Guidelines established for professional master's programs

New guidelines for professional master's programs have been approved and are ready for implementation at the West Lafayette campus.

The guidelines were developed by a committee appointed to address the process for establishing professional master's programs and the ongoing support required for these programs. Guidelines include a framework for defining a professional master's program, outline the approved pricing and revenue sharing models, and establish the support process for the programs.

Characteristics of a professional master's program are:

* A terminal master's degree with no thesis and no path forward to the PhD.

* Designed specifically to prepare university graduates for a career in industry and government, or to broaden the prospects of university graduates with careers in progress.

* Incorporates a professional skills and competencies component (management, supervision, leadership, entrepreneurship, etc.).

* A full-time program of one to two years in length; programs may allow part-time students.

* Instruction is primarily residential; i.e., at least 51 percent occurs on campus.

* Demonstrates clear articulation between the professional master's program and other master's degrees and concentrations with the department.

* Priced to included regular Board of Trustees (BOT) approved tuition and fees plus a market-based fee increment; market-based increment established through a rate approval process.

* Receives a return of a portion of the tuition and fee revenue to the academic unit based upon an established distribution model.

For more information or for questions about establishing and managing professional master's program, contact the following offices:

* Academic issues -- Graduate School, Programs Office.

* Academic infrastructure -- Office of the Registrar.

* Market analysis -- Purdue Extended Campus, director of marketing.

* Account management/reporting -- Purdue Extended Campus, Business Office.

* Fees and refunds -- Office of the Bursar.

* Rate approval process -- Director of financial affairs for college/school.