Georgia Southern’s comprehensive curriculum review process is faculty driven to ensure new programs meet SACSCOC expectations of coherence as well as the level of rigor and knowledge appropriate to higher education. When new programs are developed initial discussions begin at the department level, often in consultation with the college dean. The final decision is informed by analytics such as the Academic Forecast, employment information, student demand, and a potential program’s alignment with both the mission and goals of Georgia Southern as well as University System of Georgia (USG) initiatives and regional needs. 

Selected programs must request approval from the USG to proceed with a formal proposal. This formal proposal must then be vetted through Georgia Southern’s curriculum process, securing approvals at the departmental, college, and institutional level curriculum committees and then moving onto Faculty Senate, the Provost, and President before proposals exit the institution for final review and approval by the USG and SACSCOC. The multistage and multilevel collaborative process for new program development enhances educational quality through program coherence, mission alignment, and appropriateness for higher education as outlined in SACSCOC Standard 9.1.