New Education Programs

The Department of Institutional Research, Policy, and Accreditation assists college officials navigate the process of education program and reviews necessary when beginning a new degree program, including the internal process established by Academic Affairs, the University of Arkansas President and Board of Trustees, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board (AHECB), and if necessary, the Higher Learning Commission and the U.S. Department of Education.

The department has produced a step-by-step guide to achieving approvals necessary and is available below.

• UAMS New Education Program Guidelines
• ADHE Guidelines
• HLC Guidelines

Program directors who are embarking on the development and approval of a new degree program are encouraged to contact Kristen Sterba, Ph.D. early in the process for guidance at kmsterba@uams.edu or 501.296.1275. Program Directors are encouraged to begin planning early since the recommended amount of time to allow for all approvals in order to enroll students in a new program is a minimum of one year.

Persons wishing to make changes to existing programs should also contact Kristen Sterba, Ph.D., who will work with Program Directors on completing the necessary documents.