(1) Initiation of General Education Requirement Changes. Individuals proposing general education curriculum, will submit a completed general education rationale proposal through Curriculog to the general education committee (process will go through normal approvals). After the general education committee acts on the proposal and, if approved, the chair of the general education committee completes a program change proposal and submits it through Curriculog to the FSCC chair.

If a proposed addition is a new course or an existing course with changes, the initial approval for the individual course first rests with the faculty senate curriculum committee. After the course has been approved, the originating department attaches the general education rationale proposal and description of the proposed change to the general education committee. After the general education committee acts on the proposal and, if approved, the chair of the general education committee submits a general education program change proposal and submits it through Curriculog it to the FSCC chair.

The FSCC lists the general education program change in the curriculum summary log. The academic community has two weeks to respond to the curriculum summary log. Following the two weeks, the FSCC acts on the proposal, the chair adds a memo documenting curriculum committee action, and he/she sends it to the general education committee chair to be placed on the faculty senate agenda for action. The faculty senate chair then submits the faculty senate action to the provost.

(2) Timeline. 

(A) Provided that proposals do not require clarification and revision, they should proceed through the process without delay in one quarter or less. Extended time may be needed for proposals which must be reviewed by teacher education executive council, the general education committee, graduate council, the faculty senate, and the BOT. The originator has the responsibility to track the progress of the curriculum movement through Curriculog. Curriculum proposals should not remain in any campus office more than 15 calendar days.

(B) Proposals should follow the catalog deadlines posted by the FSCC for the next academic year.

(3) Review Process. The process must include checks for (a) consistency of course/program with department goals, (b) academic integrity, (c) clarity of student learning outcomes and assessment plans and (d) availability of sufficient funds. New degree programs are forwarded to the associate provost for review of completeness according to NWCCU requirements. If additional information is required, the proposal will be returned to the dean. If the proposal is complete and ready to submit, the department will launch the new program through Curriculog and will follow appropriate approval steps. All curriculum proposals are forwarded to registrar services. The proposals are checked for availability of course number, clarity and accuracy of course description, title, credits, cross listings, and arithmetic. If errors have been identified the proposals are returned to the originator to make corrections or additions. When appropriate, registrar services send the proposal to teacher education executive council and/or to the graduate office. Upon approval by the graduate office and/or teacher education executive council, the proposal is sent to the associate provost’s office. The associate provost’s office prepares a curriculum summary log and/or an agenda for review by the FSCC. Once reviewed, the log/agenda is distributed electronically to the academic community before action by the FSCC and/or the faculty senate. New degree program proposals are reviewed by the board of trustees. Rejected proposals will be returned to the originator with an explanation.

(4) Creation of new prefixes. A new prefix must be approved by the FSCC and the faculty senate before any course using that prefix can be used. 

(5) Any member of the academic community can request a hold on FSCC action by submitting a completed hold petition form.

The hold petition form requires a justification for the hold, a list of the affected department(s), and written, dated proof of notification of the affected department(s) and dean(s). The form must be submitted to the academic planning office by the Monday prior to the next FSCC meeting.

The party originating the hold must notify the affected department(s) of the justification for the hold. A memo of resolution must be submitted to the FSCC within two weeks after the hold has been recorded. If a resolution has not taken place, a representative for the department(s) involved will appear before the FSCC for a decision at the next scheduled FSCC meeting.

(6) Curriculum summary logs/agendas, which are compiled in the associate provost’s office, will be used to notify the academic community.

(7) Items appearing on the curriculum summary log  (except those requiring approval by the faculty senate) will be approved automatically on the proposed approval date unless a completed hold petition has been received according to 2-50-040(4). The proposed approval date, assigned in the provost's office, is the date of the FSCC meeting immediately following the day the committee first reviews the log (notification date on the log). The time between the notification date and the proposed approval date will be at least two weeks.  If concerns are raised, approval may be delayed while the curriculum committee contacts the originator of the proposal and concerned departments.

(8) Emergency Approval Process. A curriculum proposal received during the summer that has been reviewed by the appropriate steps in Curriculog (e.g., teacher education executive council, graduate studies, international studies, etc.) AND has an explanation of the need for an emergency approval, will be considered by the FSCC. If the FSCC chair determines that emergency review is appropriate, the members of the FSCC will receive an email notification from the faculty senate office and the Curriculog proposal. Available committee members will review the proposal and return a vote to approve or disapprove to the faculty senate office. A minimum of three votes must be received. If the proposal is approved notification will be sent to the department and registrar services. 

Emergency approvals are temporary and will expire at the conclusion of the academic year.

(9) Implementation. Curriculum changes will be implemented by registrar services as follows:

1. New programs will be implemented upon approval by the BOT and NWCCU.

2. Changes to existing programs, and general education requirements will be implemented in the fall quarter following publication in the official electronic catalog.

3. Changes to the general education program will be implemented in the fall quarter following publication in the official electronic catalog. Courses added to the program may be used by students regardless of the student’s program year, as long as the student takes the course after it is added to the general education program. Courses moved between general education components will be applied to the student’s academic requirements report based on student’s program year.

4. Individual course changes will be implemented upon approval. Once registration has begun, course changes involving prefix, number, title, credit, pre-requisites, and/or grade options will be activated the subsequent quarter unless a later period is specified.

5. New courses will be implemented upon approval by the FSCC.

6. New specializations, minors, certificates, and prefixes will be implemented upon approval by the faculty senate.

7. Curriculum policy changes shall not be applied retroactively.

8. Changes to curriculum policy and procedures shall take effect the following catalog year. The faculty senate may grant exceptions to this policy when the faculty senate determines that immediate implementation of a policy change is warranted.

[Responsibility: Faculty Senate; Authority: Provost/VP for Academic & Student Life; Reviewed/Endorsed by Provost’s Council 08/09/2016: Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 10/21/2016; 4/17/2019; 11/04/2020; 03/20/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]