Undergraduate Curriculum Management
Program Templates
Note: The templates below can be used for the following: Major, Joint Major, Honours, Joint Honours, Double Degree, Minor, Extended Minor, Certificate or Post Baccalaureate Diploma.
New Programs
Ministry_DQAB_Review_STAGE1_Template_UGRD_2019.docxMinistry DQAB template is ONLY required for programs requiring Ministry approval. Last updated: July 2019
Program Modification
Program Name change
Program Termination
The information that follows applies to: major, joint major, honours, joint honours, double degree, minor, extended minor, certificate and post baccalaureate diploma, unless otherwise noted in the header or in the steps.
| New Programs* | Program Changes | Program Name Change | Program Suspension | Program Termination | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 Notice of Intent |
Step 2 Full Program Proposal, DQAB Template** |
|||||
| 1 | Academic Unit | Academic Unit | Academic Unit | Academic Unit | Academic Unit | Academic Unit |
| 2 | UCC | UCC | UCC | UCC | UCC | UCC |
| 3 | SCUS | SCUS | SCUS | SCUS | SCUS | SCUS |
| 4 | SCUP | SCUP | Senate (for info) |
SCUP | SCUP | SCUP |
| 5 | Senate | Senate | Senate (for info) |
Senate | ||
| 6 | BOG | BOG | BOG | |||
| 7 | AVED*** | |||||
- AVED- Ministry of Advanced Education
- BOG- Board of Governors
- NOI- Notice of Intent
- FPP- Full Program Proposal
- SCUP- Senate Committee on University Priorities
- SCUS- Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies
- UCC- Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
*If the Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED) has already approved the major, then adding a new minor, or extended minor doesn't require Ministry approval. If AVED has approved both the majors, then the academic unit doesn't need Ministry approval to create a new joint major or joint honours. Certificates and Post Baccalaureate Diplomas also don't require Ministry approval. In these cases, the new program approval process goes from the academic unit to the Board of Governors (BOG) as outlined in the chart above. If you are unsure if your new program proposal requires Ministry approval, please consult with Jill Sutherland (ucil_director@sfu.ca), Director, University Curriculum & Institutional Liaison.
**For new programs that require Ministry approval, academic units also need to complete a Ministry DQAB Review Template alongside the Full Program Proposal (FPP). Unlike the FPP, the DQAB template does not go to any committees. It can be submitted directly to the University Curriculum office - Jocelyn Chapman-University Curriculum Coordinator (ucil_office@sfu.ca). The curriculum office will review the information and pair it up with the FPP before uploading the information to the Ministry site.
***(AVED) posts the program proposal to the peer review website for 30 days. AVED provides a decision usually a month after the peer review is complete. The academic unit can implement the program once Ministry provides confirmation of approval.
Last updated: August 14, 2024
| SCUS Material Deadline | SCUS Meeting | Senate Meeting | Effective Date* |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 | December 5, 2024 | January 6, 2025 | Fall 2025** |
| December 6, 2024 | January 9, 2025 | February 3, 2025 | |
| January 17, 2025 | February 6, 2025 | March 3, 2025 | |
| February 14, 2025 | March 6, 2025 | April 7, 2025 | |
| March 14, 2025 | April 3, 2025 | May 20, 2025 | Spring 2026** |
| April 11, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | June 9, 2025 | |
| May 16, 2025 | June 5, 2025 | July 7, 2025 | |
| June 13, 2025 | July 3, 2025 | September 8, 2025*** | Summer 2026** |
| July 18, 2025 | August 7, 2025 | September 8, 2025 | |
| August 22, 2025 | September 11, 2025 | October 6, 2025 | |
| September 12, 2025 | October 2, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | |
| October 17, 2025 | November 6, 2025 | December 1, 2025 | |
| November 14, 2025 | December 4, 2025 | January 5, 2026 | Fall 2026** |
*The effective date indicates when the curriculum change is operational in SIMS, Academic Calendar and the Academic Progress Report.
**In April 2022, SCUS approved a change in process:
- Fall Calendar: only major program modifications and policy changes will be permitted.
