We support several approaches to program development. Choose the option that best matches what you have in mind to learn more about the process, available support, and next steps.
Bringing UNC Charlotte’s degree and certificate programs online pairs your department’s subject-matter expertise with the specialized knowledge of instructional design, media development, enrollment management, and marketing housed in Digital & Professional Learning.
Fully online academic programs are part of Charlotte Online and expand access for learners who need greater flexibility, including working adults, parents, and military personnel.
Begin the journey by requesting an Opportunity Analysis. We will compile market and workforce data to help your department understand potential learner demand, employment trends, and the competitive landscape.
If the opportunity appears promising, the department works with its dean to determine whether to move forward. The dean then consults with the provost.
Additional market research from Hanover Research or EAB may be requested if a deeper analysis is needed.
Digital & Professional Learning and department leaders meet to define roles, timelines, and program specifics. The resulting Partnership Agreement documents the agreed-upon roles, timeline, and program specifics and is signed by the appropriate academic and DPL leaders.
Academic Policies and Procedures maintained by the Office of the Provost govern both the development of a new online degree and the addition of an online delivery modality to an existing on-campus program.
Departments must prepare and submit the required documentation – such as the Request to Deliver, Financial Worksheet, or Program Form #5 – through Modern Campus Curriculum. Department representatives should remain engaged as the proposal moves through the university approval process.
To allow sufficient time for review and deliberation, departments should complete this step early in the fall semester in order to launch an online program the following fall.
Once approvals are in place, the department works with DPL’s Digital Learning Production team to develop courses and prepare the program for delivery. DPL also supports targeted recruitment and marketing strategies to help the program reach prospective learners.
The School of Professional Studies, part of Digital & Professional Learning, offers open-enrollment certificates, microcredentials, courses, and workforce development opportunities for individuals and organizations. These flexible, short-form programs support upskilling, reskilling, and career advancement.
Employers may enroll employees in these public programs or partner with Corporate Training and Executive Education to develop customized solutions.
Each fall, the School of Professional Studies releases a Futures Report featuring pre-vetted program concepts identified for potential development.
Faculty can contribute in several ways:
Review the preliminary program plan and provide a letter of support.
Review course materials for technical accuracy, academic quality, and industry relevance.
Compensation: $75 per hour
Teach future course sections as enrollment and program offerings expand.
Compensation $500 per section
Have your own idea for a workforce-focused program?
Faculty and academic units are often among the first to recognize emerging workforce needs. More importantly, they also have the subject-matter expertise needed to address those gaps.
Turning that expertise into a successful public-facing program also requires support with marketing, registration, course delivery, and program administration. Digital & Professional Learning can provide that infrastructure so you can focus on designing and delivering high-impact learning experiences.
Start by submitting the Microcredential Proposal Form. We’ll schedule an initial conversation to learn more about your goals, intended audience, and the impact you hope the program will have.
Our team conducts an Opportunity Analysis — a review of relevant labor market data and demand trends — to better understand the audience for the proposed program and how it might be positioned.
If the idea is ready to move forward, we’ll work with you to determine the level of DPL support that best fits your goals, budget, and timeline.
DPL offers several levels of support depending on how much of the program administration you or your department would like to manage.
Best for: Faculty or departments that plan to manage the program themselves but need official university continuing education credentials.
Cost: $250 base fee for the first 10 students, plus $15 for each additional student.
Revenue: You retain 100% of program revenue.
Includes:
Best for: Faculty or departments that want DPL to provide registration infrastructure without full program administration.
Cost: $2,100 per section, including continuing education credit for the first 30 students, plus $15 for each additional student.
Revenue: You retain 100% of program revenue.
Includes:
Best for: High-demand programs that would benefit from comprehensive program management and support.
Cost: $8,000 per course with first section includes first 30 students’ CE credits; $15 for each additional student + variable costs.
Discounted to $4,000 for the additional sections within a 12-month period.
Revenue: Program revenue is shared 50/50.
Includes:
A DPL-supported model is not the only option.
We can also help you identify self-managed campus solutions. For example, departments may be able to establish a secure TouchNet Marketplace storefront through Merchant Services.
TouchNet Marketplace does not carry a platform fee; standard credit card processing charges of approximately 2.5% – 3% apply.
You don't need a finished curriculum or a fully developed business plan to start the conversation. Either of these links will get you started.
Talk through your idea, ask questions, and explore relevant workforce data.