The State Board of Education approves all new academic programs for Idaho public institutions. Before the Board reviews the program, a significant amount of communication and vetting occurs in cooperation with the institutions.
Institutions wishing to request approval of new instructional programs or changes to existing instructional programs, instructional units, majors, minors, options, and emphases submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the Board’s Chief Postsecondary Academic Officer. Prior to the submission of any NOI, it is important that communication has occurred among institutions. The Academic Officer forwards NOIs to the Council on Academic Affairs and Programs (CAAP) Committee for its review and recommendation, which is authorized to make recommendations on instructional program issues.
Institutions wishing to request approval of a new graduate program must submit a Notice of Intent, but also is required to submit a Full Proposal (FP) to the Academic Officer. The Academic Officer will forward Full Proposals to CAAP for review and recommendation. CAAP may at, it's discretion, request a Full Proposal for any request requiring an NOI.
Each NOI and FP submitted to the Board office undergoes a review process in which institutions are given approximately 30 days to review prior to further processing. A flow chart of the program approval and review process may be referenced for specific guidelines.
Once an NOI or FP has gone through the full review process, the Academic Officer will review to determine if CAAP recommendation is required and if the NOI or FP will go to the Board or Executive Director for approval. For graduate programs, all full proposals are submitted to the Board for approval. Once that has been determined and appropriate OSBE signatures have been secured, the Board office will send notification of approval or otherwise to the Provost’s office of the institution.
Notice of Intent Form (MS Word format)
Full Proposal Form (MS Word format)
The Board has adopted, through policy, a comprehensive planning process for the coordination and delivery of postsecondary education.
More information on the 8-Year Plan