- Spring and Summer Calendars: minor modifications and urgent policy changes that will have a positive effect on students are permitted.
***No Senate meeting in August.
Last updated: August 14, 2024
| SCUS Material Deadline | SCUS Meeting | SCUP Meeting | Senate Meeting | Effective Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | November 7, 2024 | December 4, 2024 | January 6, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| November 15, 2024 | December 5, 2024 | January 8, 2025 | February 3, 2025 | |
| December 6, 2024 | January 9, 2025 | February 5, 2025 | March 3, 2025 | |
| January 17, 2025 | February 6, 2025 | February 26, 2025 | April 7, 2025 | |
| February 14, 2025 | March 6, 2025 | April 16, 2025 | May 20, 2025 | Spring 2026 |
| March 14, 2025 | April 3, 2025 | May 14, 2025 | June 9, 2025 | |
| April 11, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | June 18, 2025 | July 7, 2025 | |
| May 16, 2025 | June 5, 2025 | July 9, 2025 | September 8, 2025** | Summer 2026 |
| June 13, 2025 | July 3, 2025 | September 10, 2025 | October 6, 2025 | |
| July 18, 2025 | August 7, 2025 | September 10, 2025 | Octobet 6, 2025 | |
| August 22, 2025 | September 11, 2025 | October 1, 2025 | November 3, 2025 | |
| September 12, 2025 | October 2, 2025 | November 5, 2025 | December 1, 2025 | |
| October 17, 2025 | November 6, 2025 | December 3, 2025 | January 5, 2026 | Fall 2026 |
*The effective date indicates when the curriculum change is operational in SIMS, Academic Calendar and the Academic Progress Report.
**No Senate meeting in August.
SFU submits all new degree program proposals to the Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED). The Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED) posts new program proposals to their peer review website maintained by a committee called Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) for 30 days. The AVED definition of a new degree program requiring Ministry approval at the undergraduate level is as follows:
- a baccalaureate, or applied baccalaureate degree that has not been previously granted or conferred by the post-secondary institution in British Columbia, or
- a baccalaureate or applied baccalaureate degree granted or conferred by the post-secondary institution in British Columbia containing one or more of:
- a new major (a new honours program in a field in which a major is currently offered does not require Ministry approval)
- an existing interdisciplinary major if the majority of the courses are new or are substantially altered to conform to the program’s objectives
- a joint major if one or more of the fields in the joint major is not already represented by an approved major
- revision of a program’s objectives resulting in significant changes; and
- significant revision of a program that warrants credential renaming
Curriculum scenarios such as those listed below don’t require Ministry approval. The scenarios listed below will not go through the Notice of Intent (NOI); they will proceed directly to the Full Program Proposal (FPP) process.
- NEW Honours programs (if the major program has already received Ministry approval)
- NEW Joint Majors, Joint Honours (if both of the major programs have received Ministry approval)
- NEW Minors or Extended Minors (if the major program has already received Ministry approval)*
- NEW Certificates
- NEW Post Baccalaureate Diplomas
The proposed change to an existing degree that has had prior AVED approval also does not require AVED approval again, unless it is a significant change and fits in the AVED definition of a new degree program. In some instances it may be difficult to determine whether a proposed change in a program is sufficient to classify it as constituting a new degree and thus requires AVED approval. If you are unsure if your new program proposal requires Ministry approval, please consult with the University Curriculum and Institutional Liaison Office (ucil_director@sfu.ca), within the Office of the Associate Vice President, Academic (AVPA).
*For a new minor within a program area that SFU does not have approval to offer a major, the AVPA will notify the Secretariat of the content of the proposed new minor. The DQAB will, within 45 days, determine whether the change is of sufficient magnitude to be classed as a new degree. The new minor must not be implemented until this determination has been made and, if deemed to be a new program, until the degree program review has been successfully completed and ministerial approval granted. In all cases, the DQAB reserves the right to determine whether a review is required.
New undergraduate programs require a two-step process involving first a Notice of Intent (NOI) and then a Full Program Proposal (FPP). This process could take up to two years especially if the program requires Ministry approval. Academic units are encouraged to plan ahead. The NOI and the FPP are eventually submitted as one document to Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED). The NOI must be in the format described below (see template), and must also be incorporated as the “Executive Summary” of the FPP.
