Institutional Research and Academic Planning
Sidebar
IRAP collaborates with and provides analytical and policy support to the Provost, Academic Planning Council, the UC Academic Senate, the Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs and University Committee on Planning and Budget in particular, and all campuses and other parts of UC.
Academic planning content and analysis is separated into the four categories below:
- Academic policy and planning
- Degree programs and academic program review
- Accreditation and assessment
- Campus collaborations
Academic policy and planning
Academic Planning at the University of California Office of the President January 2022 PDF
January 2022Academic Planning supports the identification of the University’s short-, medium-, and long-term goals and objectives and the alignment of these goals and objectives with the University of California’s (UC) mission in connection to the needs and interests of key stakeholder groups, such as the UC Regents and campus academic and administrative leadership. Academic Planning’s work on these goals and objectives is multifaceted, involving different dimensions of academic planning.
Academic planning council
IRAP webpageIRAP supports the Academic Planning Council, a joint Academic Senate/Administration body that reviews planning issues and develops and revises policy related to the university’s academic mission.
Major requirements initiative September 2018 PDF
September 2018As part of the 2015 Budget Framework Agreement, faculty on the nine undergraduate campuses reviewed upper division requirements for campus’s undergraduate majors, streamlining requirements wherever possible. In total, 623 majors were reviewed, accounting for 95 percent of all undergraduate programs. This report summarizes this demanding, complex activity that resulted in a number of unit reductions across campuses.
UC academic policy and planning
IRAP webpageIRAP is responsible for maintaining and interpreting a number of academic policies for the University.
Statewide academic policy and planning
IRAP webpageIRAP provides expertise on behalf of the university as part of statewide efforts to plan for and improve higher education in California.
California master plan for higher education
IRAP webpageMajor features of the California Master Plan for Higher Education
Enrollment planning
IRAP webpageIRAP coordinates both the collection of enrollment data and also the development of short- and long-term plans for the numbers and types of students that can be accommodated at the UC campuses.
Presentations to the UC Board of Regents
irap webpageAcademic Planning has supported the development of several, varied presentations to the UC Board of Regents.
Degree programs and academic program review
CSU doctoral degree program proposal review and approval process
IRAP webpageCalifornia Assembly Bill 656 allowed the California State University authority to award professional or applied doctoral degrees statewide that do not duplicate University of California doctoral degrees. In 2023, the California State University Board of Trustees approved a set of planning materials for proposed doctoral programs, including guidelines for developing these proposals and a flowchart showing the sequential process for review and approval of these proposals
University of California baccalaureate degree duplication check process
IRAP webpageResources for California Community College districts that are seeking to establish baccalaureate degree programs under the process established by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office after the 2021 enactment of Assembly Bill No. 927 (Medina).
Disciplinary trends in graduate degree program proposals December 2019 PDF
December 2019From 1999-00 to 2018-19, 301 proposals to establish a graduate degree program were submitted to the Academic Senate. Most of these proposals fell into six disciplinary categories: Health, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Business, Visual and Performing Arts, and Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. Health-based programs exerted the most influence during this period; computational and data science programs reflected UC being on the disciplinary cutting edge.
Compendium: Universitywide Review Processes for Academic Programs, Academic Units, & Research Units (2014)
IRAP webpageThe Compendium presents system-level review processes for creating and modifying academic degree programs, academic units, and research units, and is designed to serve as a manual for the wide range of administrators, faculty, and staff who participate in these processes.
Review process for establishing graduate degree programs and academic units
IRAP webpageIn collaboration with the Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs, IRAP conducts the administrative system-level review of campus proposals for new graduate programs, as well as proposals for new schools and colleges.
Five-year planning perspectives
IRAP webpageThe Five-Year Planning Perspectives process gives campuses the opportunity to gather information useful to their long-range planning efforts.
Self-supporting programs
IRAP webpageSelf-supporting programs allow the University to serve additional students above and beyond the resources provided by the state while fulfilling demonstrated higher education and workforce needs.
Accreditation and assessment
Campus assessment contacts
IRAP webpageUC is committed to assessment of student learning that is faculty driven, discipline specific, and locally defined.
Accreditation
IRAP webpageIRAP collaborates with UC campus accreditation officers to represent UC’s academic interests to statewide planning entities and the regional accrediting body, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Campus collaborations
UC extension degree and certificate completion programs and the UC reengagement consortium February 2025 PDF
February 2025This topic brief provides summaries of existing re-entry degree and certificate programs at the five participating UC Extensions, along with a market demand research program, including engagement and completion numbers.
Vice provosts and deans of undergraduate education
IRAP webpageIRAP collaborates with vice provosts and deans of undergraduate education to advocate for undergraduate education and maintain the focus on teaching and learning.
Summer session
IRAP webpageAcross the UC system, thousands of courses are offered each summer in hundreds of disciplines to any student.
University Extension and University re-entry
IRAP webpageUniversity Extension is the continuing education branch of UC campuses, providing innovative learning programs to adult learners in California, across the U.S. and throughout the world. University re-entry allows non-graduated UC students to resume a path to a four-year degree.
Teaching and Learning Centers
IRAP webpageThe University of California Teaching and Learning Centers provide support, resources, and advocacy for all who teach and learn at the University of California.
IRAP experts and requests for information
IRAP experts: Academic policy and planning
Todd Greenspan | Carmen Corona | Chris Procello | Ethan Savage
IRAP experts: Degree programs and Academic program review
Chris Procello
IRAP experts: Accreditation and assessment
Chris Procello
IRAP experts: Campus collaborations
Todd Greenspan | Carmen Corona | Chris Procello | Ethan Savage