7.7.2 Requirements for Approval of a Joint Degree Program

Requests for approval of a new joint degree program involving NPS and a partnering institution shall be submitted to the Academic Council in sufficient time for the Council to review and decide on the request prior to admitting any students into the joint degree program.

The request should include:

1. Identification of the NPS School and specific department or group responsible for the execution, content and quality of the curriculum.
2. The submitting department or group must provide the information required for evaluation as listed in paragraph 7.7.1, if that information is not publicly available.
3. A general description of the program and rationale for its development.
4. The name of the degree and associated degree requirements.
5. A detailed listing of the required courses in the program, to include which institution will be responsible for delivering each, course descriptions, and current status (existing, approved, or under development).
6. A final negotiated draft of the detailed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NPS and the partnering institution that fully describes all aspects of the collaborative relationship. While the Academic Council is primarily interested in academic rigor, content, and quality of the joint degree program, the MOA should cover the following matters, as a minimum.
   1. Administrative issues such as: student admission; advising and other student services; record keeping; information resources, technology and facilities.
   2. Program quality and content issues such as: maintenance of sufficient and qualified faculty and staff; application of quality assurance processes; scheduled joint program reviews.
   3. Planning and budgeting issues such as: tuition; cost transfers, cost sharing.

A joint degree program will not be considered fully approved for delivery or award of the degree until both the NPS Academic Council and the partnering institution’s equivalent entity have approved the program and the detailed MOA for the program has been signed by the appropriate representatives from each institution.