CURRICULUM
PREPARING CURRICULUM CHANGES
Definitions and process overview
Timelines for curricular changes to take effect
Deadlines
Category A: Curricular changes involving more than one academic unit, new programs, substantial program revisions, and proposal to offer a program outside Alaska
Criteria
Process overview
Procedures
BOR requirements for new programs and changes to existing programs
Category B: Curricular changes within an academic unit
Criteria
Process overview
Procedures
Category C: Minor changes not needing Faculty Senate or Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee approval
Forms
BOR requirements for inactive and discontinued programs
DEFINITIONS AND PROCESS OVERVIEW
New program proposals for occupational endorsements, certificates, associate, bachelor's, master's, graduate certificates, post-baccalaureate certificates, substantial program revisions, changes in majors and minors, deletion of programs and offering programs outside Alaska need both Departmental and School Dean approval before being forwarded to the Faculty Senate. The Senate conducts a general policy review of the degree proposal with regards to the University of Alaska Southeast's mission statement and strategic plan. The Senate will also consider budgets, faculty resources, and any other factors it considers pertinent. If the general concept of the new program is approved, these proposals may be forwarded to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee for detailed review according to curriculum guidelines and to ensure that appropriate changes are implemented in the catalog. The appropriate Committee will review the specific degree proposal materials and report to the Senate its recommendation. The Senate recommends to the Provost that approved degree programs be presented to the Board of Regents, except for Occupational Endorsements, which are forwarded to the Chancellor for approval.
Changes to programs meet criteria for either Category A, B, or C below.
Category A proposals need Faculty Senate approval before being sent to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee for detailed review according to curriculum guidelines and to ensure that appropriate changes are implemented in the catalog. Such proposals are returned to the Senate for final approval before being recommended to the Provost.
Category B proposals may be sent directly to the undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee for detailed review according to curriculum guidelines and to ensure that appropriate changes are implemented in the catalog.
Category C proposals may be sent directly to the Registrar to ensure that appropriate changes are implemented in the catalog.
TIMELINES FOR CURRICULAR CHANGES TO TAKE EFFECT
New programs, program deletions, substantial program revisions (as determined by the Provost), and offering of existing programs outside the state of Alaska must be approved by the UA President and the Board of Regents (BOR). They will also be reviewed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) during a subsequent program review. The NWCCU must be informed of major program additions or deletions by March 15 prior to its annual June meeting.
The Board of Regents meets five times a year: September, December, February, April and June. Proposals requiring BOR action must have received UAS and Systemwide Academic Council (SAC) approval at least six weeks prior to a scheduled BOR meeting.
Program Creation and Approval Process Chart (.doc)
DEADLINES FOR ALL CURRICULAR CHANGES
1. All proposals must be received at the Provost's Office by September 15 in order to be processed through all stages prior to the catalog preparation deadline.
2. All curriculum changes must be approved through the appropriate Curriculum Committee by February 15.
3. Proposals must be received at the Provost's office by March 1 in order to be reviewed by the Committee in the spring. However, if approved, these proposals will not be included in the next printed catalog, but will be included in the online academic catalog.
4. Faculty and student advisors should consult the online UAS Academic Catalog for the most current information.
Category A: Curriculum Changes Involving More Than One Academic Unit (Academic unit - faculty offering programs in an academic discipline: Natural Science, Social Science, Humanities, Career Education, Management, Information Systems, Education)
Criteria:
Proposals that impact more than one academic unit must be submitted to the Faculty Senate for recommendation to proceed prior to being reviewed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee. Instances include proposals for:
- Changes in the GERs;
- Adding new occupational endorsement, certificate, associate, baccalaureate, master's, graduate certificate, or post-baccalaureate certificate programs OR deleting/suspending such programs;
- Adding/dropping courses to any of the aforementioned programs, if those courses are not taught by faculty within the program's academic unit;
- Changing course prerequisites, if the prerequisite course(s) is/are not taught by faculty within the program's academic unit
Process overview:
These proposals are first reviewed by the Faculty Senate and must be approved before the academic unit's representative on a curriculum committee may forward the proposal to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee. Once approved in principle by the Senate, the Committee undertakes a detailed review according to the curriculum guidelines and ensures that appropriate changes will be implemented in the catalog. The committee reports its recommendations to the Senate, which must give final approval to Faculty Senate Program Proposals and BOR Program Proposals before providing the Provost with a recommendation.
