Curriculum Proposal Quick Guide

The APIRC Handbook contains detailed guidance for preparing your proposal.

Additional Resources:

Writing Student Learning Outcomes

Assessing Learning

Missions of Academic Programs and Interdisciplinary Minors

General Education Mission & Outcomes

To propose a new course:

1. Review existing courses within your department and school to avoid duplication.
2. Develop a draft syllabus.
3. Discuss the proposal with your department and obtain Department Chair approval.
4. Use the New Course Proposal form to submit the course through this website.

Ready to get started?

Notice: The Course Revision Proposal is no longer hosted through this website. Beginning August 17, 2026, Course Revision Proposals will be submitted through HelioCampus as part of APIRC’s transition to a more automated review system.

Use a Course Revision Proposal when making substantial changes to an existing course. The proposal will ask you to describe the proposed changes and explain the rationale for the revision.

A Course Revision Proposal is required for:

• Changes to course learning outcomes
• Changes to the course level or number of credit hours
• Changes that affect academic program requirements
• Changes that affect General Education requirements
• Changes to prerequisites offered outside the course’s department
• Creation of a new Special Topics course or revisions to an existing Special Topics course

Discontinuing a Course

The Course Revision Proposal is also used to request the discontinuation of a course.

Common reasons for discontinuing a course include:

• The course is no longer an essential part of the curriculum
• The course content has been replaced by a newly approved course
• The course content has been incorporated into another course
• The course has not been offered for four or more years

Before proposing a course discontinuation, carefully consider its impact on students, degree requirements, and General Education offerings. Consult with any departments or programs that may be affected by the proposed change.

Ready to begin?

As of Fall 2026, Course Revision Proposals are submitted through HelioCampus. Use the button below to access the system using your HPU credentials.

Notice: The Small Curricular Revision Proposal will remain available on this website through July 31, 2026. Beginning August 17, 2026, these requests will be submitted through HelioCampus as part of the Course Revision form.

Use a Small Curricular Revision Proposal for minor revisions that do not substantially alter a course or program.

Examples include:

• Changes to distribution requirements within a major or minor that do not increase the total credit hours required
• Minor revisions to course descriptions, titles, or course numbers that do not change the course level
• Changes to the name of a college, school, department, program, center, institute, major, minor, concentration, or track
• Changes to course prerequisites within the department offering the course
• Removal of a course designation or cross-listing

When should I use a Course Revision Proposal instead?

Use a Course Revision Proposal for more substantial changes, such as:

• Changes to the number of credit hours
• Changes to the course level
• Significant revisions to course learning outcomes or course content
• Major syllabus revisions

Not sure which form you need? Visit the Curriculum Proposal Quick Guide for help selecting the appropriate proposal type.

Ready to begin?

Use the New Major, Degree, or Program Proposal to propose a new major, degree, or academic program. Because these proposals can have significant academic, financial, and accreditation implications, they require careful planning, documentation, and consultation.

Academic units interested in proposing new programs, degrees, or majors should prepare extensive documentation, including a comprehensive needs assessment (which must be completed before a proposal is submitted), and complete in-depth consultations with relevant administrators and committees well in advance of the stated deadlines.

Although all new programs require consultation with existing programs that will be impacted, proposals for interdisciplinary programs generally require a higher level of coordination and consultation with affected programs. If the proposal involves collaboration with another institution, program faculty must consult in advance with the Provost. Relevant information from all affected programs and institutions must be included in the final proposal.

Before You Begin

Before preparing a proposal:

• Complete a needs assessment demonstrating student, workforce, or disciplinary demand.
• Consult with affected departments, schools, and colleges.
• Discuss interdisciplinary or cross-unit proposals with all impacted academic areas.
• Consult with the Provost if the proposal involves collaboration with another institution or academic partner.

All proposals for new majors, degrees, and programs must begin with a Pro Forma submitted to the Provost.

How Will Proposals Be Evaluated?

New program proposals are reviewed based on:

• Alignment with HPU’s mission and liberal arts identity
• Alignment with departmental, school, and university priorities
• Compliance with accreditation and university requirements
• Demonstrated need and demand
• Academic quality and rigor
• Availability of faculty, budget, and other resources needed for successful implementation

Additional Resources

For complete proposal requirements, please review page 16 of the APIRC Handbook.

For a working document that outlines proposal requirements and review criteria, download the Major, Degree, and Program Proposal Preparation Form.

Ready to Begin?

Start by submitting a Pro Forma to the Provost’s Office.

