction, facilities, and equipment; or the program duplicates other offerings at the university;
• The program is no longer aligned with the mission or strategic goals of the department, college, or university;
• The program no longer meets the needs of the citizens of Florida in providing a viable educational or occupational objective.

Student Accommodation: All majors in a degree program that is considered for termination will be allowed to complete the degree program. Aspiring majors will be asked to select a different major. Once a major breaks continuous enrollment he/she will no longer be considered an active student and will need to select a new major when re-admitted.

Faculty Accommodation: Pursuant to the BOT-UFF Collective Bargaining Agreement Article 33 Layoff and Recall, a layoff may occur as a result of the termination of a degree/major program. The University Administration and the Board of Trustees shall make a reasonable effort to locate appropriate alternate or equivalent employment for laid-off faculty members within the University and to make known the results of the effort to the person affected.

III. STATEMENT OF PROCEDURES

Definitions

Program termination: The University will no longer be authorized to offer the degree program. Students currently enrolled in the program will be allowed to complete the program provided continuous enrollment is maintained.

Procedures

Programs may be identified as candidates for termination through the Academic Program Review process, the Academic Affairs Strategic Budget Council, by a department or college, or by the Board of Trustees. Once a recommendation to terminate a degree program has been issued, the academic or administrative unit that initiated that recommendation must submit a Degree Program Termination Proposal (guidelines below) and an APC 3. When such a recommendation is put forward by the Board of Trustees, Academic Affairs will assume responsibility for preparing the necessary forms. Consistent with the UNF Constitution, the proposal shall be reviewed by all relevant bodies at the department, college, and university levels, including the Faculty Association and the Academic Affairs Strategic Budget Council, each of which should provide its advice to the successive reviewing body and ultimately to the Provost, President, and Board of Trustees on the potential impact of program closure.

Once this review process has been completed the proposal is forwarded to the Educational Policy Committee and ultimately the full Board of Trustees for review and approval. For all degree programs, excluding the doctorate, the Board of Governors will be notified if the Board of Trustees approves the termination. For doctoral degrees, the Board of Trustees will forward a recommendation of termination to the Board of Governors.

IV. DEGREE PROGRAM TERMINATION PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

A proposal to terminate a degree program shall include the following information:

1. Program title.
2. Department/School and College responsible for administering the program.
3. The proposed effective semester.
4. A rationale for the program termination.
5. A plan to accommodate any students or faculty who are currently active in the program that is recommended to be terminated.
6. An evaluation and possible mitigation of any potential negative impact the proposed termination may have on the current representation of females and ethnic minorities within the faculty and students.
7. A consideration of the potential impact on other academic programs, existing articulation agreements, and community needs.

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