Virginia Plytechnic Institute and State University N. 6150 Rev.: 1 Plicy and Prcedures Date: April 23, 2002 Subject: Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech 1. Purpse...1 2. Plicy...1 2.1 Definitin...1 2.2 Criteria fr Establishing Schls Within r Amng Clleges...1 3. Prcedures...2 3.1 Review and Apprval Prcess...2 3.2 Evaluatin Of Schls Fr Cntinuatin...3 3.2.1 Evaluatin Criteria...3 4. Definitins...3 5. References...3 6. Apprval and Revisins...3 APPENDIX...4 Outline fr Schl Prpsal...4 1. Purpse Cnsideratin f prpsals t establish the Schl f the Arts and the Schl fr Public and Internatinal Affairs fllwed a prcess infrmed by practices at ther institutins but nt frmally cdified. All parties will benefit frm making mre explicit the criteria and prcess t evaluate such prpsals. The Bard f Visitrs requested that criteria be develped fr bth establishment f new "schls" at Virginia Tech and their subsequent evaluatin, and t define a prcess fr apprval. 2. Plicy 2.1 Definitin A schl is defined as an academic unit that has a special curricular/prgrammatic functin and identity with research and utreach cmpnents as apprpriate. Schls may have varying levels f budgetary, prgrammatic, and administrative independence. Althugh a separate administrative structure is nt required, administrative and reprting relatinships must be clearly defined. If a schl administratr is appinted, this psitin will typically be designated a directr. 2.2 Criteria fr Establishing Schls Within r Amng Clleges Several basic criteria are required fr cnsideratin in creating a new schl, whether the new entity will be whlly a part f ne cllege r will invlve departments r subunits in several clleges. These criteria are: 1. Creatin f the schl is cnsistent with the gals and bjectives f the university. 2. The new schl will usually cnsist f mre than ne department r subunit and must have a critical mass f faculty and students. 3. There must be a strng curricular/prgrammatic justificatin fr creatin f the new rganizatinal entity. 4. A significant university benefit can be anticipated, such as: The schl will significantly imprve the quality and integratin f the curriculum. Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech Page 1 f 5
Virginia Plytechnic Institute and State University Plicy 6150 Revisin: 1 April 23, 2002 The curricular advances will result in the generatin f additinal pprtunities fr research, service, utreach, and/r develpment. 5. The discipline fcus f the new entity shuld have unique features that are nt adequately addressed by the existing structure(s) because f ne r mre f the fllwing: The interdisciplinary nature f the prgram(s) r curricula The prfessinal nature f discipline(s) The traditinal treatment at cmparable institutins The exceptinal strength r natinal reputatin f prgrams All criteria must be met, althugh nt all elements f the furth and fifth criteria are required. 3. Prcedures 3.1 Review and Apprval Prcess The Pre-prpsal. Preparatin and review f a pre-prpsal is the first step in cnsidering the creatin f a new schl. The pre-prpsal is a brief descriptin and ratinale fr the new schl (apprximately five pages). Areas addressed shuld include: 1. Hw the prpsed schl meets each f the basic criteria abve. 2. The anticipated effects n teaching, research, utreach/service, and develpment effrts. 3. The resurces that will be required t establish and perate the schl, bth shrt-term and lng-term, and the extent t which the schl will be self-supprting r will require additinal university r cllege resurces t maintain and grw. Indicate surces f funding. 4. The expected impact n the parent cllege(s) r ther related units. 5. Why the anticipated benefits are unlikely t be achieved within the current rganizatinal structure and hw the prpsed structure accmplishes the bjectives utlined. The pre-prpsal shuld first be reviewed with the relevant departmental faculty, heads, and cllege dean(s). If favrably reviewed, the dean(s) and the schl supprters will discuss the pre-prpsal with the Vice Prvst fr Academic Affairs and the Dean f the Graduate Schl. They will make a recmmendatin t the Prvst. If the pre-prpsal appears t have merit, the Prvst will share it with the Deans' Cuncil and request their respnse befre making a decisin t prceed. The Prvst will determine whether r nt a full prpsal shuld be develped fr serius cnsideratin by the university cmmunity. The "Full" Prpsal. The full prpsal (hereinafter referred t as the "prpsal") fr establishment f a new schl shuld fllw the utline prvided by the Office f the Prvst. Steps in the Review f the Prpsal: 1. Departmental review. The prpsal shuld be reviewed and apprved by the faculty in the participating departments and supprted by the heads. 2. Cllege-level review.the cllege curriculum cmmittee and the dean shuld review and apprve the prpsal. If mre than ne cllege is invlved, each must review and apprve the prpsal. Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech Page 2 f 5
Virginia Plytechnic Institute and State University Plicy 6150 Revisin: 1 April 23, 2002 3. Cmmissin n Undergraduate Studies and Plicies and the Cmmissin n Graduate Studies and Plicies. Supprters fr the schl shuld submit the prpsal t bth CUSP and CGSP fr review and apprval. (This presumes that the new schl entity has the ptential t incrprate prgrams at bth the undergraduate and graduate levels.) Supprters will be invited t present the prpsal t cmmissin members and t respnd t questins. It is expected that these discussins may lead t revisins f the prpsal. The Vice Prvst fr Academic Affairs and the Dean f the Graduate Schl are expected t play a lead rle in wrking with the cmmissins and supprters in this prcess. If apprved, the reslutin calling fr creatin f the new schl is frwarded t University Cuncil. 4. University Cuncil. University Cuncil receives the reslutin and vtes t accept r reject n the secnd reading. 5. Prvst, President, and Bard f Visitrs. Apprval by University Cuncil is a recmmendatin fr favrable actin t the President. If the schl prpsal has the supprt f the Prvst and President, it will be presented t the Bard f Visitrs fr apprval. 