Approval Process NOI (Step 1)
- Academic unit prepares and approves the Notice of Intent (NOI) Template - Ugrad.
- Academic unit submits the NOI to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC).
- UCC submits the NOI to the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS) for approval.
- SCUS submits the NOI to the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) for approval. SCUS also makes a recommendation to SCUP concerning the advisability of developing the full program proposal (FPP).
- SCUP decides whether or not to approve the NOI for further development.
- After SCUP approves the NOI, the academic unit develops the Full Program Proposal (FPP).
Academic units may develop the NOI and FPP simultaneously, but until SCUP approves the NOI, the FPP won't advance through the FPP approval process.
Template
Resource
For a list of credential definitions, please click here.
The Full Program Proposal (FPP) is an expansion of the Notice of Intent (NOI).
Approval Process FPP (Step 2)
- After Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) approves the Notice of Intent (NOI), the academic unit prepares the Full Program Proposal (FPP) Template - Ugrad for approval.
- If the proposed program requires Ministry approval, the academic unit also needs to complete the Ministry DQAB Review Template - Ugrad. Unlike the FPP, the DQAB template does not go to any committees. It can be submitted directly to the University Curriculum office (via Jocelyn Chapman - ucil_office@sfu.ca). Once the FPP has gone through the approval stages, the DQAB template will be attached to the FPP for upload to the Ministry site.
- Academic unit submits the FPP to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) for approval. If there are new courses, UCC follows the new course approval process. Academic units should ensure that any new courses required for the FPP are approved prior to the FPP approval process. Otherwise, the FPP may be delayed by SCUS until all the courses required for the new program have also been approved.
- UCC then submits the FPP to the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS) for approval.
- SCUS then submits the FPP to the Senate Committee on University Priorities (SCUP) for approval.
- SCUP then sumbits the FPP to Senate for approval.
- Senate then submits the FPP to the Board of Governors (BOG) for approval.
- After the FPP is approved at Senate and BOG, the Curriculum Office, Office of the Associate Vice President will submit the NOI as Executive Summary of the FPP and the DQAB Review Template to the Ministry of Education (AVED) for review and approval.
- The Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED) posts the program proposal to their peer review website maintained by a review committee called Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) for 30 days. AVED provides a decision usually a month after the peer review is complete. If not approved by AVED, the Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) reviews the proposal.
- Once Ministry approves, the academic unit can implement the program and start accepting students per the approved effective term. Also, upon Ministry approval, Senate and Academic Services processes the new program into the Academic Calendar and the Academic Progress Report per the approved effective date.
Templates
Sample Proposals
APPROVAL PROCESS
- Academic unit prepares and approves a Program Modification Template.
- Academic unit submits proposal with cover memo to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) for approval.
- UCC submits proposal to Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS) for approval with memo.
- SCUS submits proposal to Senate for information.
- Senate and Academic Services staff processes the changes in the Academic Calendar and the Academic Progress Report (APR) per the approved effective date.
Sample
Changes to the names of existing academic programs require approval of:
- The academic unit
- Faculty UCC
- SCUS
- SCUP
- Senate and
- Board of Governors
A proposed Program Name Change requires a separate motion from any related program content modifications. See Program Modification.
Interdisciplinary programs should ensure all participating units support the proposed name change and include supporting memos.
A program’s current name continues to apply to the credential of any active student unless the student elects to formally move to the program under the new name.
APPROVAL PROCESS
- Academic unit prepares and approves a Program Name Change Template.
- Academic unit submits proposal with cover memo to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) for approval.
- UCC submits proposal to Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS) for approval with memo.
- SCUS submits proposal to SCUP for approval with memo.
- SCUP submits proposal to Senate for approval with memo.
- Senate submits proposal to BOG for approval with memo.
- Senate and Academic Services staff processes the changes in the Academic Calendar per the approved effective date.
Normally, a program will not be recommended for termination unless:
(a) admissions to the program has been suspended for at least two semesters. For this reason, it is a two step process to terminate a program. First, suspension of admissions and then program termination.
