We believe the best ideas come from a range of perspectives, and that is why we want to hear from YOU! 

As a first step, please review the “I Have An Idea” webpage to learn more about the new program idea submission process. If you have an innovative program idea, please submit one of the following forms:

• the Idea Form — for ideas from UWSP faculty and staff
• the Discovery Form — for programs  pre-approved by a college dean

UWSP is fortunate to have the Insights Unit, an on-campus market research team, housed within the UW-Stevens Point Enrollment Operations in the Division of Marketing and Enrollment .  The Insights Unit provides a variety of market research information from a full Environmental Scan that includes a market analysis of the program idea, to surveys and focus groups. Engaging with the Insights Unit—an integral partner in the UWSP Growth Initiative Matrix Team—is a critical step in the development of every new program.​

For-Credit Programs: Planning a new academic program also requires curricular vetting and governanace approval. Every new academic program that leads to a UW-Stevens Point degree or certificate must be carefully reviewed to avoid program duplication or overlap, and to ensure compliance with our accreditation bodies, such as the Higher Learning Commission​ (HLC). Generally speaking, the program must be approved by the academic department, college Dean, appropriate UWSP goverance committees and councils, the Chancellor, and the University of Wisconsin System Administration. The precise path to full approval is based on the type of program and the program’s accreditation requirements.  The path to program approval will be mapped out with the support of the UWSP Growth Initiative Team.

Non-Credit Programs:  Non-credit programming at UWSP is offered through our Continuing Education and Outreach (CE) unit. Although curriculum for non-credit programs is not approved via campus governance, it is created in partnership with CE professionals​. Non-credit programming is often ​offered for Continuing Education Credits/Units/Hours (CEC/CEU/CEH) and those credit values are determined in collaboration with professional and industry associations.​

BUDGETING:
New non-credit program budgets and pricing are created by the Continuing Education & Outreach unit.

Budgeting for a new, for-credit academic program is required and provides the level of transparency needed to determine if a program is financially viable.  Budgeting allows Program Champions to calculate, over a six-year period, the number of students needed to “break even” where costs are covered but no “profit” is generated.  Budgeting also shows the financial impact of changes in course enrollments and per-credit pricing.

A pre-designed template is used to prepare new academic program budgets, with the Growth Initiative support team ready to assist in completing them.  The template considers revenue generated by student credit hours (SCH) and all associated program expenses such as the Program Director, Faculty, Instructional Academic Staff, Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning program- and course-development support, administrative staff, marketing, supplies, and equipment.  The template also provides the Growth Initiative support team with the ability to develop and run various financial scenarios and see the impact of variable changes (e.g., number of students, cost of instruction, etc.)​

PRICING:

Another important component of budgeting is setting the per-credit price for courses in the new program. Traditional tuition rates result from the interplay among the Board of Regents’ authority, state budget allocations, legislative actions, an​d specific campus needs.  Service-based pricing is an alternative, nontraditional-student pricing structure​ allowing “courses and programs to be built for non-traditional students that can more quickly respond to market demands while including additional instructional and student support services dedicated to the success of these students.” (Source: SYS 130). Programs using service-based pricing must go through a UW System proposal process.  Most new programs adopt the service-based pricing model to set a per-credit price either above or below the traditional tuition rate.  Market research is used to inform the per-credit price proposed for a new program. 

Budgets using service-based pricing are collaboratively developed by the Growth Initiative Support Team, Program Champion, Department Dean, Academic Affairs, and the Business Affairs staff.  The proposal must be approved by the Chancellor for it to move forward to the UW System office.   (See the FAQ page to learn more about service-based pricing and related policies.)

​A Word About New Program Startup Funding…

​​Startup funding for a new for-credit program can come from various sources: the university, college, department, internal or external grants, the UWSP Distance Education Fee fund (DE Fee), and others.  A startup funding proposal is used to request funds needed to develop new for-credit academic programs, detailing expenses needed during the startup phase, such as faculty for curriculum development and equipment. A pre-designed template is used to prepare proposals, with the Growth Initiative support team ready to assist in completing them. 

Special Note: startup funds awarded for new program development may not be used for program expenses once the program is launched and students are enrolled. (See also the UWSP Business Affairs DE Fee Policy for more information on the UWSP Distance Education Fee funding source.)​