Program Development

New programs can come from faculty, staff, or members of industry.  

Propose your program idea to leadership within the Workforce & Economic Development Department (WFED). Whether your program idea is based on an industry need, a workforce demand, or a student interest, WFED can help you do the research and provide the labor market data to help see if there is a market demand.

WFED can also help answer questions like:

• Does proposal meet the college Mission/Vision/Values?  
• Is this similar to a pre-existing program?
• Are the appropriate resources available – facilities, equipment, staffing, faculty, library, student services, etc.? 

Share your program idea!

Participate in conversations with industry partners, labor reps, and businesses to validate demand.

Provide letters of support, or join conversations with WFED and faculty to discuss the relevance and necessity of the program.

According to state and regional accreditation standards, all new professional-technical degree and certificate programs must be approved by the State Bord for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This requires submission of a Program Approval Request (PAR).  

Workforce & Economic Development (WFED) leaders will support you in this process!

WFED Dean and Director of Program Development prepare the paperwork for the PAR combining research, letters of industry support, advisory committee approvals, course descriptions, curriculum guides, and any other documentation needed. 

Olympic College will then conduct an internal approval process with key groups experts and stakeholders on campus. Once the internal review is complete, we then submit the proposal to the SBCTC and NWCCU for an external approval process. Once this is complete, the program is listed in our course inventory.

Have questions about the approval process?

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Faculty & staff click here

Internal Stakeholders

Military & Veteran Programs (MVP)

Collaborate with MVP staff to complete the necessary Veterans Affairs form. This step is essential to ensure veteran students can use their GI Bill benefits to enroll in the new program, making it accessible to those who have served.

Student Affairs Offices

Student Affairs is a hub of  information and support for students. They have comprehensive information about all programs and services on campus. They will be key allies in getting the word out. 

Instructional Support Services (ISS)

ISS is responsible for publishing the annual course catalog. Be sure to provide ISS with an outline of the program by quarter and clear course information. This helps students understand their pathway and make informed decisions about enrollment.

Communications

Collaborate with the Communications Department to develop an announcement and promotional materials to get the word out to students, staff, and to the community.

External Stakeholders

Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL)

Adding a new program to the ETPL is a critical step in the launch process. The ETPL serves as a quality assurance tool for workforce training programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other public funding sources. Programs must be listed on the ETPL to qualify for federal and state workforce training dollars.