(b) or IF there are no students currently enrolled in the program, consider the fast track option.
Proposals to suspend a program must provide sufficient information to allow all committees to fully understand the rationales for and consequences of suspension or termination including a communication plan to students. Doing so meets SFU’s standard of open, accountable, academic governance. Suspension of admissions to a program does not necessarily result in the termination of a program. To terminate a program, see the section on Program Termination.
Approval Process
- Originator defined as Chair, Director or Faculty Dean, Department, School, or Faculty (or committee thereof) reviews the Proposal to Suspend Admissions Template to determine information needed for filling out the template.
- Originator conducts consultation with appropriate Departmental, School and/or Faculty committees.
- Originator fills out the "Proposal to Suspend Admission template."
- Originator submits the template to the Faculty Dean.
- Faculty Dean submits the template and cover memo to SCUS.
- Upon approval at SCUS, the documents are forwarded to SCUP.
- Upon approval at SCUP, the information is sent to Senate for information.
- After Senate, Senate and Academic Services' staff processes the suspension in the Academic Calendar.
NOTE: Upon suspension, the program will not disappear from the Calendar. Instead, there will be a note on the program page as shown here. To terminate the program, please see the terminate section below.
Senate Approved Criteria and Guidelines
Templates
Sample Proposal
Proposals to terminate a program must provide sufficient information to allow all committees to fully understand the rationales for and consequences of suspension or termination. Doing so meets SFU’s standard of open, accountable, academic governance.
Approval Process
- Originator defined as Chair, Director or Faculty Dean, Department, School, or Faculty (or committee thereof) reviews the Proposal to Terminate a Program Template to determine information needed for filling out the template
- Originator conducts consultation with appropriate Departmental, School and/or Faculty committees.
- Originator fills out the "Proposal to Terminate a Program template".
- Originator submits the template to the Faculty Dean.
- Faculty Dean submits the template and cover memo to SCUS.
- Upon approval at SCUS, the documents are forwarded to SCUP.
- Upon approval at SCUP, the information is sent to Senate for approval.
- From Senate the information goes to the Board of Governors (BOG) for approval.
- After BOG approval, Senate and Academic Services' staff processes the termination in the Academic Calendar per the approved effective date.
NOTE: In some circumstances, the university may be required to consult with the Ministry responsible for post-secondary education prior to termination.
Senate Approved Criteria and Guidelines
Template
Sample Proposal
A recommendation to terminate a program that is in the SFU Calendar but has no enrolled students, may be considered for fast-tracking directly to the Senate level upon request of a Faculty Dean to the Vice-President Academic. The Dean should consult with the relevant department and/or faculty committees prior to requesting an expedited process.
Senate Approved Criteria and Guidelines
Template
Sample Proposal
Undergraduate first year programs and cohorts don't require Senate approval for creation or deletion. The academic unit submits first year programs and cohort proposals to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee (UCC) and then to the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies (SCUS). After SCUS approval, the program is implemented or deleted in the Academic Calendar per the approved effective date.
Students enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at SFU may be eligible to take graduate courses and count them towards their bachelor's degree and a master's degree at SFU. Students who have successfully completed at least 90 units of undergraduate course work with a minimum CGPA of 3.67, can submit a request to the undergraduate and graduate program to be considered for an accelerated master's (see GGR 1.3.6c). Approved students can apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units towards the electives or upper division requirements in the bachelor's program, and the program requirements for a master's program. Student information on the process can be found here: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.
Approval Process
The accelerated master’s is an approved admissions option for all programs. Academic units can contact sfucal@sfu.ca to have the standard language below added after the program requirements in their calendar entry for the next effective term:
NOTE: SFU students accepted in the accelerated master’s within [name of academic unit/program] may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor’s degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor’s program and the requirements of the master’s degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.
If you would like to customize any of the language the same approval process for an undergraduate program modification should be followed. For example, changing the maximum units to nine, specific course work, or course sequence.
For graduate programs, academic units can contact gscurric@sfu.ca to have the standard language added after the program requirements in their calendar entry for the next effective term (see SGSC Accelerated Master's for more information).