III-7.03 RESOLUTION REGARDING ACTION BY THE BOARD OF REGENTS TO
DELEGATE TO THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF
MARYLAND THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE CERTAIN PROGRAM ACTIONS
(As recommended by the Committee on Education Policy, June 18, 2003)
WHEREAS Section 11-206.1(b) and 12-106(c) and (d) of the
Education Article of the Maryland Code Annotated authorize
the Board of Regents to review and to approve each proposal
for a new program and a substantial expansion, curtailment,
or discontinuance of any existing program submitted by a
President of a USM institution; and
WHEREAS Section 11-206.1(b)(2) directs the Board to ensure
that any new program (1) is consistent with the
institution's adopted mission statement, (2) meets criteria
for the quality of new programs, developed in consultation
with MHEC, and (3) can be implemented within the existing
program resources of the institution, and
WHEREAS Section 11-206.1(b)(3) directs the Board to complete
its review and approval of new programs within 60 days if
the program meets the above criteria; and
WHEREAS Section 12-104(k)(1) allows the Board to delegate
any part of its authority to the Chancellor; and
WHEREAS the Board wishes to adopt a procedure for the review
and approval of proposed program actions that facilitates
the process of modifying the institutional program
inventories in order to meet changing student demands and
environmental needs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
(1) The Board of Regents hereby delegates to the Chancellor
the authority to approve any new academic program leading to
the award of a graduate or undergraduate certificate, any
new BTPS program, any substantial expansion or modification
of an existing academic program, and any discontinuances of
existing degree programs in accordance with Section 11.206.1
and USM Policy III-7.02. New degree programs shall continue
to require action by the Board of Regents as stipulated in
USM Policy III-7.01.
(2) In accordance with Section 11-206.1(b)(2), new programs
shall be consistent with the established mission of the
institution, shall meet criteria for quality, and shall be
able to be implemented within the existing program resources
of the institution.
(3) In accordance with Section 11-206.1(b)(3), the
Chancellor's review and approval or disapproval shall be
given within 60 days if the program meets stated criteria.
(4) If the Chancellor disapproves a program proposal, then
the proposing institution shall be entitled, within 15
calendar days after the date of the notice of disapproval,
to request formal review by the Board through its Committee
on Education Policy. The institution will withdraw its
proposal from MHEC pending results of the appeal to the
Board.
(5) If an objection to a proposed new program is filed
either by the Maryland Higher Education Commission or by any
Maryland institution of higher education within 30 days of
the Commission's receipt of notice of an institution's
intent to establish a new program, on the basis of (a)
inconsistency of the proposed program with the institution's
mission (b) unreasonable program duplication which would
cause demonstrable harm to another institution, and/or (c)
violation of the State's equal educational opportunity
obligations under State and federal law, in accordance with
Section 11-206.1(c), and if the Commission upon review of
supporting evidence finds the objection to be justified, the
Chancellor shall work with the President of the proposing
institution and the Commission to resolve the objection.
(6) The Chancellor shall present to the Board in each fall
semester a report summarizing program actions taken during
the past academic year.