Special note: In developing new courses, UAA and UAF catalogs should be consulted. In cases where similar courses exist at UAA or UAF, faculty should consider using the same course number, title and description. Similarities and clear distinctions need to be maintained among lower division, upper division, and graduate course numbering within UAS and UA Banner Student Information systems. Those with access to Banner may consult it directly. To avoid delays, consultation should be undertaken with the UAS Registrar prior to submission of forms.
Procedures for Category A proposals:
For new programs, fill out:
Category A New Program Proposal form
and
BOR Program Approval Summary Form (hexagon form)
and
Category A New Course Proposal form for each new course.
For substantial changes to existing programs or majors: fill out Category A Curriculum Change Proposal form.
Step One. Proposals must first be approved by the academic unit from which the degree will originate and must have a Dean's signature on all required forms before being submitted to the President of Faculty Senate.
Step Two. The required proposal form(s) should be sent to the President of the Faculty Senate to be added to the Senate agenda. The proposal form(s) and any appended information packet should include
a) a brief rationale for the new program or change and an estimate of potential student numbers
b) a list of the specific course requirements for the program or changes in prerequisites(s)
c) a discussion of additional resources needed for the new program or change, including additional faculty, library holdings, special equipment, etc.
d) a concise assessment of the impact of the proposed program or change on other faculty groups in areas such as in the GERs and new required support courses
e) evidence that faculty in other academic units have been consulted
f) category A form(s) with appropriate signatures
Step Three. The Faculty Senate reviews the proposal in light of the University of Alaska Southeast's Mission Statement and Strategic Plan. The Senate will also consider the items listed in Step 2 above: budgets, faculty resources, and any other factors it considers pertinent. If the general concept of the new program or program change is approved, then the originating faculty member should forward specific catalog copy and course proposals to the Chair of the undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee by the deadline (see above - Deadlines for All Curricular Changes).
Step Four. The appropriate Committee will review the proposal details and report its recommendation to the Senate.
Step Five. For certificate, associate, bachelor's, graduate certificate, and master's programs, the Faculty Senate recommends to the Provost that an approved new program or substantial revision to an existing program be presented to the Board of Regents. The Provost determines whether or not proposed changes to an existing program are significant enough to warrant Board of Regents consideration. The President of the Senate will notify the Provost of the Senate recommendation via a transmittal letter issued within 5 working days of Senate approval. Category A proposals are then forwarded through the Chancellor to Systemwide Academic Council (SAC), and ultimately to the Board of Regents.
Step Six. See below for Board of Regents (BOR) proposal packet requirements.
Occupational Endorsements (9-29 credits) and Workforce Credentials require SAC review and the Chancellor's approval. The Senate will make its recommendation to the Provost for conveyance to the Chancellor.
BOR requirements for justifying new programs or substantial changes to existing programs
The following is University Regulation 10.04.020 for program additions, deletions, or substantial changes that require Board of Regents approval. Proposals must include the forms as stated above AND a proposal addressing the appropriate points set in UA Regulation. The complete proposal packet is submitted to SAC by the Provost's Office.
Category B: Curriculum Changes within an Academic Unit
Criteria:
If the proposal changes curriculum within an academic unit or changes prerequisites that are offered by the same academic unit, then the proposed change qualifies as a Category B change. Instances include proposals for:
- changes in the organization of GERs within an academic unit;
- proposals for new courses or course deletions within an academic unit;
- changing course prerequisites or credit hours, if the courses(s) is/are taught by faculty within the program's academic unit
Process Overview:
Proposals are submitted directly to the appropriate Curriculum Committee using approved online forms.
Procedures for Category B proposals:
For new courses, fill out Category B New Course Proposal form.
For changes to courses already offered by an academic unit (e.g. changing credit hours or course topics), fill out Category B Curriculum Change Proposal form.
