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Certificate Programs

Section:300
Section Title:Academic
Policy Number:300-V
Policy Name:Certificate Programs
Approval Authority:Provost/VP for Teaching, Learning & Growth
Responsible Executive:Provost/VP for Teaching, Learning & Growth
Responsible Unit:Office of the Provost
Date Adopted:April 1987
Date Revised:June 1995, October 2009, March 2012, November 2021, October 2023

Policy

 

Policy 

In addition to undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Ramapo College offers certificates for credit-bearing and/or non-credit bearing experiences. These certificate programs must be recommended for approval by the appropriate entities of the College and the State.

 

Reason for Policy:

Describes certificate programs of study

 

To Whom Does The Policy Apply

All Ramapo instructors as well as academic administrators

 

Related Documents

  • Procedure
  • ARC Academic and Curricular Guidelines Manual

Contacts

Office of the Provost: 201-684-7532

Procedure

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS PROCEDURE

Certificates may be credit-bearing packages of existing courses(i.e., “Academic Certificates”), non-credit-bearing packages of learning experiences (i.e., “Certificates of Achievement”), or packages combining credit-bearing courses and non-credit-bearing learning experiences.

Types of Certificates

Academic Certificates

Academic Certificates are organized, coherent programs of study usually comprised of existing credit-bearing courses.

  • In addition to credit-bearing courses, Academic Certificates also may include non-credit learning experiences such as seminars, workshops, and modules.
  • Academic certificates may be offered at the following levels in compliance with federal and other regulations:
    • postsecondary (i.e., below the baccalaureate level) certificate
    • post-baccalaureate certificate, which must require at least 9 credits beyond the Bachelor’s level
    • post-Master’s certificate, which must require at least 12 credits beyond the Master’s level

Certificates of Achievement (Non-Credit Certificates)

Certificates of Achievement (non-credit certificates) are organized, coherent programs of study comprised entirely of not-for-credit learning experiences, such as seminars, workshops, and modules.

  • Certificates of Achievement are not differentiated by level.
  • None of the learning experiences include academic credit.
  • Certificates of Achievement may be developed by Ramapo College or by third-party vendors.

 

Program Proposals

All proposals for new certificate programs must complete the following steps:

  1. Obtain approval of the concept and proposal from the Provost (or designee). (Non-credit-bearing Certificate of Achievement program provided by third-party vendors do not require approval beyond this point. The Provost will notify the Board of Trustees of these certificate programs.
  2. Submit a full ARC program proposal. Academic Certificates must follow the ARC Guidelines for New Program Proposals.

For Academic Certificates containing any credit-bearing experiences, approvals must be received from the following units or entities in this order:

  1. Convening Group (if the content pertains to a Convening Group)
  2. Unit Council(s) (if the content pertains to a particular School(s))
  3. Dean(s) (if the content pertains to a particular School(s))
  4. Graduate Council (if a post-baccalaureate or post-Master’s certificate)
  5. ARC
  6. Faculty Assembly
  7. Provost
  8. Board of Trustees

The Academic Certificate must also be submitted to the Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council as an information item only (i.e., no approval is required).

Ramapo-initiated Certificates of Achievement (non-credit certificates) must be submitted for review, feedback, or approval (as appropriate) to the following units entities in this order:

  1. Dean associated with the Certificate of Achievement’s discipline (information item; if the content pertains to a Convening Group)
  2. Convening Group associated with the certificate’s discipline (information item; if the content pertains to a Convening Group)
  3. Unit Council associated with the certificate’s discipline (information item; if the content pertains to a Convening Group)
  4. ARC (information item)
  5. Provost (for approval)
  6. Board of Trustees (for approval)
  7. Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey Presidents’ Council (information item)

Certificate Program Directors work with the Office of the Registrar to determine how academic certificates are noted on transcripts. Academic Certificates are not considered graduation requirements and are removed from the degree audit. The Office of the Registrar is not involved in administering/issuing Certificates of Achievement, which are non-credit-bearing and are not noted on transcripts.