Changes to Schools, Colleges, and Mission

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 on planning a new academic degree program; making changes to UW university school, college, or mission statement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

School/College: The definition of a college or school, and the creation of a new school or college follows the Wisconsin statutory provisions as indicated below. (See SYS 102, section 6.G.)

4. Procedures

A. Establishing, Renaming, or Eliminating a School or College

I. Establishing a School or College

1. The provost provides the establishment information to the Office Academic Affairs (OAA) via oaa@wisconsin.edu, including:
  1. The rationale for establishing the college or school, including a definition of the school or college.
  2. The administrative structure of the college or school, including an organization chart.
  3. The redirection of university resources to establish the college or school.
  4. The financial implications of establishing the college or school.
  5. The definitions of the leadership structure of the new college or school and an organization chart.
  6. Confirmation that the appropriate university governance body(ies) have completed their review process(es).
  7. The desired effective date.

II. Eliminating a School or College

1. The provost provides the elimination information to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu including:
  1. The rationale for eliminating the college or school.
  2. The administrative structure change that will result from the elimination, including an organization chart.
  3. The redirection of university resources as a result of eliminating the college or school.
  4. The financial implications of eliminating the college or school.
  5. The definitions of the leadership structure that will result from the elimination of the college or school.
  6. Confirmation that the appropriate university governance body(ies) have completed their review process(es).
  7. The desired effective date.

III. Renaming a School or College

1. The provost provides the rename information to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu.
2. The provost provides the following information:
  1. The rationale for renaming the college or school.
  2. The administrative structure that will result from the renaming, including an organization chart.
  3. The redirection of university resources as a result of renaming the college or school.
  4. The financial implications of renaming the college or school.
  5. The definitions of the leadership structure that will result from renaming of the college or school.
  6. Confirmation that the appropriate university governance body(ies) have completed their review process(es).
  7. The desired effective date.

B. Establishing or Altering University Missions

The provost informs OAA of its intent to establish or alter its university mission via oaa@wisconsin.edu.
The university develops the mission statement with wide university input and appropriate university governance approvals. The university’s provost regularly updates the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Academic Affairs during this process with a detailed outline including timelines.
The university notifies the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of its intent to alter its mission statement and undergoes preliminary HLC review.
Prior to formal submission, it is recommended that the chancellor or provost forward a copy of the draft select mission statement to OAA at oaa@wisconsin.edu for consultation and an initial review of requirements. The AVP for Academic Affairs examines whether the language and format of the revised mission meet the statutory requirements. The AVP provides feedback and works with the university to prepare the materials needed for formal submission to the UW System President (President) and the Board of Regents (BOR).
The chancellor sends the mission statement, including a letter with the date at which it was approved by university governance, to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu at least 12 weeks in advance of the desired BOR meeting for the first reading. The AVP for Academic Affairs will conduct a second review to assess the functionality of the mission and whether the statement contains the statutorily required components, including a listing of the general degrees offered by the university and a general description of academic degree programs or areas of focus of the university. The AVP will inform the university about the assessment and any required changes.
After the review, and any university updates, of the mission, the AVP for Academic Affairs works with the university to prepare the materials needed for submission to the President. The materials include:
1. A Microsoft Word (not PDF) copy of the current or original mission statement.
2. The revisions to the current mission as a document with tracked changes or strikeouts.
3. A clean copy of the revised mission statement with the date at which it was approved by university governance.
4. Information or a list of academic degree programs and degree types.
5. A cover letter from the chancellor addressed to the President, explaining the rationale for the changes, the scope and the impact of the changes, and a request to place the mission revision on the BOR’s agenda.
Upon formal submission of the required materials in Section 4.B.VI above, the AVP for Academic Affairs, the Office of General Counsel (OGC), and the Vice President (VP) for Academic and Student Affairs (DASA) will review the request. The AVP reports summative findings and recommendations to the President. If approved by the President, the AVP will work with the university to finalize the materials for submission for the BOR for the first reading.
The chancellor or the provost presents the mission statement at a meeting of the BOR for initial review (first reading). No action is taken at this time.
The university conducts public a hearing on campus with a member of the BOR presiding. The Executive Director of the BOR should be contacted about organizational details and Regent selection for this task. This meeting should be widely publicized, including publication in the Wisconsin State Journal, and allow input from any individual who requests to be heard, including members of the university administration, faculty, staff, students, and the general public. The chancellor submits a memo to the Office of the President via oaa@wisconsin.edu (copied to the AVP for Academic Affairs and the VP of DASA) summarizing the outcomes of the public hearing.
Final materials must be submitted to OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu at least eight (8) weeks in advance of the desired BOR meeting for approval. The materials include:
1. A cover letter from the chancellor.
2. A Microsoft Word (not PDF) copy of the current or existing mission.
3. A copy with tracked changes.
4. A clean copy of the proposed new mission.
Upon approval of the president, the university presents the final mission statement to the BOR for a second reading and final approval.
Upon approval by the BOR, the university secures approval from HLC to alter its mission statement and notifies OAA via oaa@wisconsin.edu of the effective date.
The Office of the Board of Regents maintains the official record of all UW System mission statements.

5. Related Documents

Chapter 36, Wis. Stats.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) CRRT.B.10.010: Criteria for Accreditation
Regent Policy Document 1-1,Mission Statements
Regent Policy Document 4-12, Academic Program Planning, Review, and Approval in the University of Wisconsin System
Regent Policy Document 4-19,Naming of University Academic Units
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.C, Monitoring and Reporting of Academic Degree Programs
UW System Administrative Policy 175, Accreditation Visits and Reports

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.

UW System Administrative Procedure 102.D