All new graduate programs must be approved by the UHM Board of Regents, unless delegated to the President (i.e., Graduate Certificates) before they can be offered. University of Hawai‘i Executive Policy E5.201 governs the administrative procedure for creating new academic programs.

The process begins with the submission of an Authorization to Plan (ATP). An ATP is a request made at the beginning of the formal planning process, before resources are committed to developing new academic programs. Upon approval of the ATP, graduate programs have one year to prepare and submit a formal proposal.

The program proposal should include a full program description and justification. It should contain enough information to permit assessment of the academic integrity and quality of the proposed program, to determine its fiscal soundness and efficiency relative to other University activities, and to determine its appropriateness to the mission of the campus.

Proposal Review

Graduate program proposals will be reviewed by the appropriate unit, college/school, Graduate Division, the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence, Mānoa Faculty Senate, Provost/President, and the Board of Regents, as applicable.

Information Dissemination

All official graduate programs must be indicated in appropriate UHM publications such as the Catalog. Information such as degrees/certificates offered, admission requirements, degree/certificate requirements (including language requirements and other skills required), faculty list, and courses offered should be made available on graduate program web sites, brochures, and other literature.

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