External evaluation, by two evaluators, as well as the campus response to the external evaluation, is required for the proposal of new degree programs at the baccalaureate level or higher. SUNY has a template for that can be shared with reviewers, and has guidance on reviewer selection . Remote external evaluation is permissible, except in instances when in-person is necessary due to program-specific expectations related to facilities. External program evaluators are paid a $1,000 honoraria plus travel reimbursement.
Campuses will select external evaluators without the need for preapproval from SUNY System Administration, except in instances that require NYSED preapproval, including:
- undergraduate degree program in engineering or engineering technology, undergraduate degree program in an allied health area (unless the campus can demonstrate that the program is accredited by an accrediting body for college-level programs in the field),
- master鈥檚 degree that is licensure-qualifying
- doctoral program
- program that introduces a new degree level for the campus.
In these instances, campuses must obtain preapproval by submitting a rank-ordered list and the CVs of three to five potential evaluators and a brief rationale for their selection, which will then be transmitted by SUNY to NYSED for review and preapproval.
For associate or baccalaureate programs in engineering or engineering technology or an allied health area (unless the campus can demonstrate that the program is accredited by an accrediting body for college-level programs in the field), all master鈥檚 and doctoral programs, and proposals requiring a Master Plan Amendment or Degree Authorization, campuses will include with the full proposal the external evaluation reports and campus response that describes how the campus adjusted the program in response to substantive feedback in the evaluation and/or provides reasoning for why the campus did not make such adjustments to specific points of feedback. For other baccalaureate programs, campuses will include an attestation that external evaluation was conducted but will not submit the external evaluation reports or campus response as part of the full proposal.
Pre-approval requests and outreach to reviewers to complete the evaluation will take place after the PA or LI stage has been completed.
Undergraduate Education or the Graduate School will handle pre-approval requests to SUNY and outreach to external evaluators.
If External Evaluation results in significant changes to the proposal campus approvers will be notified and asked to re-affirm approval of the proposal, or they may request that the proposal route through the formal approval process again.