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New Mexico State University
Graduate Catalog
2008-2009

PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR FACULTY AND DEPARTMENTS

This section of the Catalog is for faculty and departments. In this section, the Graduate School provides guidelines:

  • Guidelines on Graduate Faculty nominations
  • Proposal guidelines for new concentrations
  • Proposal guidelines for new minors
  • Proposal guidelines for joint degree programs
  • Proposal guidelines for new degree programs
  • Deleting graduate degree programs
  • Proposal guidelines for graduate certificate programs

GUIDELINES ON GRADUATE FACULTY NOMINATIONS

The guidelines provide information on the criterion for selection and reappointment, the length of appointment and the role and responsibilities of members of graduate faculty. To allow time for the sub-committee and the dean of the Graduate School to review the nominations and re-appointment requests, approval letters are mailed to departments and colleges in the months of December, March, June and September. Copies of the approval letters are sent to the academic dean, the department head and the nominated faculty member.

The Review Process

Nominations to the graduate faculty begin at the department level. Academic department heads initiate the nomination process and must provide a detailed justification for each candidate, which must be endorsed by the respective college dean. The Sub-committee on Graduate Faculty provides input to the Dean of the Graduate School on incoming nominations and consists of elected members of the Graduate Council. Members usually serve a term of 3 years on the committee, and they must be members of the graduate faculty and tenured faculty of New Mexico State University. Final decisions about appointment to the sub-committee are the purview of the Dean of the Graduate School. Department heads shall place a copy of the notification letter in the faculty member's departmental personnel file.

Criterion for Selection

As noted above, appointments to Graduate Faculty are the responsibility of the dean of the Graduate School and the sub-committee on Graduate Faculty of the Graduate Council. As indicated in the New Mexico State University Policy Manual, approval of nominations for Graduate Faculty appointments is based on the following criteria: a) creative activity current evidence of scholarly activity as defined by the current NMSU Policy Manual (http://www.nmsu.edu/manual/). Note: granting of graduate faculty status does not constitute meeting the criteria for promotion or tenure described in the NMSU Policy Manual, both of which are separate processes; b) continual study in their field, and c) successful teaching. It is expected that candidates will possess a relevant terminal degree. Nomination packets for individual faculty members shall include a current curriculum vita that contains all the available information pertinent to Graduate Faculty appointment at NMSU (including a NMSU campus address and contact information). The nominee must also have the written endorsement of their department head and the dean of the college. As a rule, peer-reviewed publications or juried works are considered to constitute the exemplars of creative activity. In disciplines where peer review publications are not the norm or where other means of creative activity are more important, the department head must elaborate on the nominee's contribution to creative activity in their field of study.

Length of Appointment

Appointment of new members to Graduate Faculty is for an initial period of three years. At the end of three years, the member must be re-nominated and reviewed again. The qualifications of continuing Graduate Faculty members will be reviewed every 3 to 5 years. The intent here is to review the faculty member's recent scholarly productivity, going back as far as 5 years in the case of more senior faculty and 3 years in the case of less experienced faculty. A Graduate Faculty member who is being considered for continued appointment is expected to show evidence of ongoing creative activity since the last review.

Responsibilities of Members

Members of Graduate Faculty, as indicated in the NMSU Policy Manual, can chair all graduate committees, direct master's thesis and doctoral dissertations, teach 600-level and above courses, serve as representatives of the dean of the Graduate School, serve on educational specialists' exams, and serve on doctoral exams. Members' service may deal with a specific subset of these responsibilities, relevant to a member's experience, as requested by the department head through the relevant academic dean.

Appointments Outside of Home Department

In order to promote interdisciplinary research and teaching, any qualified member of the Graduate Faculty may join any graduate program within a department. Applicants will be approved by the graduate program to which they are applying, through a process to be determined by that program, before their application is forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate School. Individuals accepted for membership in a graduate program will have responsibilities as described in the previous paragraph ("Responsibilities of Members". — see above).

Emeritus Faculty of New Mexico State University

Newly retired faculty of New Mexico State University can continue to hold their status of Graduate Faculty for the remaining years of their appointment. Once their appointment as Graduate Faculty expires, the department head can request that they be renewed to Graduate Faculty status. The endorsement of the academic dean is required. The nomination must include an updated resume and a statement of the types of service that the emeritus faculty will perform as Graduate Faculty. This appointment could include teaching and serving as chair or member on graduate student committees.

