1: Initial Program Idea Assessment

Initial Assessment

The Program Planning and Management (PP&M) unit within the World Campus is responsible for leading the review of new programs. They have the authority to make an initial assessment based upon past experience and the below program selection criteria, which were among the first guiding elements developed following the creation of the World Campus in 1997.

Six areas of focus in World Campus Program Selection Criteria:

  • Academic Reputation
  • Academic Readiness
  • Appropriate Technology
  • Sustainable Market
  • Income Potential
  • Scalability

These criteria are applied irrespective of whether the program idea originated from an academic unit or within the World Campus, and they weigh heavily throughout the review process. When program ideas are first proposed, PP&M uses this criteria to identify programs that are unlikely to progress through more rigorous review. For example, the proposed program may be the idea of one faculty member and with no apparent interest among colleagues. Or, the idea may fall outside of the four major areas of interest among adults pursuing online education: Business, Education, Health, and Technology.