Step One. Initiating faculty develops a proposal and coordinates it with faculty within the academic unit for all campuses. They submit the appropriate Category B Proposal form to the Department Chair and appropriate Dean for signatures.
Step Two. If consensus is reached, the academic unit's representative to the undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee is responsible for forwarding a Category B proposal to the Registrar for a review of system issues (e.g. course level and numbering). After review by the Registrar, the unit's representative may forward the form, which includes specific catalog-ready copy, to the Chair of the Curriculum Committee by the deadline for 1st reading.
Note that proposals for minors must include:
a) a mission statement
b) program goals
c) expected student outcomes
d) assurance that full-time tenure-track faculty in the program will assume responsibility for the minor
The courses that make up the proposed minor should be existing catalog courses, with the possible exception that an introductory or capstone course may be needed to give coherence. If a new course is needed, approval for the course should be sought at the same time that approval is sought for the minor.
Step Three. The sponsoring academic unit's representative to the appropriate Committee articulates the proposal and follows up on issues raised prior to 2nd readings.
Step Four. Committee action occurs at the 2nd reading. If approved, the proposal is forwarded to the Provost for implementation in coordination with the Dean.
Category C: Minor Curriculum Changes (e.g. course description, layout of program information, faculty listings)
Procedures for Category C proposals:
Step One. Initiating faculty member completes a Category C Minor Curriculum Change Proposal Form.
Step Two. Faculty member receives signatures of approval from the Department Chair and School Dean.
Step Three. Faculty member submits proposal form to the Registrar.
FORMS FOR ALL CURRICULAR CHANGES
All forms are available from the Curriculum Committee Website.
www.uas.alaska.edu/Curriculum/
Category A Forms:
Category A New Program Proposal form - Use this form for new programs or substantial changes to existing programs that meet criteria for Category A above. These changes need to go through Faculty Senate prior to going before the appropriate Curriculum Committee.
Category A New Course Proposal form - Use this form for new courses or course changes for which Category A criteria apply. These changes need to go through Faculty Senate prior to going before the undergraduate Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee.
Category A Curriculum Change Proposal form - Use this form for course deletions or significant changes to existing courses (e.g. course credit, syllabus) that meet criteria for Category A above. Category proposals must be submitted to Faculty Senate before going to the appropriate Curriculum Committee.
BOR Program Approval Summary form (hexagon form) - Use this form to obtain Board of Regents approval of new programs, or if the Provost determines that proposed changes to an existing program are significant enough to warrant BOR consideration.
Category B Forms:
Category B New Course Proposal form - Use this form for new courses that meet criteria for Category B above.
Category B Curriculum Change Proposal form - Use this form for course deletions or significant changes to existing courses (e.g. course credit, syllabus) that meet criteria for Category B above. Category B proposals may be submitted directly to the Chair of the appropriate Curriculum Committee by the deadline for first reading.
Category C Form:
Category C Minor Curriculum Change Proposal form - use this form for changes in catalog copy (e.g. course description, layout of program information, faculty listings). This form may be submitted directly to the Registrar.
BOARD OF REGENTS - Inactive and Deleted Programs
Programs placed on "Inactive Status" will be suspended for a specified period not to exceed five years. Students in the program at the time this status is adopted shall be permitted to conclude their course of study, but no new students may be admitted to the program. Students are to be notified by the Provost at the time the program is placed in Inactive Status and a deadline set for remaining students to complete the program. Programs designated as "Inactive" will be so noted on institutional program inventories. At the conclusion of the designated inactive period - not to exceed five years - the institution must review the program's status and may either delete it or reactivate it. In the event the institution chooses to reactivate the program, the institution shall provide the Board of Regents with satisfactory evidence that the resources necessary for the program are available and must establish performance goals for the program that are also acceptable to the Board.
Deletion of Programs: Category A or Category B forms must be submitted to the Faculty Senate and/or Curriculum Committee or Graduate Committee, as appropriate, whenever a program or option is deleted. This same provision applies whenever two or more programs or options are consolidated into one or more new offerings.
See UA Regulation 10.04.020 for requirements for program deletion.