Appointment of University Staff not Employed by the Department and/or not Hired in a Tenure Track Position

Usually, individuals nominated for membership in the graduate faculty are expected to hold a tenure track position in a graduate department. Exceptional cases may occur when non-tenure track faculty and professional staff may request graduate faculty status. Both the professional staff and the non-tenure track faculty must have the credentials and have demonstrated creative activity similar to those of tenure track faculty. The nomination of a non-tenure track faculty member or a professional staff member must include a justification as well as a description of the duties on teaching, research, graduate advising, that the nominee will perform. The head of the department where graduate faculty status is requested must prepare the nomination. The dean of the college must endorse the nomination in writing.

Appointment of Non-NMSU Employees

Occasionally, specialized expertise from another institution, industry, government, or other sector, could be an asset to a graduate program. In these cases, the sub-committee of Graduate Council on graduate faculty appointments can recommend, after reviewing the supporting documentation, graduate faculty status be granted by the dean of the graduate school, and that status may or may not be task- or time-limited, depending on the needs of the academic department and the judgment of the dean of the graduate school.

Any exception to the above policy must be approved in writing by the dean of the Graduate School. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact the Graduate dean or email the Graduate School through http://gradschool.nmsu.edu.

Proposals for New Concentrations/specializations

A specialization is a collection of coursework in a specific area that is part of a degree program of study of NMSU. Only specialties/concentrations within a student's department or program may be noted on a transcript.

Departments can develop proposals for new areas of specializations within their academic unit and/or with other academic units at NMSU. The proposal must include the following:

  • The name and description of the proposed specialization including the degree program of association,
  • The rationale for the specialty,
  • The potential or current student interest in the specialization,
  • A listing of the acceptable courses with their course descriptions, and
  • Information on when and how often the courses will be taught
  • Credit hour requirements and other requirements of the specialization

The courses must carry regular course numbers or be authorized "one-time-only" special topics courses with appropriate subtitles. Independent studies, thesis, and dissertation hours are not eligible for inclusion. A minimum of 12 credits within the specialty are required for the designation. Departments may require additional credits above these minimum levels.

The application must be approved by the relevant academic dean(s) and department head(s) before being forwarded to the graduate dean (formal letters of approval should be attached). The graduate dean will present specialization/concentration requests to the Graduate Council for review and approval.

Specialties/concentrations that are not formally approved through this process will not be included in the Graduate Catalog, in departmental publications, or be noted on a student's transcript.

Students must file a request for inclusion of a specialty/concentration at the time they file their program of study and must identify the specialty/concentration in their application for the degree. Specialties/concentrations will not be added to a transcript after the degree is awarded.

Departments must certify that a student has met the requirements for a specialization at the time the student successfully completes the final examination. Once the proposal is approved, a summary of the specialization including the program of study must be included in the department(s) web site.

Proposal guidelines for new minors

Any NMSU department may request to offer a minor area of study. The minor must be approved by the Graduate School. The Graduate School will submit all approved minors to the Registrar's Office for official transcript documentation. Once it is approved, the minor will be listed in the Graduate Catalog under approved minors.

A proposal for a minor area of study must indicate:

  • The name of the minor and the degree and/or department of association,
  • The rationale for the minor,
  • A list of courses for the minor, and
  • Credit hour requirements.

The minor area of study should consist of at least nine credit hours for both master's degree and doctoral degree students.

Proposal guidelines for joint degree programs

Departments can develop proposals for joint degree programs including joint graduate degree programs and joint undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The proposal must include the following:

  • The title of the proposed joint degree program and the degrees associated with the program of study
  • The rationale for the joint degree program
  • The potential or current student interest in the dual degree programs
  • Program of study for each semester including list of required courses, credit hour requirements and other requirements of the joint degrees, and a listing of dual required courses
  • Admissions requirements for both degrees
  • Transfer of credits in particular undergraduate/graduate joint degree programs
  • Program evaluation including student surveys of their experiences

The courses must carry regular course numbers or be authorized "one-time-only" special topic courses with appropriate subtitles. Each degree program must also meet the graduation requirements established by the proposing units as well as those indicated in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.

The application must be approved by the relevant academic dean(s) and department head(s) before being forwarded to the graduate dean (formal letters of approval should be attached). The graduate dean will present the request to the Graduate Council for review and approval.