6. State Cuncil fr Higher Educatin. Creatin f new rganizatinal entities must be apprved by the State Cuncil. 3.2 Evaluatin Of Schls Fr Cntinuatin Schls will be evaluated n a five-year cycle in a manner cnsistent with all academic units n campus. The evaluatin will require a self-assessment f accmplishments by schl representatives and an external panel review. Written reprts frm each grup will be frwarded t the dean(s) f the participating cllege(s), wh will discuss the evaluatins with the schl leadership prir t preparing a recmmendatin t cntinue r disestablish the schl. The recmmendatin f the dean(s) and supprting materials will be frwarded t the Prvst fr final apprval. The external panel shall be appinted by the dean(s) f the participating cllege(s) and will cnsist f five members. Panel members will be drawn frm departments nt included within the clleges, members f the respective dean's ffice(s), and at least ne faculty member external t Virginia Tech but frm a cmparable schl lcated at a peer university. 3.2.1 Evaluatin Criteria Reviews will be guided by the schl's bjectives and implementatin plan, as well as by the relatinship f the schl's gals t the University Plan. Demnstrable evidence f accmplishments must be included in bth the internal and external reviews. The evaluatin will emphasize the degree t which the schl has met the criteria and benefited the institutin, with evidence such as active invlvement f a critical mass f interdisciplinary faculty and students; cntributins t enriching the educatin f students; effective interdepartmental cllabratin with respect t teaching, research, and public service activities; and increased access t external resurces. In additin, the review will address issues f administrative effectiveness and efficiency and fiscal management. 4. Definitins 5. References 6. Apprval and Revisins Apprved April 21, 1997 by the Bard f Visitrs. Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech Page 3 f 5
Virginia Plytechnic Institute and State University Plicy 6150 Revisin: 1 April 23, 2002 Revisin 1 Updated April 23, 2002 minr editrial changes and changes t psitin titles. 1. Prpsed name 2. Prpsed participating departments r units APPENDIX Outline fr Schl Prpsal 3. Prpsed effective date f the rganizatinal change 4. Prpsed missin Describe the missin and purpse f the prpsed schl and its relatinship t Virginia Tech's missin. Describe the gals and bjectives fr the schl and relate these t the University's gals and bjectives. Describe the benefits that are sught by creating the new rganizatinal structure. 5. Prpsed rganizatinal structure: Describe hw the prpsed schl wuld be structured as an rganizatinal unit within the University. Include rganizatinal charts that illustrate reprting relatinships fr the prpsed schl. Describe the internal rganizatinal r administrative structure prpsed fr the schl. Describe the relatinships between the schl leadership and the dean(s), and amng the heads f the participating departments and the schl leadership. Include descriptins f the duties and respnsibilities f senir administratrs within the schl. Make clear the prpsed lcus f cntrl fr persnnel and budgetary decisins. Describe changes t the standard cllege review and decisin making prcesses fr prmtin and tenure and annual evaluatin if any changes are prpsed r anticipated. Identify any additinal resurces needed t create the administrative rganizatin f the prpsed schl and prvide a justificatin fr these resurces. Will the schl require an additinal financial/budget fficer? Will the schl require a develpment fficer? Will the schl require an infrmatin fficer? Will the schl require assciate r assistant directrs? What additinal staff resurces and perating budgets will be required t supprt any new psitins? Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech Page 4 f 5
Virginia Plytechnic Institute and State University Plicy 6150 Revisin: 1 April 23, 2002 Develp a prpsed perating budget fr the schl that reflects bth current peratins and any new financial resurces required t create the schl. 6. Describe the academic prgrams (including instructin, research, and utreach) that wuld be ffered r cnducted by the prpsed schl. If recent academic prgram review dcuments are available, they may be submitted t respnd t the relevant questins belw. Describe the prgram pririties fr the schl in terms f its instructin, research, and utreach missins. Using histrical enrllment data and enrllment prjectins, describe the past and prjected enrllments in the departments that will be part f the prpsed schl. Relate these data t verall University trends. Describe hw the creatin f the schl will affect faculty wrklad and prductivity in the cmpnent departments. Describe the prgrams ffered and trends in degrees awarded fr these prgrams. List and describe any anticipated majr changes t the academic prgrams -- such as new degree prgrams, ptins r cncentratins t be prpsed; merger f prgrams/degrees; r discntinuance f degrees/prgrams. (Prpsed changes t academic prgrams wuld need t be reviewed separately thrugh usual gvernance prcedures.) Estimate the effects n enrllment and resurces if such changes were implemented. Describe changes in the nature, quantity, r interdisciplinarity f the research, schlarship, creative expressin r artistic perfrmances f faculty in the cmpnent departments which might be anticipated by establishment f the schl. Describe changes in the nature, quantity, r interdisciplinarity f the utreach and cntinuing educatin f faculty in the cmpnent departments which might be anticipated by establishment f the schl. 7. Prpsed Evaluatin Criteria Using the general guidelines prvided in the plicy dcument, state the evaluatin criteria that will be used t assess the effectiveness f the new schl in achieving the benefits that are sught by its creatin. 8. Prvide any additinal materials r infrmatin pertinent t the prpsal. Plicy and Prcedures fr Establishment f New Schls at Virginia Tech Page 5 f 5