Intent to Plan Outline

Follow the outline below when developing an Intent to Plan.

1. Effective catalog term: The earliest effective catalog term is always the fall of the next academic year.
2. Effective enrollment management term: This is the earliest possible term for which the program will be included on the application and included in institutional strategic communications, marketing, and recruitment efforts. Full undergraduate proposals must be approved by the April Board of Governors meeting to be included on the application and included in institutional strategic communications, marketing, and recruitment efforts for the fall term of the next calendar year. For example, the earliest term for undergraduate programs approved by April 2026 will be fall 2027 for inclusion in application and included in institutional strategic communications, marketing, and recruitment efforts. Full proposals must be approved by the Board of Governors 90 days ahead of the application open date to be included on the application and included in institutional strategic communications, marketing, and recruitment efforts.
3. Degree program: This is where the institution assigns the program CIP Code. CIP codes (“Classification of Instructional Programs”) are the federal classification system for academic programs at all degree levels (including certificates). All institutions that receive Title IV federal financial aid are required to assign a CIP code to each academic program (as defined by the institution). Federal and state reporting on academic programs and thus evaluation of academic market is by CIP code rather than by program title or major. The same CIP code can be used for more than one program. In assigning a CIP code to a new program or during program review, faculty will be asked to provide input on the most appropriate CIP code for the proposed program and the Provost’s Office will make the final determination, in consultation with Registrar’s Office staff.
4. Mission: Explain the relationship of the program to WVU's mission.
5. Summary of content and potential student learning outcomes: These should be clear, measurable, appropriate in number, and appropriate to the degree level. There should also be a brief description of the program's or major's content. This does NOT need to be an exhaustive list for the intent to plan but, rather, an idea of the major content areas the program or major will cover.
   1. For help writing strong learning outcomes, see the Provost Office’s resources.
6. Draft of proposed curriculum: How many existing courses will be used for program requirements? How many new courses will be needed to be developed?
7. Modality: Will the program be delivered to on-campus students or will the program be delivered online and in partnership with WVU Online? If the program will be online, there are additional components for an online program Intent to Plan.
8. Proposed admission standards: Admission standards should be aligned with institutional, college, and departmental standards and should reflect the mission of the program and the level of the degree.
9. Minimum viable enrollment: Faculty should work with their department chair, their dean’s office, their business office, and the Associate Provost for Curriculum and Assessment to determine what the minimum viable enrollment will be for all new program proposals. This will be the target enrollment the program is expected to reach by the third year of having students enrolled and during its first Board of Governors program review.
10. Aspirational enrollment target: Faculty should work with their department chair, their dean’s office, and the Associate Provost for Curriculum and Assessment to use the academic market analysis to identify aspirational peer institutions and determine what this aspirational target should be in light of peer enrollment as well as dedicated instructional resources for the program.
11. Expected impact on existing programs: Describe the expected impact on existing academic programs and/or units that will support this program or that will be supported by it. Does the proposed program have content that could potentially overlap with another existing degree programs at WVU? What courses and faculty will be shared and what instructional capacity do the supporting units have to offer seats, courses, and/or faculty for the new program? Conversely, what existing programs and units may see a negative impact on enrollment in their program or courses?
12. Lost opportunity cost: What will be lost if the institution does not approve the new program?
13. Academic market analysis: Programs should contact the Provost’s Office  research assistant for a three-year academic market analysis. Key components of this analysis to provide in the Intent to Plan are the number of total completions in the related CIP code, the three-year trend in completions, the type of institutions who deliver similar programs, and the approximate enrollment in programs at similar or peer institutions.
14. Staffing chart and course rotation: Faculty should provide by way of attachment a staffing chart that shows:
    1. The first three years of course and section offerings.
    2. The faculty who will staff those offerings, including any new positions that are expected to teach in the program.
15. New required personnel: Program proposal initiators should indicate the number and type (tenure-track faculty, teaching faculty, student success staff, program coordinator, academic adviser, etc.) of new personnel needed to launch the program.
16. Other new required resources: Address any and all additional resources (faculty, space, financial) needed. If there are transitional monies and/or donated start-up fund connected to the new program or major, indicate how those resources will be replaced once they are depleted.
17. Student support services: Program proposal initiators should indicate what college and department resources exist to provide student support services, including but not limited to academic advising and other student success-oriented services.
18. Administrative structure: Program proposal initiators should indicate what college and department the new program will be housed in. Initiators should also indicate what new or existing personnel will serve as program director or coordinator, if any.
19. College and unit-level marketing plan and support: Program proposal initiators should indicate what college and departmental strategy and support will be used to market and recruit for the new program.
20. Tuition rate and non-standard tuition rate requests: Program proposal initiators only need to respond to this question if they are requesting a non-standard tuition rate. If an initiator is requesting a non-standard tuition rate, specify what that rate is and provided a rationale for that rate.
21. Specialized accreditation: Will the new program have any specialized accreditation as an option? If so, will the new program seek specialized accreditation? At what cost and on what timeline? Who will be responsible for maintaining accreditation?