Programs: Occupational Program Early Alert
Purpose of the New Occupational Program Early Alert
The purpose of the Early Alert Process is to provide opportunities for sharing information, for collaborating on new programs, and for avoiding unnecessary duplication of programs.
The New Occupational Program Early Alert form is used by the Occupational Administrator of the college as a formal notification to other Maricopa colleges of the intent to develop a new occupational program. The college initiating the Program Early Alert may offer the option for other colleges to join in the development of the program at the following stages:
Approval TimelineWhen informal notification of the proposed new occupational program is shared at he Occupational Administrators Council,
At the time the Program Early Alert is submitted for approval,
At the development stage when the program is being designed and developed by the initiating college.
Per the approval process defined on the MCCCD New Occupational Program Early Alert Form, approval to begin the development of the new program will be assumed within 10 faculty accountability days after submission of the form, unless concerns are raised. The day count begins with the date the original Email was sent out. Notification of action taken (approval/disapproval/other) by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will be sent to all parties noted on the distribution list at the end of the form.
When Not to Use a New Occupational Program Early Alert
A New Program Early Alert is not used to generate a decision regarding the start-up of the following types of certificates and degrees:Addition of a new certificate to an existing AAS degree.
Addition of a new degree by the addition of general education requirements to the program requirements of an existing certificate. This could also include the addition of a reasonable number of restricted electives to meet the 60 credit hour program minimum.
The Occupational Program Modification process provides for the addition of the above types of certificate/degree. The section entitled Occupational Program Modification provides more information on processes related to the development of the above types of programs.
Changes to the Program Early Alert in Process
Changes to the information on the MCCCD New Occupational Program Early Alert and/or the colleges listed as potentially offering the program (shared or district-wide) may be made during the 10-day window or prior to development/approval of the program. When this occurs, it is the responsibility of the initiating college to communicate the changes to all parties listed on the Early Alert Form
Sample: Complete New Occupational Program Early Alert Document
Template: New Occupational Program Early Alert Document
Curriculum Development/Approval Process
New Occupational Program Early Alerts will be initiated by the faculty and coordinated by the Occupational Administrator of the college or colleges.
The Early Alert should also identify any new subjects/prefixes that may be required to support the program. This advance notice of new prefixes should facilitate the subsequent college procedures in planning for the introduction and approval of the new subject.
Early Alerts will be sent out during faculty days of accountability allowing a minimum of 10 faculty accountability days for the response.
New Occupational Program Early Alerts will be sent by the Occupational Administrator of the originating college for informational purposes to the other Occupational Administrators, Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, District Director of Curriculum and Transfer Articulation, District Coordinator Transfer Articulation-Curriculum, District Director of the Center for Workforce Development, College Curriculum Development Facilitators, College Curriculum Technicians, and appropriate Instructional Council or Councils responsible for the curriculum with a response about concerns or issues sent to the Occupational Administrator within the 10 days of faculty accountability timeline. The Early Alert is sent to the Instructional Council for informational purposes. Once the curriculum is developed, the Instructional Council will follow the review and approval process outlined in the Curriculum Procedures Handbook for new occupational programs.
No Concerns Raised
Concerns Raised
If no concerns are raised within the 10 faculty accountability days after the New Occupational Program Early Alert has been distributed, the Occupational Administrator from the originating college will send an e-mail to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with a copy to the original distribution list stating that no concerns have been raised on the Early Alert in process and request approval to move forward. The Vice Chancellor’s response to the request will be sent to the Occupational Administrator with a copy to the original distribution list.
If concerns are raised, the New Occupational Program Early Alert will be put on hold for no more than 20 faculty accountability days in order to resolve the concerns. Any extension beyond 20 days will be the result of collaboration between the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the colleges.
If concerns are raised, the Occupational Administrators or their designee, the initiator of the Early Alert proposal, and the Instructional Council representatives from the colleges involved will try to resolves those issues. If the issues are resolved between the respective colleges, the Occupational Administrator from the originating college will send an e-mail to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with a copy to the original distribution list stating that the concerns have been resolved on the Early Alert in process and request approval to move forward. The Vice Chancellor’s response to the request will be sent to the Occupational Administrator with a copy to the original distribution list.
If resolution cannot be reached, the Chair of the Occupational Administrators Council or designee will convene a meeting between the Occupational Administrator and/or Vice President of Academic Affairs of the concerned colleges, the initiator, a representative from the Center for Workforce Development, and any appropriate Instruction Council Chairs or council members. The purpose of this meeting will be to resolve issues and send a recommendation to the Vice Chancellor for Academic affairs. The Vice Chancellor will review the recommendation and determine if the New Occupational Program Early Alert should be approved. An email will be sent to the original distribution list indicating the decision.
The program cannot be processed for inclusion on the District Curriculum Committee agenda until the program has cleared the New Occupational Program Early Alert phase and issues raised during that phase have been resolved.
The New Occupational Program Proposal and Program Early Alert
The initiating college determines when the program is ready for submission to the MCCCD Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation as a New Occupational Program (NOP) proposal. The completed New Occupational Program Early Alert form does not have to accompany the NOP proposal when the NOP proposal is sent to the District Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. A copy of the approved New Occupational Program Early Alert form and related information will have already been distributed to the Center prior to the development of the program.
The completed Program Early Alert is archived by the initiating college for future reference and this action is noted on the NOP proposal.
The Curriculum Procedures Handbook is a product of the Maricopa County Community Colleges District. Any and all changes to the Handbook are monitored and coordinated through the District Center for Curriculum and Transfer Articulation. Please give credit to the Maricopa County Community College District if the Handbook or sections of the Handbook are duplicated.
