New Program Approval

Review the documentation below to submit new programs for approval.

Universities

Policies and procedures for new program approval are found in Chapter II, Section A.7. of the Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual. 

New Program Proposals:  

• The new form contains all requirements necessary for program approval.
• Access the bachelors and masters New Program Proposal Form (doc) and submit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about the doctoral program form.
• Please go to Reduced Credit Bachelor Degrees section below for Bachelor of Specialized Studies (Reduced-Credit Baccalaureate Degree) Proposal Form.

New Minor Without Major Proposals:

• Form for Approval of New Minor Where No Board-Approved Degree Program Exists (doc).
  

Proposed University Programs:

• Kansas State University - Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Systems and their Applications (pdf)
• Kansas State University - Master of Science in Mineral Exploration for a Sustainable Future (pdf)
• Kansas State University - Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (pdf) (updated 9/28/2026) (Reduced-Credit Baccalaureate Degree)
• Kansas State University - Bachelor of Specialized Studies in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems (pdf) (Reduced-Credit Baccalaureate Degree)

COMMUNITY COLLEGES & TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Policies/procedures for approval of courses and programs are found in Chapter III, Section A of the Policy Manual.

New Technical Program(s) Forms and Documents:

• CA1 New Program Request Form (2026) (doc)
• CA1a Fiscal Summary for New Program Request Form (2020) (doc)
• CA1b Excel in CTE Fee Summary for New Programs Form (2020) (doc)
• CA1c Perkins Eligibility Request Form (2022) (doc)
• CA1d Promise Act Eligibility Request Form (2024) (doc)
• CA5 New Short Term Program Application (2026) (doc)
• 2026-2027 New Program Approval Schedule (pdf)
• New Program Proposals June 10, 2026 (pptx)
• Submitting New Program Proposals

Program Modification(s) Forms and Documents:

• CA2 Revised Program Request Form  (doc)
• CA2a Revised Program Comparison (doc)

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Applied Technologies Forms and Documents:

• Guidelines for AAS in Technical Studies Degree (2021) (pdf)
• AAS in Technical Studies Q & A (2021) (pdf)
• CA3 AAS in Applied Technologies (2021) Program Request Form  (doc) 

Apprenticeship Application

• CA 4 Apprenticeship Application (doc)
• Registered Apprenticeship Reporting Guidance (doc)

Business and Industry Training Forms and Documents:

• Business and Industry Training Course Approval Form (xls)
• Business and Industry Training Guidelines (doc)
  

Out of Service Area Instruction Approval:

• Out of Service Area Instruction Approval (pdf)

Proposed Community College & Technical College Programs

• Barton Community College – 13.1501 Paraprofessional
• Fort Hays Tech | Northwest – 46.0301 Electrical Power Distribution
• Coffeyville Community College – 47.0613 Diesel Technology

REDUCED-CREDIT BACHELOR'S DEGREES (RCBDs)

In response to national conversations around degree affordability, workforce alignment, and time to completion, the Kansas Board of Regents has approved policy regarding the development of Reduced-Credit Bachelor’s Degrees (RCBDs). These programs are designed to maintain the academic rigor and learning outcomes of a traditional bachelor’s degree while offering a more efficient pathway for students. 

To support policy development, the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee (BAASC) charged the RCBD Work Group with developing policy element recommendations to inform a potential pilot. The work group, composed of representatives from two-year and four-year institutions, met regularly from Fall 2025 through Spring 2026 and served in an advisory capacity to develop actionable, system-aligned recommendations grounded in Higher Learning Commission (HLC) guidance and informed by national best practices.

Throughout this process, the work group focused on balancing institutional flexibility with clear expectations to ensure academic quality, transparency, and alignment with workforce needs. The group also considered implications for transfer, accreditation, student communication, and systemwide consistency. The resulting policy updates and policy recommendations, all approved by the Board on June 17, 2026, can be found here: 

RCBD Policies and Policy Recommendations (pdf)

Provided the Board supports the proposal for an RCBD submitted by a given institution, approval for these degree programs will be limited to three academic years.  Additionally, there are annual reporting requirements associated with any approved RCBD program. Institutions will provide an annual status report to the Board Academic Affairs Standing Committee (BAASC), which shall include the following:

• • RCBD enrollment: Total number of students enrolled in the RCBD program, disaggregated by year in the program.
  • Program retention: Fall to Spring and Fall to Fall retention rates for students enrolled in RCBD programs and compared to the average institutional rates for the same time period.
  • Transfer credit hours: Number of credit hours transferred into the program per student, as applicable.
  • Program completion: As data becomes available, institutions should report on the number of students completing the program as well as on the number of students who exit prior to completion.
  • Employment or other postsecondary outcomes: As data become available, institutions should report on job placement and, where feasible, earnings outcomes for program completers. It is recognized that employment and earnings data will not be available during the early years of the pilot. In the absence of longitudinal outcomes data, institutions should report on interim indicators such as internship placement rates, employer partnership agreements, and advisory board engagement. These interim measures will support ongoing program monitoring while longer-term outcome data develop.

BAASC approved using the degree name of Bachelor of Specialized Studies exclusively for these types of degree programs on September 16, 2026, specifying the degree name be included on the student's diploma and transcript.

Access the Bachelor of Specialized Studies (RCBD) Proposal Form (doc) and submit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.