Students must be admitted into both degree programs. Once the proposal is approved, a summary of the joint degree program including the program of study must be included on the department(s) web site.

A student who is enrolled in a specially designated, pre-approved (by the graduate dean and the applicable academic college dean[s]) joint degree program that leads to the student being awarded both undergraduate and graduate degrees may petition to have two graduate level courses (up to six credits) previously taken for undergraduate credit considered as transfer credits into the student's graduate degree program. To be considered for transfer credit, a course must have been taken by the student as a senior, and prior written permission must have been received from the director of the applicable graduate program, the course instructor, and the department head. In addition, only courses in which the student received a grade of B or better will be considered for transfer credit. Credit can be transferred once the student has been accepted into the graduate degree program.

Proposal Guidelines for New Graduate Degree Programs

Introduction

This simple guideline can help faculty develop a clear and concise proposal for a new graduate degree program or changes to the title of an existing degree. New graduate degree proposals require both an internal and external review process.

Stages of the Approval Process, Internally and within the State

Stage 1: The approval process for new degree programs starts with discussions with the department head and academic dean. Once it is agreed that a proposal can be developed, it is necessary to complete the forms for the Provost Office. The Academic Program Planning Form that can be found at the following web site of the Office of the Executive Vice President, <http://appf.nmsu.edu/>.

Stage 2: During the beginning of the proposal writing, it is necessary to notify the New Mexico Higher Education Department that a proposal will be submitted in the coming year. A Notification of Intent for New Program form must be completed and given to the Graduate School as early as possible. The Graduate School will submit the form to NM HED. You can either obtain the form from the Graduate School or you can obtain it from the web site of the NM HED. To find the form, you need to go to the home page of NM HED which is: http://hed.state.nm.us/. Next, click on Educators at the top of the page. Look on the left side of the page and click on Academic Programs, and then click on Program Review Process.

Stage 3: The New Mexico Higher Education Department has formal guidelines that must be used to develop graduate degree proposals. The guidelines are part of an Administrative Code, 5 NMAC 5.2. These guidelines can be found at the following web site: <http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title05/05.005.0002.htm>.

Please note that you can use these guidelines to develop a formal proposal for both the internal and external review process. If you use the simple guidelines for the internal review process, the proposal will need to be re-written to conform to the guidelines developed and enforced by the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

You must also complete a financial spread sheet as indicated on the NM HED web site.

Stage 4: Once a graduate degree proposal is completed, it undergoes an internal review process at NMSU that consists of presentations to the Graduate Council, Associate Dean's Council, the Academic Dean's Council, and the Faculty Senate. Once the proposal is approved by the councils and faculty senate, then it can be presented for final approval to the President and the Board of Regents.

A signature sheet is necessary to show that each group and individuals have approved the proposal. A Signature sheet can be obtained from the Graduate School.

Stage 5: Submission to the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans. The Council needs at least 6 weeks to allow their campuses to review the proposal. The Graduate Dean will submit to the Council: a) the proposal, b) the signed signature sheet and the c) financial spread sheet (available at the NM HED web site).

Stage 6: Faculty members are invited to present the proposal to the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans. The Council may suggest modifications to the proposal. If the council approves of the proposal, it is submitted to the Academic Council on Higher Education (which consists of the provosts of the institutions of the state).

Stage 7: Faculty members are invited to present their proposal the Academic Council on Higher Education. The Academic Council can ask for modifications. The Council submits approved proposals to the staff of the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

Stage 8: Once staff of the New Mexico Higher Education Department completes its review and recommends approval, the proposal is presented as an information item at a regularly scheduled meeting of the New Mexico Higher Education Department. Faculty members accompanied by the graduate dean should be prepared to respond to questions and/or make a formal presentation.

Stage 9: If the proposal is approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department, then it is submitted to the State Board of Finance for approval.

Helpful Hints to Develop a Success Proposal

Below are some helpful hints that have been developed by the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans. They should be used side-by-side with Administrative Code 5 NMAC 5.2.

  • Obtain letters of support from institutions within the state as soon as you have a rough draft to informally share with faculty at other institutions
  • Include the curriculum for the proposed program including courses and other degree requirements. Discuss the types of skills or competencies students will develop as a result of the proposed program
  • Develop collaborations to ensure success of obtaining approval
  • Develop a proposal that follows the requirements of the governing bodies
  • Indicate the quality of the faculty, facilities and student services
  • Show financial support, which can include institutional and research grants

When Do New Mexico Universities Need to Submit a Proposal?

