SCHEV Process and Timeline
When pursuing a new academic program, academic program change, or organizational change at Virginia Tech, it’s important to understand that the SCHEV approval process is both structured and time-intensive. From the initial planning stage through development and final approval, actions typically take one to two years before they can be implemented. The process involves close collaboration with the Registrar’s Office, the Institutional Planning Committee, and the SCHEV Compliance Team, with each step designed to ensure proposals are well-developed, aligned with institutional priorities, and reviewed by the appropriate internal and external bodies. Faculty and administrators should also plan around the fixed meeting schedules of Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors and the SCHEV Council, as these dates dictate the timing of submission and approval windows.
Timeline
Planning (~1–4 months): Share your proposal idea with the Registrar’s Office for guidance and Institutional Planning Committee (IPC) review. The IPC will endorse your proposal for full development or table it pending additional information.
Development (~6–12 months): Work with the SCHEV Compliance Team to draft and refine the proposal until it is ready for formal review.
Approval (~12–24 months): •Secure necessary internal and external approvals (may include Board of Visitors, SCHEV, SACSCOC). Each entity requires several steps in its review process and reviews proposals on a different timeline.