Postsecondary Programs
Postsecondary Program Approval
Idaho Code 33-101 provides that the State Board of Education has constitutional general supervision and governance of public postsecondary institutions.
Program Review and Approval Procedures
The Board approves all new academic and career-technical education programs for all eight public Idaho institutions consistent with Board Policy III.G and Section 33-2107A, Idaho Code. This includes certificates and modifications to existing programs. The Board delegates authority to its Executive Director, State Administrator, or their designee to approve specific actions through Board Policy III.G. Program requests requiring completion of a Full Program Proposal Form or Short Program Proposal Form must be submitted to the Office of the State Board of Education using the online proposal submission system. Each institution has a designated representative responsible for the submission of proposals to the system. For actions requiring a Letter of Notification, refer to Board Policy III.G.3.c and 4.c.
State Program Proposal Submission Timelines
In accordance with Board Policy III.G, the Executive Director or designee and the State Administrator for Idaho Division of Career Technical Education (IDCTE) shall develop and publish a timeline for review of full proposals for timely inclusion on the agendas of regularly scheduled Board meetings. This timeline is maintained by the Board office in consultation with IDCTE and is subject to change based on any modifications to State Board meeting dates.
Timetable for Program Requests
To request the most current Timetable for Program Request document, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager.
State Program Proposal Forms and Flowchart
There are six Program Proposal Forms institutions shall use for processing program requests, depending on the nature of the request per Policy III.G. Please refer to the flowchart below to determine which form to use. If unsure which form to use after consulting the flowchart, contact Patty Sanchez, directly before proceeding.
The Academic/Career Technical Education Programs Full Proposal Form is required for new certificates, associates, bachelor’s, graduate, or doctoral programs. For new or modified career technical programs or certificates, a Program Profile is required. Consult Board Policy III.G.3.a and 4.a for actions requiring a full proposal.
- Full Proposal Form
- Program Profile Form
- Budget Form
Notice: These forms have been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
The Academic/Career Technical Programs Short Proposal Form is required for the approval of non-substantive changes to academic or career technical education programming or administration that requires review and approval by Executive Director or designee or by State Administrator or designee. Consult Board Policy III.G.3.b and 4.b. for actions requiring a short proposal.
- Short Proposal Form
- Short Budget Form
Notice: These forms have been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
The Discontinuance Proposal Form is to discontinue any academic or career-technical education program and administrative/instructional unit.
- Discontinuance Proposal Form
- Budget Form
Notice: These forms have been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
The Instructional/Administrative Unit Proposal Form is to request a new instructional or administrative unit.
- Instructional/Administrative Unit Proposal Form
- Budget Form
Notice: These forms have been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
Letter of Notification is a process by which an institution notifies the Executive Director, State Administrator, or their designee of changes to academic or career technical education programming or administration that do not require advanced approval by the Board or the Executive Director or designee, as specified in Board Policy III.G 3.c and 4.c.
- Letter of Notification Guidelines
Notice: This form has been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
The Notification Form is a process required for new academic undergraduate and graduate certificates consisting of fewer than 30 credits and is used to notify the Executive Director or designee of the establishment of such certificates. These certificates do not require prior approval by the Board, the Executive Director, or their designees, as specified in Board Policy III.G.3.c.
- Notification Form
Notice: These forms have been temporarily removed from the website as they undergo a structural and content review.
To request any of these forms or supporting documents during the review period, contact Patty Sanchez, Academic Affairs Program Manager or Adrian San Miguel, Assistant Administrator, Idaho Division of Career Technical Education.
Please refer to Idaho State Board of Education Governing Policies and Procedures, Section III.G.
Postsecondary Program Planning
Three-Year Timeline
Idaho Code §33-113 charges the Board to define the limits of all public instruction to assure that educational needs are met and in a manner that prevents duplication of services.
Board policies and procedures require development of a comprehensive planning process for the organization and delivery of postsecondary programs and courses by Idaho’s postsecondary institutions. Each public institution must prepare and submit plans of proposed new programs they anticipate offering consistent with their respective Statewide and Regional Program Responsibility. The Office of the State Board of Education incorporates each institution’s plans to create a rolling three-year academic plan that consists of proposed programs as well as current programs.
These plans are structured to address a three-year period of time with updates every year. The development of the Three-Year Plan consists of two phases.
- The first requires institutions to submit a Notice of Current Programs, which provides specific programmatic information for each current program offering with a statewide and/or regional responsibility. This serves as the mechanism for the development of the three-year plan.
- The second phase requires institutions to submit a Notice of Proposed Programs, which provides detailed programmatic information for each new program an institution anticipates delivering.
Statewide Program Responsibilities
Statewide Program Responsibilities help guide the planning and delivery of postsecondary education across Idaho. Under Board policy, institutions develop academic program plans aligned with their assigned statewide and regional responsibilities to ensure students have access to high-quality programs that meet educational and workforce needs throughout the state.