A proposal and review process is required when the following conditions exist:

a) A program wishes to add a new graduate degree program.

b) A program wishes to change the name of an existing degree program

c) For changes to parts of an existing degree program such as the concentration, emphasis, specialization or number of credit hours, first check with the staff of the NM Higher Education Department to see if a proposal is required.

d) If you are not sure if your program requires approval by the NM Higher Education Department, please check with their office in writing prior to implementing any changes. The Graduate School can work with you on this.

Proposals are not required by the New Mexico Higher Education Department if a program wishes to do the following:

a) Add a concentration or specialization to an existing approved program that "do not alter how the program, enrollments and degrees awarded are reported to the NM HED" (5.5.2 NMAC).

b) Change the name of an existing program that does not result in changing the names of the graduate degrees. The new department title needs to be reported to the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

c) Deletion of a concentration or specialization within an existing graduate program.

d) Reconfiguration of an existing program that retains its title.

e) Consolidation of two or more programs into a singe program. Please note that the deleted program must be reported to the NM Higher Education Department.

f) Change in the department responsible for the graduate degree program without a substantial change in the curriculum of the program and without a change in the title of the degree awarded.

Basic Criteria for New Graduate Program Proposals

The New Mexico Higher Education Department has developed a detailed list of requirements and questions to guide the development of proposals. Below, we summarize the major proposal components (the entire summary is based on 5 NMAC 5.2):

a) Purpose of the proposed program as it relates to the mission of the proposing institution.

b) Justification for the Proposed Program. What needs does it meet within the state or region? Evidence is required to demonstrate need. This could include employer surveys, current labor market analyses and projections, summaries of student interests, to mention a few.

c) Duplication. A proposal must indicate through evidence that it does not duplicate an existing program in the state. A proposal for a program similar to one that already exists must show that the demand for the proposed program cannot be met by an existing program. If existing programs are present, the proposal must indicate how it will work collaboratively with another institution to share resources.

d) Clientele and Projected Enrollment. The proposal must clearly describe the population of students that will be recruited as well as projected enrollment for the first 5 years. It must also include a discussion of admissions criteria and strategies to recruit a diverse student body.

e) Institutional Readiness. Are resources available to implement a new program? Is there adequate faculty with the necessary skills and qualifications for the new program? Is there support of graduate assistants? Are the library, equipment, technological resources and physical facilities of the institution adequate for the first 5 years?

f) Projected Costs of the Program. Start-up costs as well as costs for a five-year period. This should include the costs of additional faculty, graduate assistants, library resources, additional facilities such as equipment and technological resources. The proposal must indicate state operational formula funding that will flow to the program, based on the projected student credit hours. Other support should also be included such as research grants, contracts or other sources.

g) Quality of the Program. The proposal should discuss how it meets high standards of academic quality--quality of the faculty, admissions standards, instructional curriculum, provisions for continual review and improvement of the program.

h) Assessment of Operations and Impact. The proposal must include a plan for learning outcome assessment and impact.

i) Administrative Responsibility and Institutional Commitment. This includes assures that institutional resources will be committed to the program for the first 5 years.

Approval by Accreditation Body

All institutions of higher learning within the state are also governed by an accreditation body. Usually the Provost's office has the guidelines from the regional accreditation body. It is suggested that the Graduate Dean check with the Provost's office to see what is required by the accreditation bodies.

A Signature Sheet for new degree programs must be signed by all parties listed on the sheet. The Sheet can be obtained online from the Graduate School's web site. In addition, a budget spreadsheet must also be attached to the proposal for external review. The budget spreadsheet can also be found at the Graduate School's web site under "Faculty and Staff".

For samples of approved graduate degree proposals, please visit the web site of the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans. The agenda and minutes of the Council's meetings are posted at: <http://infohost.nmt.edu/~grad/NMCGD/homepage.html>.

Deleting graduate degree programs

The internal process for deleting graduate degree programs is being developed by the Academic Dean's Council.

