Suspension of a graduate program refers to a program discontinuing admissions into a graduate degree program while there are students actively enrolled in the program. A program may not be discontinued if there are students actively enrolled in a degree program. If a program is suspended for more than one year the Chancellor’s Staff and members of CCGS must be informed via the submission of a Suspension and Discontinuation CR form. The standard timeline for suspension of admissions is five years; a program can be reactivated within this five-year period but not afterwards.
Discontinuation of a graduate program refers to a program 1) discontinuing admissions into a graduate program with no students currently enrolled in the graduate program, or 2) expiring a suspended program that has entered a time period beyond the five-year period for reactivation.
If within the five-year period the program elects to reactivate the degree program, a proposal to reactivate the degree program should be submitted to the Graduate School once approved by the college. However, if the program is outside of the five-year period, formal approval from the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, through CCGS must be sought in the same manner as required for approval of a new graduate degree program.
Proposals to Discontinue/Reactivate/Suspend a Graduate Program
Under most circumstances, program suspension or reactivation can be communicated as an informational item. These should include information in accordance with ODHE’s Suspension of Admissions into a Graduate Program form, which can be obtained by request. This is especially true for describing the support for students currently in the program.
Proposals to discontinue a program should follow the same format as for a program revision.
Deactivating/Discontinuing an International Cooperative Degree Program
Please reach out to the Graduate School for consultation on suspending, deactivating or discontinuing an International Cooperative Degree Program.
Reactivate A Graduate Program
The reactivation of a degree program should follow the same procedures and guidelines as the establishment of a new degree when within the five-year window of suspension. When the university has approved program reactivation, a ‘Reactivation of Admissions into a Graduate Program’ form must be submitted with the supervision of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs to the Graduate School for endorsement by CCGS and ODHE. It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean to determine whether or not changes in program since admissions were suspended warrant concurrent submission of a “Curriculum Modification” form to ODHE and CCGS. If admission into a graduate degree program is not reactivated within five years, the program will be discontinued. If at a subsequent date after the five-year period the program plans to reactivate a discontinued graduate degree program, the university must seek formal approval from the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, through CCGS, in the same manner as required for approval of a new graduate degree program. (OAA Handbook, pg 58)
Suspending or Discontinuing an Existing Certificate of Study
A unit requesting a suspension of admissions or discontinuation must distinguish if the program is to be suspended or discontinued. Discontinuation is the final step that removes the program from the possibility of future reactivation. A suspension of admissions indicates that program is held in abeyance until reactivation becomes feasible. Suspension of an existing certificate of study must be reviewed and approved by the same bodies that approved its creation (unit(s), college(s), CAA). The proposal must include information on how the suspension or discontinuation impacts any enrolled students, a plan for such students to complete their degree, and justification for the suspension or discontinuation. Forms must be submitted for the permanent elimination of any courses necessitated by the suspension or discontinuation of the certificate.
Reinstating or Reactivating a Certificate of Study
The reinstatement or reactivation of a certificate of study must follow the same procedures and guidelines as the establishment of a new certificate. (OAA Handbook, pg 64)