1. Academic Affairs Handbook, University System of Georgia, Section 3.09.

2. Policy Manual of the Board of Regents,University System of Georgia, Section 402.12.

The University of Georgia recognizes as a general principle that students in good standing--whether students continuing at the University of Georgia or transfer students--should be allowed access to the majors of their choice, subject to constraint of educational resources, including insufficient numbers of faculty to provide a quality learning environment to all who wish to enroll.

The high-demand major is one which receives or expects to receive more applications for major status from fully qualified rising juniors than the program can accommodate without endangering the quality of instruction offered.

The intent of the procedure and criteria is to assure that high-demand majors are identified (a) after appropriate review at the school/college level, (b) are appropriate and fair to students seeking the major, and (c) are assessed for their potential effect on other programs.

1. All proposals for beginning, continuing, or discontinuing high-demand major status will be initiated in the unit responsible for the major, reviewed and approved by the school/college responsible for the degree in which the major resides, and forwarded to the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost on the standard form (attached) for consideration by the University Curriculum Committee.

2. Prior to approving the proposal, the school/college of the unit originating the proposal shall circulate it to other affected or related schools/colleges for review and comment. If the proposal reaches the university level without such circulation, the Office of Curriculum Systems will send it to the appropriate deans for comment. The deans shall then circulate it to appropriate departments and have one calendar month to provide comments for the consideration of the University Curriculum Committee.

3. The proposals will be reviewed by a standing subcommittee of the University Curriculum Committee which shall have authority to approve the notification for the full committee. The subcommittee will evaluate the proposal to assure that it satisfies the criteria of this policy and is consistent with policies of the University System of Georgia. Any issues unresolved by the subcommittee shall be referred to the University Curriculum Committee.

4. Proposals approved by the University Curriculum Committee will be forwarded to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost for review and forwarding to the University System.

5. Authorized changes in the high-demand status of majors shall be published in the next edition of the Bulletin.

The proposal must include adequate academic justification. The responsible program shall report its capacity for rising juniors along with the specific factors which constrain capacity. Some illustrative factors which may constrain capacity are listed below.

1. Limits are required to maintain a high quality of instruction.

2. Physical facilities and resources are limited, especially when specialized facilities cannot be augmented (such as laboratories or studios).

3. Limits are required by professional accreditation requirements.

4. Special skills or abilities are required to complete courses in the major (for example, performing arts such as dance, musical performance, or creative art), and the resources to impart such skills are limited.

Faculty of a high-demand major must establish and apply uniform criteria for selecting among all qualified applicants (whether native or transfer) those to be admitted to the majors. In the event all applicants have met selection criteria, then those students judged by the faculty to be most excellent with respect to the criteria should be those selected. Selection criteria should be demonstrably related to successful completion of the major and should conform to the following guidelines:

1. Proposed selection criteria must be consistent with school/college, University, and University System policies and regulations (for example, those related to diversity).

2. Selection criteria may include a grade point average (GPA) in a specific course or group of courses related to successful completion of the major. (An overall GPA is not specific to the major and may not be included as a selection criterion.)

3. Statements of purpose may be included as selection criteria.

4. Documentation of special skills, abilities, or experiences necessary to complete the major may be selection criteria.

5. Selection must be based on consideration of more than one type of criteria (for example, not just grade point average in a specific course or group of courses) and must be supported by an appropriate rationale.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The University of Georgia
   FORM FOR NOTIFICATION OF HIGH-DEMAND STATUS
   OF AN UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR
    

   1. BASIC INFORMATION

      1. School/College:
         ________________________________________________________

      2. Department/Division:
         _________________________________________________________

      3. Degree:
         _________________________________________________________

      4. Major:
         _________________________________________________________

      5. Proposed date for change in high-demand status:
         
         _________________________________________________________
      
      

   2. CAPACITY INFORMATION:
      Please provide the following information on an attached sheet:

      1. Anticipated number of applicants: If the capacity of the junior class is smaller than the anticipated number of applications, this major may be designated as high-demand.
         1. The capacity of the junior class for both this academic year and the following academic year.
         2. The anticipated number of applications for both this academic year and the following academic year.
         
         
      2. High-Demand Majors:
         (see parts four and five of the policy statement)
         1. What is the academic justification for restricting the major?
         2. Attach responses from other schools and colleges.
         3. Provide criteria used to determine which of the applicants meeting entrance requirements will be admitted to the major.
         4. Provide a contact person for information concerning the criteria and application deadlines.
            
            
         
         

   3. SIGNATURES:
      
              ____________________________________________________________________________________        Department Head                                                  Department                          Date
      
      
      ____________________________________________________________________________________      College/School Curriculum Committee Chair            School/College                       Date
      
      
      ____________________________________________________________________________________      Dean                                                                       School/College                      Date
      
      
      ____________________________________________________________________________________      University Curriculum Committee Chair                                                                 Date
      
      
      ____________________________________________________________________________________      Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost                                        Date