University of Wisconsin - Stout

Process for Development and Approval

Initiator

Initiator may be one or more faculty members, administrators, students or classified employees. The need for a new course can be based upon one or a combination of several factors:

  1. A program director, with the program committee, has identified certain competencies which are needed by graduates of that program and which can best be met by the development of a new course.
  2. An individual or department determines that there is a need to offer experiences not a part of present offerings.
  3. A specific minor or sequence of courses requires the addition of a new set of experiences.

The following should be done/completed early in the developmental stages of the new course:

  1. Use the New Course Cover Sheet [PDF] format as a guide in course development. Also become acquainted with the steps to be followed, as outlined in this document, so as to know the various requirements to be met and the concerns to be satisfied in the approval process.
  2. Determine if there is overlap or duplication with existing offerings. Contact departments with similar or related offerings to ascertain if the duplication is significant, to resolve possible conflicts, or to obtain agreement that no significant overlap exists.
  3. For general education courses, review the general education philosophy, objectives and category definitions. Relate these to the course objectives. It is best to consult with a member of the GE committee while the course is being developed.
  4. For ethnic studies courses, review the ethnic studies philosophy, objectives and category definitions. Relate these to the course objectives. It is best to consult with a member of the Design for Diversity Curricular Advisory Committee while the course is being developed.
  5. Program directors of programs that utilize the course should be consulted early to obtain information regarding need for and usage of the course. Other potential users, such as Continuing Education, should be similarly consulted.
  6. Discuss the budgetary and resource ramifications of the course early with department chair and Library Learning Center.

Associate Vice Chancellor aids in development as needed

The associate vice chancellor does not have the prerogative of approving or disapproving new courses but does have the responsibility of assisting proposers with the development of courses in an advisory capacity, as outlined below:

  1. Will provide advice and consultation concerning the formats, the process, and other aspects of the requirements for approval of a new course.
  2. Will assist in determining the relationship of the proposed course with other existing courses (proper housing of course, help in checking possible overlap or duplication or possible conflict).
  3. Will coordinate the development of the course if course is determined to be transdisciplinary in nature (involving two or more departments, or not clearly involving one department or college, as determined by process). Courses not housed in a college may be housed under the responsibility of the provost acting as the initial approver of the course. This is done only in rare instances.
  4. Will assist with scheduling for submission to necessary approval committees.

Department (or unit) develops and approves new course proposal

The ultimate responsibility for developing a new course resides in the department responsible for the body of knowledge represented in the course. Departments are responsible for the development of new courses as needed for degree programs if such instruction is possible and at such times when necessary resources are available.

The development of the course will follow the new course proposal format. The department may designate one or more persons who will be responsible for the development of the course and who will follow the proposal through the various approval steps. This person will be the course proposer and may or may not be the initiator.

The course proposer and department chair will review the proposal with the department. The signature of the chair on the signature sheet will indicate departmental approval of the course.

The initiator and proposer of a course are to be notified of the department's action, and of any subsequent action which must be done.

Once approved, the proposal will be submitted by the department chair to the appropriate college council for the next approval step.

In the case of a course identified as transdisciplinary, with the curricular area of 500, the provost will assume the same responsibility as the department and college in approving proposals at this level, and at the college level.

Appropriate college council and dean review and approve new course proposal

Each new course will be reviewed by the college council of the college in which the course will be housed. The council will ascertain if the proposed course:

  1. Is completely and clearly defined as required in the new course proposal format.
  2. Clearly communicates the objectives of the course.
  3. Overlaps with or duplicates other offerings within the university.
  4. Should, because of its content, be the responsibility of the proposing agency.
  5. Has adequate support in terms of resources.
  6. Is numbered for offering at the appropriate level.
  7. Fulfills a significant need.

The signature of the dean on the signature sheet indicates approval of the college council and dean. The course initiator and proposer are to be informed of the action of the council and of any subsequent action to be taken. If the course is approved, the proposer continues with the routing of the course through the next steps.

General Education Committee

The GEC approves new General Education courses to be sure they meet GE objectives, definitions, and category criteria. The proposer may be requested to present the course to the GEC.

A plan for assessment should be included. Be sure that the proposal includes a list of the GE objectives addressed by the course. For more information, link to GE Classification and Assessment .

GE courses should include the General Education Committee Approval sheet . Fill in as much as possible for the course and follow instructions for content inclusion.

 

Ethnic Studies Courses

Courses that satisfy the ethnic studies requirement are categorized as either A, B, or C level courses. They deal in some aspect with sensitivity to African American, Asian American, Hispanic and Native American cultures. As an overall goal they are expected to discourage racism and thus reduce its effects and to promote appreciation of ethnic diversity as it is manifested in non-white groups.

Departments wishing new or existing classes to be considered for inclusion on the approved list of ethnic studies courses should submit the course (or revised course) to the CIC in the same way as other new courses or revisions. The appropriate box should be checked in the course cover sheet and a suggested category designation made for the course. The Ethnic Studies Curriculum Advisory Committee will meet to review the material and recommend to the CIC a category designation. Proposers may be asked to meet with the advisory group to explain how the course relates to the ethnic studies categories.