Guidelines and Procedures for Developing Post Baccalaureate Certificate Programs for New Mexico State University

Introduction and Definitions

A certificate of specialization is a program of study that is designed to develop or enhance a focused area of expertise. The primary purpose of certificate programs is to provide specific skill training to enhance employability to quickly meet manpower needs within the state of New Mexico, the region, the United States and/or the world. Certificate programs can be offered to currently enrolled degree seeking students and students that meet the admissions criteria but that enroll solely to obtain a certificate in a given area of expertise.

Concentrations or specializations differ from certificate programs in that they are designed to meet the needs of enrolled degree seeking students of New Mexico State University.

A graduate certificate is not an official graduate degree of New Mexico State University. It is a focused collection of courses that are successfully completed by students in a given discipline or a set of related disciplines. Students that successfully complete a certificate program at the graduate level will receive a certificate of completion statement on their official transcript and a formal certificate from NMSU.

Certificate programs are offered by universities to help meet employment needs of students and employers, and the needs of life time learners.

  • Meeting the needs of our alumni: For the alumni of New Mexico State University, it provides an opportunity for alumni to build on existing skills that they acquired at NMSU.
  • Recruiting new students to NMSU: For academic departments of NMSU, it is an excellent way to recruit students into existing degree programs. Once students complete a certificate program, they can transfer credits into a related degree program.
  • Meeting the needs of employers: For employers in the area, certificate programs enhance the skills of their employees and help industries and service providers adapt to changes in the local and global market place.
  • Building campus-community relationships with retirees: Las Cruces attracts retirees from all over the United States and the world. Certificate programs will allow retirees to complete a program of study without having to invest several years into a graduate degree.
  • Alumni, employees and retirees will bring a wealth of experience to the classroom that will enrich the learning experience of all.
  • The following sections provide information to guide the development of certificate programs at New Mexico State University.

Course Credit Requirements

Certificate programs offered by institutions of higher learning within the state of New Mexico must include at least 12 credit hours of course work that is interrelated and designed to develop a focused skill or area of expertise. Certificate programs cannot exceed 18 credit hours. Courses that comprise the certificate must be regular approved courses that are offered by New Mexico State University. (Note: this is a requirement of the Administrative Code 5 NMAC 5.2 on New Degree and Certificate Programs,

http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title05/05.005.0002.htm )

Admissions

Students enrolled in post-baccalaureate certificate programs must meet the same admissions criteria as students admitted into graduate degree programs of the Graduate School and department(s) offering the certificate program (admissions requirements can include GPA, GRE or other standardized test, TOEFL, IELTS, and work experience if these are also requirements of students admitted into the regular degree program).

Students who are currently enrolled in a degree program at NMSU who wish to pursue an approved graduate certificate program must apply for admission to the certificate program prior to completing half of their required degree credits. Certificate-only seeking graduate students who are not currently enrolled in either a master's or doctoral degree program will be admitted into a separate classification such as "certificate graduate students".

Students enrolled in certificate programs or who successful complete a certificate program within a 5 year period and who wish to enter a related graduate degree program must re-apply to the degree program.

Transfer of Credits

Students enrolled in certificate programs cannot transfer credits from another institution towards the completion of the certificate program offered by New Mexico State University. However, they can transfer credits taken in a certificate program of NMSU into a graduate degree program of New Mexico Sate University provided that the courses will lead towards a graduate degree in the focused area of the certificate program. The number of transfer credits will be determined by the program of study. The time limit on course transfer is 5 years after the completion of the certificate.

Development of Proposals for New Graduate Certificate Programs

Internal proposals for new certificate programs should include:

1. The title of the certificate program and proposed start date.

2. The purpose of the certificate program.

3. Evidence of need. Why is the certificate needed? What educational objectives will be achieved? Who will the certificate program serve? Will the certificate help meet employment needs within the state, region and/or the United States? Evidence of need can include employer surveys and student surveys, and projections of labor force needs. Other types of unmet needs as identified by faculty can also be included in the proposal.

4. Description of prospective students who will benefit from the certificate.

5. List of Academic departments/units involved in the delivery of courses.

6. Detailed discussion of the Program of Study including the course names and numbers, and course sequence. Please indicate how the courses will be delivered (distance learning tools, face-to-face classroom experience, or a combination of different modes). A brief description of each course must also be included in the proposal.

