Academic Programs and Planning

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the SUNY Provost, the Office of Academic Affairs coordinates academic program planning across disciplines and award levels at all State University of New York campuses, including state-operated colleges and universities and community and statutory colleges.

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Within the Academic Programs and Planning page, you will find information about program planning processes and procedures, who your SUNY campus liaison is for program review, and details about NC-SARA. Click the links below to find out more.

Academic Program Planning Procedures: The development, review, approval, and registration processes for SUNY academic programs registered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is a multi-stage process that involves campuses, SUNY System Administration, and either the NYSED Office of College and University Evaluation (OCUE) or the NYSED Office of the Professions (OP). For certain program types, the SUNY Board of Trustees, Board of Regents, Office of the Governor, programmatic accreditation, and/or institutional accreditation (i.e., Middle States) may also be involved.
Find Your Campus Reviewer: Each campus has a designated liaison in the Office of Academic Affairs at SUNY System Administration. Additionally, educator preparation programs and health professions education programs each have a dedicated liaison who works with all campuses and there is a dedicated liaison who reviews proposals for programs that award a certificate or advanced certificate.
NC-SARA: NC-SARA is a private, nonprofit organization that helps expand students’ access to postsecondary educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). SARA provides state authorization portability for higher education institutions in the United States, and NC-SARA serves as a national leader in enhancing quality and consumer protections in interstate postsecondary distance education.

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