Academic Programs: Modifying the Curriculum

Overview

Significant Changes in an Academic Program
Other Changes in an Academic Program
Discontinuance of an Academic Program

Significant Changes in an Academic Program
Process

When a department or program proposes a significant change to a major or to another academic program, the DEO should review the proposed revision with the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, Helena Dettmer (or with her staff), as soon as possible.

The Associate Dean will decide whether a particular change requires further review.

The Educational Policy Committee must review most curricular changes, including the addition of a track to an existing major; the addition of cognate courses to a major or track; the addition of credit hours to the track or major; or any other similar addition or revision. In most cases, the review process concludes with a discussion with the Associate Dean and with EPC.

Academic areas with selective admission or limited enrollment majors must have additional approval by the College for any change in the criteria for admission or continuation in the major or track. Proposed changes must follow the CLAS selective and limited enrollment policies and guidelines.

Guidelines
  1. Many of the guidelines for the implementation of new majors should be considered when proposing signification changes the curriculum.
  2. A student is never held to requirements adopted after a major or minor has been declared by that student or after enrollment by that student in a certificate program.
  3. Students may continue to declare the major or program until the new requirements are implemented on first day of the fall semester following approval.
  4. If requirements change, a student may choose to complete the new requirements but is not obligated to do so. A department making curricular changes should ensure that students understand this option, noting this on the departmental web site and in the General Catalog. Students wanting to switch to the new requirements should notify Graduation Analysis.
  5. The department in conjunction with the College must decide upon a reasonable date after which a degree will no longer be granted under the old requirements. Traditionally, this occurs four years from the implementation of the change. Thus the last day for degree conferral of a closed major generally occurs on the last business day before the beginning of the fall semester four years from the implementation date of the change.
  6. Almost all curricular changes must be approved before February 15, the traditional deadline for Catalog revisions.
  7. The Catalog is an important resource for advising and contains the official requirements for all majors, minors, and certificates. The analysis of student records to verify the completion of graduation requirements is based on the information in the General Catalog. Program changes may not be implemented until the first day of the fall semester when their appearance in the updated Catalog is assured. Academic programs may, however, alert their students to anticipated changes to a program on the appropriate web site, reminding students of sunset dates and requirement options (see above).
  8. Closed programs should be maintained in the General Catalog and the departmental web site, with a clear indication of their status, until the sunset date has occurred. After their removal from the most current catalog, previous requirements may found in the pdf copies of outdated catalogs, available from the Registrar's home page and maintained as a historical record of the curriculum.
Name Changes

To change the name of an academic program, the DEO submits a written proposal to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum, who consults EPC on the proposal.

To change the name of the department or unit, the DEO submits a written proposal with rationale to the Dean of the College, who consults the Executive Committee.

If approved in the appropriate elected committee, the request for either type of name change is sent to the Faculty Assembly, the Provost, and the Board of Regents for approval. 

This process generally takes more than six months and areas are advised to begin it as soon as possible by consulting with the appropriate dean.

 

Other Changes in an Academic Program

Small curricular changes in existing programs do not require a review by EPC. Revisions must be made by February 15 to the General Catalog. These changes take effect at the beginning of a new academic year on the first day of the Fall semester.

The DEO should inform the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum of the change.

Any needed Course Approval Forms must be submitted to meet the February 15 deadline for curricular changes to take effect during the Fall semester. Please see items 2-5, above.

Discontinuance of an Academic Program

A request to discontinue a major or other academic program requires the same approval process as for the implementation of a new major.

Departments are encouraged to consult with the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum before and during the creation of the proposal to terminate an academic program.

Equitable provisions must be created for students in the program, including a reasonable date after which the program will no longer be available. This sunset date is generally four years from the first day of the Fall semester following the approval of the proposal to eliminate the major.

After the last day before the fall semester begins following the approval of the proposal to terminate the major, students may no longer declare that major. Until that date occurs, students may enroll in the program.

Returning students, who previously had declared the major in question and who wish to continue the program upon their return, should be counseled by the department on whether or not the program may be completed by the sunset deadline.

The entry in the General Catalog on the discontinued program must continue to be published with proper warning of the upcoming sunset deadline until the sunset date has occurred.

Academic units should work closely with CLAS to make sure termination information is available on all relevant web sites and that all involved faculty and academic advisors as well as Admissions and the Registrar are aware of the final date to end the major.