PROV-030: Establishing Certificate Programs

A certificate program at the University must meet the criteria as established below and receive all required approvals as noted.

1. Certificate Program Criteria:
   A credit certificate progarm at the University meets the following criteria:

• All instruction is offered on a for-credit basis.
• The program culminates in a certificate that credentials the student in a discipline or professional field.
• The program requires a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 24 credits.  Exceptions may be granted in the case of curricular requirements established by a licensing board, state agency, or other oversight entity.
• The program has received the approvals required by this policy and has been created in the Student Information System before students are admitted to the program.

A professional (non-credit) certificate program at the University meets the following criteria:

• All instruction is offered on a non-credit basis.
• The program is recognized by an external professional organization as a qualifying credential for practice or advancement in that field.
• The program has received the approvals required by this policy and has been created in the Student Information System before students are admitted to the program.

2. Certificate Program Required Approvals:
   A credit certificate program must be approved by the school’s faculty (according to the established academic review procedures of the school), the school’s dean, the Faculty Senate, and the executive vice president and provost.  In addition, sufficient advance notification of the initiation of the certificate program must be provided to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).  In some cases, as determined by the provost’s office, additional approvals may be required from SCHEV and/or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the University’s accrediting agency.  Credit certificate programs offered through distance education or at locations away from Grounds (e.g., employer facilities, etc.) may require additional approvals beyond those noted above.

A professional (non-credit) certificate program must be approved by the school’s faculty (according to the established academic review procedures of the school), the school’s dean, and the executive vice president and provost.  Professional (non-credit) certificate programs offered through distance education or at locations away from Grounds (e.g., employer facilities, etc.) may require additional approvals beyond those noted above.

Certificate programs do not require the approval of the University’s Board of Visitors.