Transcript Curricular Workshop - Michigan State University

Curriculum Workshop
University Curriculum and Catalog
Visit: www.reg.msu.edu/ucc/ucc.asp
Rev. 10/08




Linda O. Stanford, Associate Provost for Academic
Services
Joy Speas, University Curriculum Administrator
Doug McKenna, Associate Registrar
Stephanie Smith, Administrative Assistant

University Curriculum and Catalog
Office of the Registrar
176 Administration Building
355-8420
[email protected]
http://www.reg.msu.edu/ucc/ucc.asp
Purpose




To understand and improve the curricular
process
To assist colleges and departments in
achieving curricular change responsive to
their needs
To provide some helpful hints and
resources
To provide a time for questions
Whose responsibility is it to
shape the curriculum?
The faculty!
The faculty shapes the curriculum for
students.

Directed to the skill and knowledge needs of
students.
As an Associate/Assistant Dean,
Chairperson, or Staff Person, you
are:



Helping to improve the curriculum at
Michigan State University
Helping faculty to propose new or
changed undergraduate and graduate
programs and courses
Working with faculty and staff to facilitate
the movement of curricula through the
academic governance system
ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE
SYSTEM

The academic governance system is
the “system for the participation of faculty
and students in the development of policy on
academic matters.”
Bylaws for Academic Governance
ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE
SYSTEM (cont.)

The academic governance system is essentially a
large communication system.



The academic governance system includes
committees that have faculty and student
representatives.
One of these standing committees is the University
Committee on Curriculum (UCC).
The UCC exercises “delegated” authority over the
curriculum.
UCC
and
THE CURRICULAR PROCESS
1.
2.
3.
Faculty – propose a new, change, or delete request
Department or School – enters the request in the Academic
Programs or COURSES system
College – approves the request and forwards to the University
Committee on Curriculum (UCC)

4.
The College is responsible for discussing curricular initiatives and resource
needs with the Provost via the annual planning and budget process. The
UCC does not consider resource needs.
UCC – reviews and approves/disapproves all curricular requests.


The University Curriculum and Catalog office, on behalf of the UCC,
forwards requests as appropriate to other committees. (University
Committee on Academic Policy, University Graduate Council, and Teacher
Education Council)
The UCC itself may also forward requests to other colleges and
departments for sign-offs and approvals as needed.
Path of Curricular Requests
About ½ of all programs go
to at least one of these committees
UCAP
UGC
TEC
University Committee on
Curriculum (UCC)
The UCC has four subcommittees:
 Subcommittees A, B, and C have faculty and student representatives who review
courses and programs submitted by all colleges on behalf of their departments
and schools.
 Subcommittee A includes the Colleges of:
 Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engineering, Human Medicine,
Lyman Briggs, Natural Science, Nursing, Osteopathic Medicine,
and Veterinary Medicine
 Subcommittee B includes the Colleges of:
 Agriculture and Natural Resources (Department of Agricultural
Economics), James Madison, Law, and Social Science
 Subcommittee C includes the Colleges of:
 Arts and Humanities (RCAH), Arts and Letters, Business (Eli Broad),
Communication Arts and Sciences, Education, and Music
 Subcommittee D is composed of the chairs of the subcommittees. This
committee considers policy and procedural matters.
UCC Full Committee

The Full Committee of the UCC, comprised
of Subcommittees A, B, C, and D,
considers recommendations from UCAP,
UGC, TEC and votes on the
recommendations from the
subcommittees. This becomes the Report
of the UCC to Academic Council.
University Committee on Academic
Policy
(UCAP)

Undergraduate program changes that
implicate academic policy or impact
students must be approved by UCAP.

Specifically, most requests are for grade-point
requirements, admission requirements,
certain new programs, disbandments, or
moratoria.
University Graduate Council
(UGC)

Reviews all new or changed graduate
programs with attention to policy
implications. It also reviews all requests
for moratoria and disbandments.
Teacher Education Council
(TEC)

Teacher Education Council reviews all
new or changed programs that lead to
teacher certification.
Report of the UCC to Academic
Council


This report is the official record of all
approved courses and programs.
A copy of this report is available on
the web at:
www.reg.msu.edu/UCC/ReportsAC.asp
In addition to being approved by Academic Council,
some programs are also sent for Statewide
Academic Program Review.

Statewide Academic Program Review Criteria



New program (new field of study for the institution)
Spin off (conversion from an existing program)
Disbandment (program deletion)
Path of Curricular Requests
About ½ of all programs go
to at least one of these committees
UCAP
UGC
TEC
How long will it take for my
program to become effective?
Program Submission Cycle for the
University Committee on Curriculum

For a SPRING effective date, colleges must be submit
program requests by September 1st.


