Self-Supporting Graduate Professional Degree Programs (SSGPDP)
SSGPDP are graduate programs that primarily serve professionals seeking to advance their careers. SSGPDPs receive no State funding. All program costs, both direct and indirect, are covered by revenues generated by the program such as student charges or from alternative revenues that are not disallowed funds. Disallowed funds include State General Funds and mandatory system-wide (state-supported) tuition and fees.
SSGPDPs allow the University of California to: (1) serve additional students above and beyond those supported through resources provided by the State; and (2) fulfill demonstrated higher education and workforce needs. Models of self-supporting graduate professional degree programs include, but are not limited to, those that serve non-traditional populations, such as full-time employees, mid-career professionals, international students with specialized goals, and/or students whose professional education is supported by their employers. Many SSGPDPs are: (1) offered through an alternative mode of delivery, such as online or hybrid instruction; (2) alternatively scheduled, (e.g., during evenings, weekends, and/or summers); and/or (3) offered in alternative locations (e.g., off- campus).
Fee Approval Process
The UC President approves the fee levels for all SSGPDP's annually. Approval of requires a financial cost analysis and program review
- The Cost Analysis compares revenue against direct and indirect expenses over a three-year period (prior year actuals, current year, and fee request year projections)
- Programs are expected to break even or generate a surplus each year, or they may receive support from allowable sources, should the program experience a deficit
- A cost per student is calculated, and total projected revenues are compared against total costs to demonstrate the requested fee level is in compliance with policy
- The calculation of indirect cost can result in a per headcount student deficit in one or more years. However, at UCSF, indirect costs are considered to be subsidized by the Chancellor from unrestricted campus core funds (non-state sources)
- In addition to demonstrating financial solvency, affirming that only allowable funds are used to the support the program, programs are also asked to:
- Report results of academic program review
- Explain how they support financial accessibility
- Compare costs with comparable programs at other institutions, and
- Ensure biennial consultation requirement includes students and faculty
Budget & Resource Management (BRM) coordinates the SSGPDP process for the campus, working with each program, the Student Academic Affairs, and others as needed to complete all data elements for the UCOP Program and Cost of Analysis template, culminating in submission to the Chancellor for approval and signature on each proposal. Each proposal must also be shared with the student government organizations and be approved by the Vice Provost/Graduate Division Dean and Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Outreach. Below is the process timeline for the 2024-25 Budget Cycle:
| 2024-25 Budget Cycle Deadline | Submission/Activity |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2023 | BRM sends SSGPDP Budget Call to Campus Departments |
| November 8-9, 2023 | Budget Call Kick-Off Meetings |
| January 15, 2024 | Department Submission Deadline: Cost of Education and Program Template* |
| January 15-31, 2024 | BRM prepares UCOP Cost Analyses, Attachments, and Cover Letter |
| February 1, 2024 | BRM sends Final Cost Analyses packet* |
| February 1-8, 2024 | Departmental Review of UCOP Cost Analyses packet* |
| February 9-16, 2024 | BRM Routing of SSGPDP Proposals to Deans for review |
| February 19-23, 2024 | Coordination of edits and approvals as needed |
| February 26-29, 2024 | Routing of SSGPDP Proposals to SVC Core then Chancellor's signature |
| March 1, 2024 | Submission Deadline: SSGPDP Fee Proposals to UCOP |
*Must have Dean's Office endorsement
For information on the establishment of a new SSGPDP program, please refer to the UCSF Academic Senate Website and the Process Overview Flowchart at the bottom of the page, after this sentence: For information on the Self-Supporting Graduate Professional Degree Program proposal submission process, please contact [email protected].
Resources
UCSF Office of the Registrar Fees
SSGPDP Programs
DDS International Dentist Pathway
DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice
MAS Advanced Training in Clinical Research
MS Artifical Intelligence and Computational Drug Discovery and Development