Process for New Program Launch
UTEP Connect collaborates with academic units to launch fully online programs. When launching a program online, it is essential to consider the faculty pool that will teach in it, courses that will need to be developed for online delivery or compressed into 7 or 14 weeks, if the program will require a curriculum change, the market for the program, and the financials.
The launch process is comprised of four phases.
Phase One is the information-gathering stage. UTEP Connect works with the academic program to understand where they want the program to go and their timeline. This phase concludes with the academic dean's approval to move forward with the online program.
Phase Two is the approvals stage. The academic program director must coordinate and secure approvals from the Curriculum Effectiveness and Improvement Office at curriculum@utep.edu.
Phase Three is operations. The UTEP Connect staff will work with several University offices to prepare for the program's launch. The course carousel and the course development schedule are needed to develop the financial model and begin course development. The Business Center will develop the financial model and acquire departmental and VPBA approvals of the tuition rate. The State Authorization Manager works with the program director to ensure that all state requirements are met and determine if additional requirements are required for those programs leading to licensure or certifications. Marketing requires the program's feedback to build their webpage and initial marketing materials. Recruitment and advising will need the program's information on their recruitment and advising process. Phase Three ends with the launch of digital marketing, the application opening, and the start of recruitment.
Phase Four is course development. This last stage is iterative by semester and consists of faculty working with the Center for Instructional Design to develop new courses and/or redesign existing ones.
View the pdf below for more details of each phase of the process and timeframes.