7. Number of courses that can be transferred into a graduate degree program.

8. Admission requirements

9. Marketing strategy to recruit students.

10. Letters of support from the academic dean(s) and the department head(s) involved in course delivery.

11. An evaluation strategy must be included in the proposal.

12. A statement of resource needs for implementation must also be included.

13. Name and contact information of the faculty program coordinator.

Process of Approval

Certificate programs that do not require new resources and can be implemented with existing faculty, existing courses and existing facilities will be approved internally by the: a) Graduate Council and the Graduate School, b) the Academic Dean's Council, and c) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. The proposal must be submitted four weeks prior to the monthly meeting of the Graduate Council. The proposal will be put on the agenda of the Graduate Council as soon as feasible. Faculty must give an oral presentation of the proposal to the Graduate Council and answer questions concerning the proposal. Please contact the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs to place the proposal on the Academic Dean's Council agenda.

The NM Higher Education Department requires a signature sheet for new certificate programs. The approval signature sheet for proposals that do not require additional resource includes: a) the Department Head (s); b) the Academic Dean(s); c) the Graduate School Dean for the Graduate Council; d) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs for the Academic Dean's Council, and e) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs for senior administration of NMSU.

Graduate Certificate proposals that require additional resources including additional faculty, courses and facilities must undergo both an internal and external review process. The internal review process includes: a) Graduate Council and the Graduate School, b) the Academic Dean's Council, and c) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs. The external review process will include the NM Council of Graduate Deans, the Academic Council, NM HED and the NM Board of Finance.

The approval signature sheet for proposals that require additional resources includes: a) the Department Head(s); b) the Academic Dean(s); c) the Graduate School Dean for the Graduate Council; d) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs for the Academic Dean's Council; e) the Executive Vice President and Provost for Academic Affairs for senior administration of NMSU; f) the President of NMSU; g) the President of the Board of Regents; h) the New Mexico Council of Graduate Deans; i) the Academic Council of Higher Education; j) the NM Higher Education Department, and k) the NM State Board of Finance.

Approved certificate programs must be registered with the NM Higher Education Department within three months of approval. A copy of the approved proposal and the completed signature sheet must be mailed or hand delivered to the NM Higher Education Department within three months of approval. At that time a CIP code must be requested for the Certificate Program by the Office of Institutional Research. The Certificate program can be implemented once NMSU receives the CIP code from the NM Higher Education Department. For detailed information on the NM Higher Education Department's guidelines on Certificate programs, see 5.5.2. NMAC, Approval of New Graduate Programs. The web site is provided here: http://www.nmcpr.state.nm.us/nmac/parts/title05/05.005.0002.htm

Deletion of Graduate Certificate Programs

Departments that wish to delete a certificate program must do so in writing to the Graduate School. Justification for deleting the certificate program must be included in the letter. The letter must be signed by the department head(s) and the academic dean(s) involved in course delivery. Certificate programs that have not admitted students in a three year period can be flagged for review by the Graduate Council and the Graduate School. The Graduate Council and the Graduate School can ask for a strategic plan to attract students or a letter of deletion from the departments offering the certificate program.

Change of Name/Title

A change of name of a certificate program must be provided within three months to the Graduate School. The new name will be submitted to the New Mexico Higher Education Department. It will also be used to update the Graduate School catalog.

Faculty Program Coordinator

Each certificate program must have a faculty coordinator that is the contact person for prospective students, faculty, deans and the Graduate School. The individual must be a full-time tenure track member of the faculty of New Mexico State University. The coordinator will address academic issues, advise students and obtain faculty participation in the certificate program. The coordinator will also work with the Graduate School on issues of implementation and evaluation of the certificate program. Department heads must advise the Graduate School of changes in the personnel of this position.

Catalog Description of Certificate Program

A descriptive summary of the proposed certificate must be included in the proposal (name, purpose, courses and admissions requirements). It will be used in the Graduate School Catalog, and must be posted on the department web site. It will also be shared with the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

Continuing Education Credits

Departments may wish to offer continuing education credits as part of the certificate program. In order to do this, departments will need to contact their professional organizations and/or accrediting bodies to determine the process of obtaining approval to allow the certificate program to count towards continuing education credits.

Signature Sheets

(These forms may be obtained from the catalog website of the Graduate School or by accessing the links provided.)

Approval Form for New Graduate Certificate Programs that do not require new resources

at <http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/forms/not%20new.pdf>

Approval Form for New Graduate Certificate Programs that require new resources

at <http://gradschool.nmsu.edu/forms/additional.pdf>