New Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Program Review

Overview

21-1-26, NMSA 1978 charges the higher education department with reviewing all new state-funded associate and bachelor degrees. The review and approval process is outlined above and can be found in detail in 5.5.6 NMAC 

All associate and bachelor degree programs that initiate the institutional approval process after August 1, 2018 must be reviewed and approved by the Higher Education Department (HED). The institutional and HED review processes may occur simultaneously. To begin the HED approval process for a new associate or bachelor degree, complete and submit your new Undergraduate Program application using the Academic Affairs Service Application. Requests must be submitted to HED on or before the submission deadline for the NMHEAC meeting at which the institution would like the program considered.

HED staff will review submitted applications and present them to the New Mexico Higher Education Advisory Committee (NMHEAC) for consideration. The NMHEAC will recommend to approve, disapprove, or return the application for modification. The Cabinet Secretary will consider the NMHEAC's recommendation and issue a determination to the proposing institution within 10 business days of the NMHEAC meeting.

After a proposed program has been approved by both the Cabinet Secretary of the Higher Education Department and the institution’s Governing Board, the institution may apply for a program CIP code.

Reporting Undergraduate Program Changes

New undergraduate programs; new sub-baccalaureate certificate programs; discontinued undergraduate programs; and any changes to the curriculum of an existing undergraduate program must be reported to HED within 30 business days of implementation. Program changes are to be submitted via email at nmhed.policy@state.nm.us.

Overview

The NMHED has statutory responsibility to review new graduate programs proposed by state universities as part of its authority for statewide planning and oversight of post-secondary education. The Post-Secondary Educational Planning Act, specifically (Section 21-2-5 NMSA 1978), authorizes the NMHED to conduct statewide planning, including analyses of state needs for post-secondary educational programs. (Section 21-1-24 NMSA 1978) requires that any graduate program that is to benefit from state funding must be approved by the NMHED and by the New Mexico state board of finance.

New graduate programs must be approved through the institution’s own internal process and the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans (NMGCD) prior to beginning the NMHED review process. After a program is approved by NMCGD, complete and submit your new Graduate Program application using the Academic Affairs Service Application.​ Requests must be submitted to HED on or before the submission deadline for the NMHEAC meeting at which the institution would like the program considered.

NMHED staff will review submitted applications and present them to the New Mexico Higher Education Advisory Committee (NMHEAC) for consideration. The NMHEAC will recommend to approve, disapprove, or return the application for modification. The Cabinet Secretary will consider the NMHEAC's recommendation and determine whether or not to send to the New Mexico State Board of Finance.

NMHED staff will work with the institution to prepare a summary document and presentation to be presented at the next scheduled board of finance meeting.

After a proposed program has been approved by the New Mexico state board of finance, the institution may apply for a program CIP code.

The process for graduate program review can be found in (5.5.2.14 NMAC).

 

References

21-2-5 NMSA 1978

Section 21-1-24 NMSA 1978

NMAC 5.2.2 Approval of New Graduate Programs (NMHED)

NMAC 5.5.40 Graduate Programs (NM Board of Finance)

NMHED Contact for New Degree Program Review:
 
NMHED.Policy@hed.nm.gov
505-476-8400

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