FAQs

What happens with a faculty member or program/department proposes a change to the curriculum?

Step 1: Work with your program/department to identify program needs

Step 2: Write curriculum change proposal using online form. You are strongly encouraged to consult with your department, the Registrar, and the person responsible for maintaining your accreditation status as you prepare the proposal. (You can save the form without submitting it while you have discussions.) You are also invited to talk to a member of the committee at any time to discuss your proposal.

Step 3: Finalize proposal and “save and submit” it online. The proposal will automatically be forwarded to your department chair; the chair’s approval verifies that appropriate departmental review has taken place.

Step 4: After the chair approves the proposal it is forwarded to the curriculum committee for consideration.

Step 5: Committee reviews proposals

If Committee accepts proposal

  • Proposal author will be notified by committee chair
  • Proposal is sent to dean for final approval
  • Approved proposal is added to a master list of approved course changes
  • Registrar’s office makes approved changes to course in Colleague course database (i.e., WebAdvisor)
  • Communications director collects approved changes for subsequent year academic catalog

If Committee does not accept proposal

  • Proposal author will receive an automated email notifying them that the proposal has been rolled back. A detailed explanation for the rollback will be included in the email. 
  • Proposal author may then revise proposal in light of committee concerns and resubmit it. Depending on the change, the resubmitted proposal may require re-review by the chair, registrar, catalog editor, and committee.  

What are the most common reasons that the committee rolls back a proposal for revisions and resubmission?

  1. Incomplete information, especially missing or incomplete descriptions of why the change is being requested, missing context for the change (i.e., how the change affects a program requirement), and missing approval from department chairs or other necessary signatories.
  2. Inconsistent information between proposed change and supporting documentation.
  3. More explanation is needed regarding the purpose, structure, conceptual framework, grading policy, major assignments, readings, and/or resources.
  4. Missing, outdated, or incomplete syllabus (see syllabus guidelines)
  5. Missing program change form (Must be included with all change proposals to required courses and uploaded along with syllabus into the Course Inventory Manager (CIM))
  6. Forms turned in after February 1.