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New course

Outlined below are the steps required to create a new course (PDF 72 kB, print on A4). A more detailed version of the flowchart is available for download.

Faculties should also refer to the Award Course Approval and Reaccreditation Policy and Procedures for detailed information on the necessary course approval steps.

Step 1: Faculty assessment

In this first step, the faculty identifies a need for:

  • a new course
  • a new offering of an existing course (i.e. new language, partnership or location), or
  • a significant change to an existing course (i.e. a significant change to content/structure, credit points) that results in the creation of a new course.

The Institute for Interactive Media and Learning (IML) is available to offer advice and assist with designing courses and subjects.

Step 2: OCAP Proposal Stage 1: Initial Strategic Assessment

To start the administrative process for a new course or offering, the faculty must submit a request template for a new course proposal to the Academic Programs Office (APO), or contact the APO. The APO then enters the proposal in the Online Course Approval Process (OCAP) System.

Stage 1 of the proposal requires that an Initial Strategic Assessment (ISA) be submitted in the OCAP System, for eventual approval by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. For Spring semester courses, this occurs at least seven months before the commencement of the Spring semester; for Autumn semester courses, this occurs more than one year before the commencement of the Autumn semester. Current minimum timelines for new course approval are available in Timelines.

Proposers of new courses are required to provide evidence of support from other stakeholders, namely faculties, with an interest in the proposal. An 'interest' can include a teaching interest, an academic interest, an interest in combined courses owned by another faculty or an elective subject in a course owned by another faculty. 'Evidence of support' is a faculty board resolution or a signed letter from the Dean/Director of the other academic unit/faculty on letterhead.

Purpose of the ISA

The ISA enables an early assessment of the viability (initial financial and resource implications) of the proposal by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Alignment with the UTS academic mission, and any conditions that need to be met at further stages of the process, are assessed by the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor. If the proposal involves an offshore course, offshore institution or LOTE, an assessment is made by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) of the strategic international status.

For offshore courses and arrangements, proposers are advised to consult UTS Offshore (through UTS International) for assistance with the strategic data and risk assessment for starting a new course in a particular offshore location, development of partnership arrangements and appropriate business models for the course.

Specifically, where a partnership arrangement is involved (particularly offshore/international), the ISA should be completed before any discussions with the potential partner occur. This enables those involved in assessing the ISA to consider what the acceptable parameters of a UTS position might be, prior to any expectation or implied commitment to other parties being developed.

The Academic Programs Office (APO) should be consulted at an early stage with regard to the proposal. The APO sets up a meeting with the faculty to discuss the new proposal as soon as a request for a template is received. The APO then liaises with the faculty at all stages of the course approval process, informing it of any extra information that may be necessary and which committees have endorsed the proposal.

CASS curriculum forms

As soon as possible after the Initial Strategic Assessment, the faculty should complete a Course definition form and forward it to APO: CASS via a UTS: Service Desk request. Draft course data can then be loaded into CASS. This data automatically flows into CIS, enabling the faculty to start adding the CIS descriptive course data that is required in publications (e.g. the UTS: Handbook).

Step 3: OCAP Proposal Stage 2: Course Planning

At this stage, the faculty devises a course plan, including a business case, to be approved at faculty level by the faculty board/dean. This stage ensures that consideration is given to all planning issues that may have an impact on the quality, risk management, financial viability, successful delivery and management of the course. The Courses Planning Committee assesses the strategic and commercial soundness of course proposals and advises the Vice-Chancellor or Vice Chancellor's delegate on whether a course proposal should proceed. The proposal is approved by the Vice-Chancellor or Vice Chancellor's delegate to progress to the Courses Accreditation stage (see Step 4, below).

Contact the Accreditation and Committees Support Officer, APO for details on committee composition and membership.

Nomenclature

The Vice-Chancellor approves the award and course nomenclature. The APO liaises with the faculty regarding nomenclature before it is submitted to the VC for approval.

CASS curriculum forms

At this step, the faculty should complete the following forms and forward them to APO: CASS via a UTS: Service Desk request:

Step 4: OCAP Proposal Stage 3: Course Accreditation

The faculty board approves course accreditation at faculty level. The Courses Accreditation Committee then endorses the proposal and recommends it to Academic Board, or the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, for approval. Academic Board then approves accreditation of the course, subject to any outstanding matters.

This stage ensures that the course meets the University's educational requirements for the appropriate level of award. The Courses Accreditation Committee focuses on the educational quality of proposals to inform its recommendations to Academic Board, or the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, as applicable, on:

  • the accreditation of proposed or existing coursework award courses and pan-university subjects
  • admissions requirements, including selection criteria and the recognition of foundation studies programs and articulation arrangements
  • policy and practice related to the accreditation and removal of accreditation of coursework award courses and pan-university subjects.

CASS curriculum forms

At this step, the faculty should complete a Course template form and forward it to APO: CASS via a UTS: Service Desk request.

Step 5: OCAP Proposal Stage 4: Course Commencement

Before a course can be switched to Active, the Manager, Academic Programs Office checks the proposal and verifies that sufficient data is held against the course in CASS and CIS. On the recommendation of the Manager, Academic Programs Office, the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor then approves the commencement of student admissions into the course.

This stage ensures that all the necessary legislative, administrative, and resource requirements and conditions have been met before the course is made Active and able to receive admissions.

The faculty should complete the following form and forward it to the Subject Logistic Management Group (SAU) via a UTS: Service Desk request:

CASS curriculum forms

Before this step can be completed, the faculty should also submit the following forms to APO: CASS via a UTS: Service Desk request: