UW System Administrative Procedure 102.C

Monitoring and Reporting of Academic Degree Programs

Original Issuance Date: May 5, 2026
Last Revision Date: May 5, 2026

1. Purpose of Procedures

The purpose of these procedures is to provide information regarding the monitoring of low-enrolling programs (those in which the average number of declared juniors and seniors in the most recent three (3)-year period is fewer than 15). UW System Administration (UWSA) and UW universities each have responsibilities for the monitoring and reporting of the identified low-enrolling academic degree programs.

2. Responsible UW System Officer

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

3. Definitions

Please see SYS 100, Academic & Student Affairs: General Terms and Definitions, for a list of general terms and definitions. Terms and definitions found within this policy include:

Academic Degree Program: An educational program that will conclude with the conferral of a degree at the level of associate degree or higher that is authorized by the Board of Regents.

Articulation Agreement: A signed document that guarantees the transfer of credits following the completion of “requirements for a specified program of study at an educational institution that transfers towards completion of requirements for a specified program of study at another educational institution” as defined in Wis. Stat. § 36.31(2m)(a)4.

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP): The CIP provides a taxonomic scheme that supports the accurate tracking and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. CIP was originally developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1980.

Collaborative Program: See UW System Collaborative (HLC Consortial) program.

Credit Hour:  The current federal definition (34 CFR Part 600.2) of a credit hour is “an amount of student work defined by an institution, as approved by the institution’s accrediting agency or State approval agency, that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in post-secondary education that reasonable approximates not less than:

  1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
  2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”

Degree Type: The level and category of academic qualifications awarded upon successful completion of a course of study. Each level and category varies in duration, depth and breadth of study, and potential career opportunities.

Discontinuance: The formal closure of an education program when necessary in the event of financial emergency on the authority of the Board of Regents as discussed in RPD 20-24, Procedures Related to Financial Emergency or Program Discontinuance Requiring Faculty Layoff and Termination.

Distance Education: Education that uses technology (e.g., the internet) to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor(s) and support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor(s), either synchronously or asynchronously).

Dual Degree: A program that involves two (2) or more academic degree programs offered by two (2) or more universities that the student pursues concurrently. Each of the universities offers a portion of the educational program that is common to both academic degree programs.

Educational Program: A postsecondary program of organized instruction or study that leads to an academic, professional, or vocational degree, or certificate, or other recognized educational credential.

Eliminate: Eliminating an academic degree program removes it from the University of Wisconsin System academic program array and Central Data Request (CDR) database effective for the designated term.

Fully Distance Education: An academic degree program in which a student may complete all (100%) of required coursework via distance education.

Memoranda of Understanding (MOU): A signed document between two educational institutions that outlines the responsibility of each party in the relationship.

Program Planning Liaison: An individual designated by UW university’s Provost’s Office who is broadly familiar with program planning and review processes, and who communicates academic array, monitoring, and reporting actions between the UW university and UWSA Office of Academic Affairs.

Program: See educational program.

Program Monitoring: Program monitoring consists of system and university level processes to examine academic degree programs guided by a set of criteria determined by the universities related to theirs and UW System policy. Criteria may include enrollment, student credit hours, time to degree, and/or completion.

Reinstatement: Reinstating admissions returns an academic degree program to the systemwide academic degree program array. The program is re-published in electronic publications.

Subdegree programs: Credential and non-credential programs that exist below the academic major/degree level.

Suspend: Suspending admissions allows a university to temporarily remove an academic degree program from the systemwide academic degree program array. Within five (5) years of suspending admissions a university may opt to reinstate the program without BOR approval or eliminate the program. While in suspended status the program is unpublished in electronic publications.

Transfer Agreement: A term that encompasses articulation agreements, transfer guides, and MOUs related to transfer.

Transfer Guide: A document that maps course equivalencies between two educational institutions.

UW System Academic Majors Dashboard: This dashboard is developed and maintained by the Office of Policy Analysis and Research (OPAR) for the purposes of academic degree program planning at the University of Wisconsin System. It provides information about academic majors offered at the UW universities and their mode of delivery, suspension status, and changes over time.

UW System Collaborative (HLC Consortial) Program: A UW System Collaborative (HLC Consortial) program is one that is authorized by the BOR to be jointly offered by more than one (1) UW university. Each degree-granting university involved in the collaboration has the authority to grant the degree. The UW universities establish a consortial agreement to administer the degrees and provide a proportion of the educational program.

UW System Provost Council: The UW System Provost Council is comprised of the Chief Academic Officers for each of the 13 UW System universities.

4. Procedures

A. Monitoring Academic Degree Programs

I. UW System Administration Monitoring Role and Responsibility

    1. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) and the Office of Policy Analysis and Research (OPAR) will create reports annually prior to the start of the fall semester to assist UW universities to monitor all academic degree programs in the UW System as part of its responsibility for systemwide academic degree program array management (see Regent Policy Document 4-12, Academic Program Planning, Review, and Approval in the UW System).
      1. The low enrollment metric described in SYS 102, section 6.D.I.4.b (academic degree programs in which the average number of declared juniors and seniors in the most recent three (3)-year period is fewer than 15), will be utilized in the annual reporting process effective for academic year 2026-27.
    2. For purposes of this policy, the review period for new programs begins six (6) years after the program’s implementation. UW System Collaborative (HLC Consortial) programs (see SYS 102, section 6.B.X), which involve two (2) or more UW universities that share curriculum to offer a degree, will be counted as one (1) degree program.
    3. UWSA will receive information about each university’s program monitoring findings as a part of the existing Annual Program Planning, Review, and Array Management Reports from each UW university (see SYS 102, section 6.F).
    4. OAA will provide an annual report and make a presentation to the Board of Regents (BOR) regarding the UW university monitoring process. The annual report and presentation will include the following components:
      1. A glossary of terms related to policies and processes regarding program monitoring.
      2. A complete program array summary for each UW university, including the number of programs flagged through the OAA annual program monitoring process.
      3. A summary of the justification(s) used for continuing low-enrolling programs, the response pathway selected for the program, and the administrative support for the program.
        1.  In subsequent years, an update will be provided for the academic degree programs that were selected for continuation with an improvement plan, based on the report submitted by the UW university accompanying the annual report.
      4. Additional information on program array and monitoring as requested.

II. University Monitoring Role and Responsibility

    1. To meet the annual program monitoring responsibility (see SYS 102, section 6.F.2), each UW university must develop and implement an Annual Program Monitoring Policy and Process that is separate from the regular review of academic programs, by September 1, 2027.
      1. The UW university Annual Program Monitoring Policy and Process will be used to evaluate academic programs that are identified as low-enrolling based on the metric described by SYS 102, section 6.D.I.4.b (academic degree programs in which the average number of declared juniors and seniors in the most recent three (3)-year period is fewer than 15). Utilization of the metric will be effective following the implementation of the policy by September 1, 2027.
      2. The policy and process must include the following components:
        1. Defined administratively supported response pathways that can be selected by the department and/or administration in response to low-enrolling programs and guidance for each pathway. Response pathways are:
          1. Continued with a plan for improvement
          2. Suspended/eliminated, or
          3. Continued as is with annual monitoring.
        2. Guidance for program improvement.
          1. Outline the process, benchmarks, and resources for implementing a program improvement plan.
          2. Articulate a clear progression of steps and recommended timeline for the process. An improvement period of up to three years is recommended for a program to show increased enrollment.
        3. Guidance for program suspension and elimination.
          1. Outline the process and timeline for program suspension and elimination.
        4. Guidance for the continuation of the identified low-enrolling program as is, with annual monitoring.
          1. Programs may continue as is without an improvement plan or suspension/elimination if justified. Justifications for a program to continue as is may include:
            1. The program is designated “institutionally distinct” by university leadership.
            2. The program supports a critical service function within a department or academic unit at the university.
            3. The program operates at no or marginal cost to the university because it draws on existing curriculum across multiple departments.
          2. The VP for Academic and Student Affairs may determine that further justification is required for a low-enrolling program to continue without an improvement plan or suspension/elimination. In such cases, the VP will work with the provost to determine what actions should be taken and the timeline for implementing the actions.
      3. The policy and process should include the following components:
        1. A multi-tiered approach for categorization of program performance (e.g., red, yellow, green) to capture both programs of concern and “at-risk” programs.
        2. Both quantitative and qualitative metrics for evaluation of program performance.
          1. In addition to the metric used to identify low-enrolling academic programs, UW universities should specify additional metrics, beyond those utilized in the OAA annual monitoring process, that will aid in the evaluation of the low-enrolling programs.
          2. Shared governance involvement and consideration.
    2. Each UW university will submit its Annual Program Monitoring Policy and Process to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu to demonstrate fulfillment of its policy and university responsibilities.
    3. Each UW university will report its annual academic degree program monitoring results in the existing Annual Program Planning, Review, and Array Management Reports.
      1. Low-enrolling programs may follow one of three response pathways:
        1. Program continuation with a plan for improvement,
        2. Program suspension/elimination, and
        3. Program continuation as is.
      2. When a low-enrolling program is selected for continuation, the university must provide a written justification (maximum 750 words) which may include one or more of the following quantitative and qualitative reasons:
        1.  Program is critical to university mission or is a distinct program offering (institutionally distinct).
        2. Courses within the program contribute to General Education curriculum (critical service function).
        3. Program supports other academic programs through shared coursework (critical service function).
        4. Program is externally funded (no or marginal cost)
        5. Program is resource neutral (no or marginal cost).
        6. The program meets unique workforce or educational needs.
      3. For each of the selected response pathways, details on process, timeline, and (as applicable) resources, should be provided.
        1. UW universities should also provide enrollment trends on all students enrolled in the academic degree program disaggregated by student level (e.g., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).
      4. UW universities must monitor progress for low-enrolling programs that are continuing with improvement plans. If enrollment does not increase in three (3) years, the UW university will be asked to provide additional justification or an indication of suspension.
    4. After monitoring an academic degree program and/or conducting further review of the program, if the UW university’s decision is to suspend or eliminate the low-enrolling program, then no further justification is necessary. The university will follow SYS 102.B, section 4.F for the suspension/elimination of the program.

B. Annual Report

  1. The annual report process should include reporting of the complete program array – including the number of authorized programs, concentrations, minors, and credentials for the purpose of providing curricular context for each UW university.
  2. The data requested from each UW university may include:
    1. University program review activity;
    2. Accreditations;
    3. Changes to existing programs;
    4. Current program collaborations;
    5. Transfer agreements (e.g., articulation agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs), and transfer guides see UW System Administrative Policy 140, UW System Templates For Articulation Agreements Between UW System Institutions And WTCS Districts) as well as Dual Degree agreements;
      6. Additional locations;
      7. Outcomes of conditions imposed on a new academic degree program following an NOI appeal. (see SYS 102.A, section 4.B.IV.g);
      8. Other elements as requested by the VP for Academic and Student Affairs.
      III. All data are submitted electronically to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu on the forms provided.

5. Related Documents

Chapter 36, Wis. Stats.  
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) FDCR.B.10.010: Approval of Teach-Out Arrangements  
Regent Policy Document 4-12, Academic Program Planning, Review, and Approval in the University of Wisconsin System 
Regent Policy Document 4-23, Core General Education Requirements  
Regent Policy Document 20-24, Procedures Relating to Financial Emergency or Program Discontinuance Requiring Faculty Layoff and Termination 
UW System Administrative Policy 100, Academic & Student Affairs: General Terms and Definitions 
UW System Administrative Policy 102, Policy on University of Wisconsin System Array Management: Program Planning, Delivery, Review, and Reporting  
UW System Administrative Procedure 102.A, New Academic Degree Programs  
UW System Administrative Procedure 102.B, Changes to Existing Academic Degree Programs 
UW System Administrative Procedure 102.D, Changes to Schools, Colleges, and Mission 
UW System Administrative Policy 140, UW System Templates For Articulation Agreements Between UW System Institutions And WTCS Districts 
UW System Administrative Policy 175, Accreditation Visits and Reports 

Related Interim Action(s)

UW System Administrative Interim Policy 100-13, Universities of Wisconsin Core General Education Requirements (expires December 1, 2026)

6. History

First Approved: May 5, 2026

*Prior to 2026, these procedures were incorporated in the related policy SYS 102, Policy on University of Wisconsin System Array Management: Program Planning, Delivery, Review, and Reporting and procedure SYS 102.A, New Academic Degree Programs, Changes to Academic Degree Programs, and Additional SYS 102 Items.