Graduate Program Registration

Welcome! The university has recently updated its academic program review process in order to improve and streamline the review process and comply with multiple regulatory requirements. As part of these updates, a single website is being created to house this information, which we expect to go live in 2026.

In the meantime, to begin the review process, all proposals (with the exception of graduate field and minor proposals) must submit an online proposal form that collects information required for both internal and external proposal review and ensures that proposals are academically sound, mission-aligned, and student-focused.

As you begin to plan your new program or revisions, please plan for a minimum two-year timeline from initial, internal proposal submission to student enrollment. The review steps and timeline are detailed below.

Review Process

Phase One

1. Reach out to IRP for overall process guidance.
2. Secure graduate field faculty support: Provide results of a faculty vote in a letter from the director of graduate studies and appropriate letters of support from contributing or adjacent programs, schools, or colleges.
3. Submit a online internal proposal form. Once the submission is received, the proposer will be contacted with next steps.
4. Proposal is vetted through Phase One Review process, including reviews by the:
   • Provost’s Academic Program Review Committee, which examines institutional fit and need, market and student demand, distinctiveness and enrollment feasibility, and financial planning
   • Associate deans representing each college
   • Enrollment Operations Academic Program Review Committee, which identifies regulatory compliance issues and operational challenges, providing feedback to strengthen proposals and enable early decision-making on modifications

All feedback from Phase One informs Phase Two internal approvals.

Phase Two

1. Review by the General Committee of the Graduate School for approval, overseen by the associate dean for academics.
2. Provost’s Council for approval.
3. For existing degrees: a brief summary of all academic programmatic changes are included in a report for the Board of Trustees. For new degrees: proposals are submitted for a vote.

Phase Three

1. Submit to SUNY/NYSED for approval (if required).

IRP (Kristin Walker; walker@cornell.edu) will help coordinate steps in Phase Two and Phase Three.

Questions?

General Academic Proposal Questions: Provostacademicproposals@cornell.edu

Graduate Program Questions: gcproposals@cornell.edu