 

Graduate Education Committee

The Graduate Education Committee acts on requests for approval of new graduate courses. Approved courses are forwarded to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee. A member of the Graduate Education Committee is elected to serve on the Curriculum and Instruction Committee to represent concerns of the GrEC.

In the case of graduate courses, the following points will be considered:

  1. The course is not identical with another course offered for undergraduate credit in the university.
  2. The course ordinarily would be taught on the basis of previous work and prior knowledge, and be other than a preliminary introductory course at a basic level.
  3. The maturity level of the students enrolled may be considered.
  4. The level of abstract thinking required may be greater than that of the usual undergraduate course.
  5. The extent of the content covered (the total amount to be learned) may be greater than in an ordinary undergraduate course.
  6. More independent study may be required on the part of the student; the learning experience may be classifiable as a synthesizing experience.
  7. The suitability of the text, or the availability of supplementary texts, should be commensurate with the level of the course.
  8. The course will be utilized in one or more graduate level degree programs. In those instances in which the course will not be so utilized, the provost will consider the appropriateness of the course at the level proposed and whether or not the course is within the mission of the university.

 

Curriculum and Instruction Committee

Copies will be furnished to the associate vice chancellor by the proposer as specified in the Curriculum Handbook, Instructions for Submitting Curriculum Items to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee. Proposals will be submitted with the new course proposal and with all necessary approval signatures completed on the cover sheet [PDF]. The associate vice chancellor will place the course proposal on the agenda of the committee meeting and will distribute copies to members for study prior to the meeting at which the course will be considered. One of the copies of the proposal should have original signatures. It will become part of the permanent file of the Provost's Office.

The Curriculum and Instruction Committee reviews the proposal as stated in the Bylaws of that committee. Course proposers are expected to be at the meeting at which the proposal will be considered to explain and answer questions regarding the proposal.

Recommendations (actions) of the committee will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.

Provost

The associate vice chancellor will submit the recommendations/actions of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee, along with all course proposals, to the provost for consideration and action.

The provost will review the courses to ascertain whether:

  1. Courses are following a consistent pattern, or if there is justification for any inconsistency.
  2. There is a sequence of courses developing which may eventuate in a major or minor.
  3. The course is an elective or a required course in a program.
  4. The course will require budgetary adjustments.
  5. The course is offered at the appropriate level.

Chancellor

The associate vice chancellor will forward the minutes and materials plus the recommendations of the provost to the chancellor for final action. The chancellor is to ascertain if:

  1. Proper approval procedures have been followed.
  2. The course is consistent with the mission of the university.
  3. A new and different sequence of courses is developing that may require the approval of the Board of Regents or Central Administration.
  4. Based upon the recommendations of the provost, there will be necessary budgetary, personnel, and/or facility adjustments.
  5. The course is following a pattern that is consistent with changes taking place in the university system.

If modifications are recommended by the provost or chancellor, the associate vice chancellor will inform the Curriculum and Instruction Committee. The proposer, department and appropriate dean(s) will be similarly notified.

Final action of the chancellor will be reported back to the provost and will also become part of the record, along with the minutes from previous committees, to be housed in the Provost's Office.

The Associate Vice Chancellor distributes copies of minutes, materials, and summaries. Copies of the CIC minutes, and all materials covered in the minutes, along with copies of the final approval sheet with the signatures and recommendations of the provost and chancellor, will be filed in the Provost's Office and sent to the Registrar, the Library Learning Center, and each college.

 

Department places new (approved) course in departmental course files

Once final approval is received, the department housing the course is to place copies of the complete proposal in teh departmental course files.

All departments are to maintain an up-to-date file of all approved courses. Revisions of approved courses are not to be made without completing the approval procedures for a course revision as contained in the university Curriculum Handbook.

 

Exception to the approval process: One-time only courses

In very rare instances the provost may give tentative approval of a course without the course having first been processed through the required approval steps. In such instances, the dean of the college in which the proposed course is to be housed will petition the provost in writing (by memo) to approve the course by exception. Course documentation must be as complete as possible, using new course forms and format. All of the following conditions shall apply:

  1. Circumstances beyond the control of the proposer and department did not allow time for the course to be submitted through the normal approval process before the course is to be offered. Lack of planning or knowledge of the submission deadlines are not valid reasons. An example of when an exception may be considered is when a request for a course comes from outside of the university for offering at a time which does not allow for submitting the course through all the required steps.
  2. The need for the course is valid and well documented.
  3. The scheduling of the course cannot be delayed to allow for the normal processing of the course through the approval steps.

If the provost approves the course, the following is stipulated:

  1. The course may be taught once or twice, if justified. If it is desired to schedule the course for further offering, the course must be processed and approved through the normal channels.
  2. The course proposal and the written approval of the provost will be submitted to all approving agencies as an item of information and record.
  3. The associate vice chancellor will keep a special record of such courses and approvals by exception with the course inventory in the Provost's Office.