Academic Programs
The Illinois Board of Higher Education holds the statutory responsibility for the approval of new units of instruction, research, public service, and administration (see Illinois Administrative Code 1050). All programs and units must first have received approval by an institution's governing board. The University and Campus processes for the U of I are shown in the link to the Levels of Governance, rules that also provide information for changing already approved programs. Generally, UAPS coordinates and advises campus staff in the process of moving programs through Board of Trustees and into the IBHE approval process.
A unit of instruction is an organized program of study whose completion results in the formal conferral of a certificate or degree. Units of administration include colleges, schools, divisions, departments, centers, and institutes that carry out the instruction, research, and public service work of the university. Formally organized research and public service units usually are named centers or institutes.