Course Approval Process
Starting in Spring 2012, all faculty are eligible, with Department Chair or Program Director approval, to submit a proposal to teach a course in the Core. In this process courses are being proposed and accepted, not individual course syllabi or section of the course. For instance, if a department wishes to have a course approved for the Core, the department will submit one faculty member’s course proposal. Acceptance of the proposal will indicate that that course has been accepted for the Core. It is up to the departments to ensure that all offerings of the approved course (i.e., if offered by different instructors) comply with the goals of the Core area being covered by the course. Ideally, departments in consultation with Deans, will make decisions about what department courses will be proposed for the Core, and how many Core classes will be taught by department faculty. Every five years a Core course will go through a review process to make certain the course continues to comply with these goals.
The process of approval of First-Year Seminar and Rhetorical Arts courses will be different. These courses will have common course numbers, so on an interim basis, approval is needed for every section of these courses that will be taught.
To have a course approved for inclusion in the new Core, faculty will have to propose classes that are consistent with the criteria developed for each category in the Core. The course proposal must address the following areas:
- Course Description
- Learning Outcomes
- Defining Characteristics
- Assessment Plan
NOTE: No syllabus is required for Course Proposal.
Course proposals need to meet the Criteria developed for the respective Area Requirement. Course proposals require the approval of the faculty member's Chair and Dean, prior to submission to the UCCC.
Approval Process for New Core Courses
Because the implementation of the new Core will require the approval of hundreds of new courses, five temporary sub-committees under the University Core Curriculum Committee will be formed during the two-year implementation period to expedite approval of these courses. After this implementation period, approval of new Core courses will revert to the University Core Curriculum Committee. These temporary subcommittees will have a membership of five to nine faculty whose composition is outlined below. The membership of these subcommittees is intended to have the broadest representation of members from across the university. In designing the subcommittees the goal is to have balance in faculty representation from across the University. Each of the approval subcommittees is charged with approving courses for a particular area of the Core based solely on the course fulfilling the established criteria for that area. These committees have the ability to accept or reject the course, and can send proposals back for revision or clarification, if necessary.
| COURSE APPROVAL SUBCOMMITTEES | COMPOSITION |
| First Year Experience Approval Subcommittee. This committee will approve the First Year Seminar and Rhetorical Arts courses taken by first year students. | Nine faculty: The committee will have one member from English who focuses on teaching writing skills and one member from Communication Arts who focuses on teaching speaking skills. The committee will have seven additional members, at least one from each college and school (BCLA, CFA, SCE , CBA, and SFTV). |
| Foundations Approval Subcommittee. | Seven faculty: The membership of this committee shall have four members, one each with experience and a teaching interest (broadly defined) in the areas of quantitative reasoning, theological inquiry, philosophical inquiry, and studies in American diversity. Three additional faculty members, one each from CBA, CFA and SFTV (schools and colleges not represented by the aforementioned four), will fill out the committee. This committee will also approve flags for Foundations courses that are seeking flags. |
| Explorations Approval Subcommittee. | Five to Seven faculty: This committee will approve the Explorations courses. The committee will have one faculty with experience and a teaching interest (broadly defined) in each of the Exploration categories (creative arts, history, science/engineering/mathematics, and the social sciences). Additional members, one from CBA and one each from any college or school not represented in the above list. This committee will also approve flags for Explorations courses that are seeking flags. |
| Integrations Approval Subcommittee. This committee will approve courses under all three types of Integrations requirements. | Seven faculty: The committee will have two faculty members with experience and a teaching interest (broadly defined) in faith and reason and ethics and justice. Each of the remaining five faculty members will represent one of the undergraduate Schools and Colleges (BCLA, CFA, CSE, CBA and SFTV) and will be drawn from departments not represented by the faculty with experience focusing on faith and reason or ethics and justice. This committee will also approve flags for Integrations courses that are seeking flags. |
| Flagged Courses Approval Subcommittee: This committee will approve courses that are only seeking any of the five flags but are otherwise not Core courses. | Five faculty: The committee will have representation from each of the five undergraduate colleges and schools. The experience and teaching interests of the faculty selected should encourage coverage of each of the flag designations: writing, oral skills, information literacy, quantitative reasoning and engaged learning. |
The CITF will select members of these subcommittees in consultation with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.
Timeline
The Course approval process for the initial implementation of the Core will begin in Spring, 2012, and extend through Fall, 2013. The following are dates by which course proposals can be submitted to the University Core Curriculum Committee.
Course proposal deadlines:
- Spring, 2012*: March 19 and April 20 (with notification to applicants about the status of the course proposal by May 15, 2012)
- Fall, 2012*: September 19 and October 17 (with notification to applicants about the status of the course proposal by December 1, 2012)
*These dates are tentative and may be revised by the Implementation Task Force.
Integrations course proposals will be accepted during the time-line noted above, but will have extended time for completion as a full schedule of proposed Integrations courses will not be needed until the end of Fall semester, 2013.