Use the New Minor, Concentration, or Area of Emphasis Proposal to propose a new minor, concentration, or area of emphasis.

Before You Begin

Before preparing a proposal:

• Consult with affected departments, schools, and colleges.
• Consider whether the proposal may have accreditation implications. Proposals with significant accreditation impacts may need to follow the approval process used for new academic programs.
• Evaluate the need for the proposed minor, concentration, or area of emphasis and its relationship to existing academic offerings.

All proposals for new minors, concentrations, and areas of emphasis must begin with a Pro Forma submitted to the Provost.

How Will Proposals Be Evaluated?

Proposals are reviewed based on:

• Alignment with HPU’s mission and liberal arts identity
• Alignment with departmental, school, and university priorities
• Compliance with accreditation and university requirements
• Demonstrated student or disciplinary need
• Academic quality and rigor
• Availability of faculty, budget, and other resources needed for successful implementation

Additional Resources

For complete proposal requirements, please see page 18 of the APIRC Handbook.

For a working document that outlines proposal requirements and review criteria, download the Minor, Concentration and Emphasis Proprosal Preparation Form.

Ready to Begin?

Start by submitting a Pro Forma to the Provost’s Office.

Notice: The revision forms used for these requests are no longer hosted through this website. Beginning August 17, 2026, revisions to majors, minors, degrees, programs, concentrations, and areas of emphasis will be routed through the Program Revision form hosted by HelioCampus as part of APIRC’s transition to a more automated review system.

Use the Program Revision Proposal to propose revisions to existing majors, minors, degrees, programs, concentrations, or areas of emphasis.

This type of proposal may be submitted by faculty or administrators. If the revision is substantial and may have implications to accreditation or other major changes, please submit a New Program Proposal instead. Applicants are encouraged to consult with the Provost to discuss the nature of the changes and the type of proposal needed before submitting a proposal.

What Information Will I Need?

Program revision proposals should clearly explain:

• The proposed changes and the rationale for those changes
• How the proposal supports the mission and strategic priorities of the University and affected academic units
• The anticipated impact on students, curriculum, faculty, and resources
• Support from affected departments, schools, or colleges
• The proposed implementation timeline
• Any additional information needed to evaluate the proposal

How Will Proposals Be Evaluated?

APIRC reviews Program Revision Proposals based on factors such as:

• Alignment with HPU’s mission and liberal arts identity
• Consistency with departmental, school, and university goals
• Compliance with accreditation and university requirements
• Academic rigor and quality
• Strength of the proposal’s rationale
• Availability of resources needed to support implementation

Ready to Begin?

As of Fall 2026, Program Revision Proposals are submitted through HelioCampus. Use the button below to access the system using your HPU credentials.

Use the Closing a Curricular Area Proposal to close an existing program, degree, major, or minor. To discontinue a course, please use the Course Revision Proposal.

Before You Begin

Proposals to close an existing curricular unit require careful deliberation and planning. Prior consultation with the Provost and key administrators such as Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Chairs must be made with each of the affected academic units.

Proposals may be initiated by the Provost, APIRC, the Academic Planning Committee, or by a Dean or Department Chair with significant responsibility for the curricular unit to be closed. If initiated by a committee, the decision to initiate such a proposal must be duly recorded in the committee’s minutes. Proposals require thorough documentation and advance consultation with key administrators in each of the affected programs.

How Will Proposals Be Evaluated?

Closure proposals are evaluated based on:

• Alignment with HPU’s mission and liberal arts identity
• Alignment with departmental, school, and university priorities
• Compliance with accreditation and university requirements
• Evidence of consultation with affected departments and administrators
• Consideration of the impact on students, curriculum, and academic units
• Thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the proposal, particularly in terms of (1) evidence of appropriate consultation with affected units and administration; (2) consideration of the closure’s anticipated impact on the University’s curriculum and all affected academic units; and (3) evidence of a comprehensive and appropriate plan and timeline for closure.

What Information Will I Need?

Proposals should include:

• Rationale for proposed closure, including the relationship of the proposed closure to the mission and strategic/academic plans of the University and the affected School(s)/College(s) and Department(s)
• Detailed description of the projected impact of the closure on existing programs and on overall curriculum of the University
• Analysis of the projected impact on the budgets, faculty workloads, and administrative staffing of the relevant Department or School/College
• Detailed description of the proposed plan and timeline for implementing closure
• Any additional information or analysis necessary to understanding the nature and impact of the proposed closure

Ready to Begin?