Changes of Curriculum (Procedure 4.0600)

Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to designate a process by which curriculum changes are requested both to existing programs and courses, and the addition of new courses and programs for Seminole State College postsecondary offerings. 

Definitions

1. Curriculum changes include the following categories of activity:
   1. Changes to graduation requirements of a curriculum, including changes in the General Education components of programs, degrees, certificates, and diplomas
   2. Addition, inactivation, and/or deletion of courses in a curriculum,
   3. Changes in course title, prefix and number, catalog description, course objectives, credit hours/contact hours, co/prerequisites, elective status, inclusion in or deletion from the General Education core,
   4. Introduction of new courses and programs to the College,
   5. Suspension or deletion of programs offered by the College,
   6. Curriculum related substantive changes which require SACS notification and/or approval, including but not limited to the following:
      1. Initiating coursework or programs at a more advanced level than currently approved
      2. Expanding a current degree level (significant departure from current programs)
      3. Initiating joint degrees with another institution
      4. Initiating off-campus sites (including Early College/Dual Enrollment at the high school.
      5. Relocating an off-campus instructional site.
      6. When 25% to 49% of the coursework required for a certificate or degree program is offered online or offsite.
      7. When 50% or more of a certificate or degree program can be offered online or offsite.
      8. Initiating degree completion programs
      9. When adding significantly different programs to the academic curriculum.
      10. Initiating programs/courses offered through contractual agreement or consortium.
      11. Altering significantly the educational mission of the institution.
2. Initiator
   1. Any individual within Academic Affairs recommending changes to the curriculum offerings of a department.
3. Global Course Substitution:
   1. Global course substitution is an approved substitution by the department to allow newer versions of similar courses to satisfy requirements in older requirement terms.  Global course substitutions also allow older courses to satisfy new requirements for students that may have left a program and are returning with older credits and/or students updating to the newer catalog.  The Global Course Substitution is placed within the degree audit and minimizes the number of individual course substitutions for students affected by curriculum changes.

Procedure

1. Any initiator recommending changes to the curriculum offerings of an academic department shall submit a proposal to the Dean.
   1. For new courses or changes to a course the initiator will complete the appropriate Curriculum Action form in its entirety and forward to the Dean for approval.
   2. For new programs or changes to an existing program the initiator will complete the appropriate Curriculum Action form and updated Program Template in its entirety and forward to the Dean for approval.
      1. Electronic copy of Program Template should be forwarded to Office of Course and Curriculum Development upon approval.
      2. Provision for Global Course Substitutions should be documented on the Curriculum Action form.
2. Dean Review
   1. The Dean will review the submitted Curriculum Action form/Program Template and, if they approve, will:
      1. send proposed changes to the department for Full-time faculty to approve.
      2. forward to the Associate Vice President for review and approval provided a majority of Full-time faculty have approved the change.
   2. If the Dean disapproves of a new course, program or fee or disapproves of proposed changes in a course, program or fee, they will return the Curriculum Action form to the initiator with a written explanation of the decision.
3. Full-Time Faculty Review
   1. The Dean and initiator will present proposed curriculum/program changes to the Full-time faculty in a department meeting for review and approval. 
      1. If majority of the full-time faculty approve the proposal will be forwarded to the Associate Vice President for review and approval.
   2. If a majority of the departmental full-time faculty disapprove of a new course or program proposal or to changes in a course or program, the Dean will return the Curriculum Action form to the initiator with a written explanation of the reason for the denial.
4. Associate Vice President Review
   1. The Associate Vice President will review the submission and may take one of the following actions:
      1. Approve the request.
         1. If the Associate Vice President approves, they will forward proposals for new or changed courses and programs to the Director, Curriculum, Credentialing & Academic Scheduling and have the Dean forward an electronic template to the Office of Course and Curriculum Development.
      2. Deny the request.
         1. If the Associate Vice President disapproves of a new course or program, or disapproves of proposed changes in a course or program, they will provide a written explanation of the decision to the Dean.
   2. Associate Vice President approved proposals must arrive at the Office of Course and Curriculum Development by the published deadline for agenda items for the month of the meeting at which the proposal will be discussed.
      1. Submission deadlines and meeting dates will be posted on the Course and Curriculum Development website, https://www.seminolestate.edu/ccd/curriculum/calendar.
5. Upon receipt of Dean/Faculty/Associate Vice President approved Curriculum Action forms the Director, Curriculum, Credentialing & Academic Scheduling will:
   1. Review all proposals to ensure that they are complete and technically correct.
   2. Integrate results of technical reviews.
   3. Communicate with appropriate Dean regarding essential changes. 
   4. Prepare the agenda for dissemination to the Curriculum Committee.
6. One week before the Curriculum Committee meeting, the agenda will be sent out to members of the Curriculum Committee and Institutional Research, Registrar's Office, Advising and Counseling, Office of Financial Aid, and other appropriate offices.
7. The Curriculum Committee will review and consider proposed changes, and recommend a course of action to the Vice President, Academic Affairs as specified in Procedure 1.0900.5.
8. Following each Curriculum Committee meeting, the Director, Curriculum, Articulation & Academic Scheduling will forward approved proposals to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
   1.  Minutes of each meeting shall be recorded and posted to the webpage according to Procedure 1.0900.5
9. Proposals that have not been approved will be returned to their initiator and/or Dean for revision and may be resubmitted with changes noted.
10. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will review the Curriculum Committee actions report from the Director, Curriculum, Articulation & Academic Scheduling and may take one of the following actions:
    1. Approve all curriculum changes and submit to the President
    2. Approve some of the curriculum changes and deny others.
       1. Proposals that are denied by the Vice President will be referred to the Curriculum Committee for clarification.
    3. Reject all proposals and notify the appropriate Associate Vice (s)(s) and Dean(s) in writing of the reason, with copies to the initiator, the chairperson of the Curriculum Committee and the Director, Curriculum, Credentialing & Academic Scheduling. 
11. The President may take one of the following actions:
    1. Approve all curriculum changes and submit for inclusion on the agenda of the next meeting of the Board of Trustees for final approval.
    2. Reject some, or all, of the curriculum changes.
       1. Curriculum changes rejected by the President will be returned to the Vice President, Academic Affairs who will notify the appropriate Dean in writing of the President's objections.
       2. Copies of the notification will go to the appropriate AVP, Dean, the chairperson of the Curriculum Committee, and the Director, Curriculum, Credentialing & Academic Scheduling.
12. Final Approval by Board of Trustees
    1. Once the Board of Trustees approves of a change, the Course and Curriculum Development office will notify all stakeholders of the approved changes and will update the appropriate sections of the operating system's databases, the Master Course Syllabi File and the college catalog with the official course and program changes. Originals of all approved proposals will be retained in the Course and Curriculum Development Office.
    2. If rejected by the Board of Trustees, the President will notify the Vice President, Academic Affairs in writing of the Board of Trustee's objections. Copies of the notification will go to the appropriate Associate Vice President, Dean, the chairperson of the Curriculum Committee, and the Director, Curriculum, Credentialing & Academic Scheduling.