Effective:  January 19, 2000

PURPOSE

To define the criteria and process that governs the authorization and modification of certificates.

AUTHORITY/SOURCE

University Curriculum Committee

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

POLICY

Any certificate offered under the auspices of the University must have the prior approval of (a) the curriculum committees and faculty bodies of the appropriate Colleges and/or Schools of the University, (b) the University Curriculum Committee of the Faculty Senate, and (c) the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The deletion of an authorized certificate program likewise requires the prior approval of those same committees and offices.

Two types of certificates are recognized:

Academic Certificate - awarded by an academic unit to a student at the time of the awarding of his/her Bachelors degree, or upon completion of the appropriate coursework to a student who already possesses a Bachelors degree.  An academic certificate is interdisciplinary in nature.

Professional Certificate - awarded by an academic unit to an individual who completes the appropriate coursework in the area of concentration. Two distinctions are made between the Professional Certificate and the Academic Certificate:

1. The Professional Certificate need not be interdisciplinary;

2. The Professional Certificate need not be associated with a degree.

PROCEDURE

The approved process and procedures for requesting authorization for a certificate are given in the Policies and Procedures Manual of the University Curriculum Committee.

Page last updated: February 25, 2002