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Establish a Certificate Program

Academic Action

Establish a new Certificate Program that is in compliance with UW-Green Bay and the Universities of Wisconsin policies.

Curricular Requirements

Credit Certificates: Minimum of 12 required credits in any combination of lower- and upper-level courses. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. Certificates may be associated with an academic program.

Certificates not associated with academic programs (i.e. stand-alone certificates) must demonstrate increased employability or enhanced professional qualifications for recipients of the certificate.

Nine credits or one half the total required credits, whichever is greater, in residency at UWGB.

Originator of Process

Executive Committee

Approval Process

CourseLeaf: Program Admin: Propose New Program

Approvals/Recommendations Needed:

A – Approval Needed

R – Recommendation

I – Information Only

AInitiating Executive Committee
ROther Executive Committee(s)
ADean
RRegistrar
RLibrary
AGraduate Academic Affairs Council
AAcademic Affairs Council
AProvost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
IChancellor
IUniversities of Wisconsin Administration and Board of Regents


Approval Process

The chair of the initiating Executive Committee prepares a proposal following the directions provided as part of the Propose New Program form in CourseLeaf. The faculty committee may consult the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), Graduate Studies, and/or other institutional offices for advice on program development.

If the proposed certificate includes courses or other requirements that are outside of the jurisdiction of the initiating Executive Committee, the proposal must be reviewed by the unit(s) impacted by the modifications. The chair of the initiating Executive Committee is responsible for sending (electronically) a complete proposal to the chair of the unit(s) impacted. As the proposal progresses through the approval process, it must include written documentation from all of the unit(s) consulted.

The proposal may be revised based on the comments received. When a final proposal is approved by the initiating Executive Committee, the proposal and all supporting documentation is forwarded to the Dean for review and approval.

The Dean reviews the proposal and supporting documentation.  He then forwards all to the Registrar and the Library for review and recommendation.

After review and recommendation or non-recommendation by the Registrar and the Library, the Dean has the option of approving the proposal, not approving the proposal or requesting changes to the proposal.  Approved proposals and supporting documentation are then sent to the appropriate governance committees.

The Academic Affairs Council or Graduate Academic Affairs Council should be the last governance committee to review the proposal.   


  • Graduate Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves a graduate program.
  • Academic Affairs Council – if the proposal involves an undergraduate program.

Following the AAC or GAAC review, an approved proposal is forwarded to the Provost. If not approved by the AAC or GAAC, the proposal is returned to appropriate dean(s).

Certificates must be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) for review and approval: https://www.hlcommission.org/Accreditation/certificate-program-screening-form.html. The Provost (or designee) is responsible for submitting certificates for review.

The proposal is reviewed by the Provost (or designee). If approved by the Provost, the initiating Executive Committee Chair, Dean, Chancellor, Registrar, Library, and SOFAS are informed of the decision. If not approved by the Provost, the proposal is returned to the Dean.

The Provost (or designee) notifies the UW Associate Vice President for Academic Programs and Educational Innovation (APEI) via the Online Program Planning Form that program has been discontinued and the effective date of the change.