New programs that fit Statewide Academic Program Review
criteria must be submitted by January 1st for the following
spring.
For a FALL effective date and availability for annual
enrollment, colleges must submit program requests by
January 1st.
The length of time until approval
depends on the . .



Completeness of the program request
Program submission cycle
Necessity for Statewide Academic Program
Review
Creating a Program Request

Program requests must be entered by
an authorized Academic Programs
user in the Academic Programs
system.

https://www.reg.msu.edu/Forms/FormsMenu.asp
New Programs – Things to
Consider












Name of Program
Type of Program
Effective Date
Target Student Audience
Enrollment
Source of budget for program
Projected costs as compared to others
Staff Requirement
Will additional equipment be required?
Will additional library materials be required?
Will additional space be required?
Detailed description of the program
Revising an Existing Academic
Program

Simply enter revisions by creating a
academic program change request in the
Academic Programs system.

Take care to include all necessary signoffs
and approvals.
Discontinuing an Academic
Program

Simply request the discontinuation of an
academic program in the Academic
Programs system.

Programs will be phased out and discontinued
based on current student enrollments and
time limit to degree.
Completeness of the program
request . .


Clarity of requested changes
Appropriate sign-offs and/or approvals


Sign-off is a request for support or commentary (act of
collegiality)
 Units have 14 days to respond
 Indication of support/non-support is not binding
Approval is a request for support (required)
 Example: interdepartmental programs require approvals
Academic Programs:
Guidelines and Procedures

Detailed information regarding guidelines
and procedures for academic programs
can be accessed on the University
Curriculum and Catalog website:

Visit -
http://www.reg.msu.edu/ucc/guidelines.asp
COURSES

What do you need to know about courses?



Creating a New Course
Revising an Existing Course
Deleting a Course
Creating a New Course

Course requests must be entered by an authorized
COURSES user in the COURSES system.


https://www.reg.msu.edu/Forms/FormsMenu.asp
COURSES Training is available for those needing
authorization.

http://train.msu.edu
New Courses – Things to
Consider

Course Numbers






001-099
100-299
300-499
500-699
800-899
900-999
Non-Credit
Undergraduate
Advanced Undergraduate
Graduate-Professional
Graduate
Advanced Graduate
See Academic Programs for definitions:
http://www.reg.msu.edu/read/UCC/Updated/coursenumbers.pdf
New Courses – Things to
Consider

Course Title


The full course title should be consistent with the
information provided in other items on the form,
especially the course description, course objectives, and
outline of major topics. It should be succinct enough to
be abbreviated meaningfully to a short title.
The short title is the 30-character course title that is
printed on the MSU transcript.

Avoid abbreviations such as: Ass, Stud, Anal
New Courses – Things to
Consider

Course Description

A well-written course description accurately
reflects the content of the course. Avoid
unnecessary phrases such as “ An introduction
to” or “This course is designed to.” Spell out
acronyms unless they have become common
words in the English language (example:
RADAR). Incomplete sentences are acceptable.
A poorly written course
description
As submitted for a University Curriculum Committee
agenda:
MT 150
Introduction to Biomedical Research
Spring of every year. 1(1-0)
Survey course intended to assist students in deciding whether a
biomedical research career is appropriate for them. An introduction
to Biomedical Research in the United States, including funding,
safety, regulatory agencies, ethics, experimental design, troubleshooting, and data interpretation. This course also intended to
assist students in deciding whether a biomedical research careers
appropriate for them.
A well-written course description
As rewritten and approved by the UCC:
MT 150
Preview of Biomedical Research
Spring of every year. 1(1-0)
Exploration of biomedical research careers. Biomedical research in the
United States. Funding, safety, regulatory agencies, ethics,
experimental design, trouble-shooting, and data interpretation.
New Courses
Policy Considerations



Remedial-developmental-preparatory
Courses
Tier II Writing Courses
Diversity Designation Codes for
Integrative Studies Courses
New Courses
Policy Considerations

Remedial-developmental-preparatory courses


The policy governing remedial–developmental–preparatory types of
courses was established to protect the academic standards of
Michigan State University undergraduate degrees while at the same
time reinforcing the University's commitment to assist students in
remedying their academic deficiencies in fundamental skill areas.
The policy serves to motivate students to overcome their
deficiencies while ensuring that all students complete a minimum of
120 credits of college level work as a condition of graduation.
There are five types of remedial-developmental-preparatory
courses. See Academic Programs for definitions of these types:
http://www.reg.msu.edu/read/UCC/Updated/rdpcourses.pdf
New Courses
Policy Considerations

Tier II Writing Courses


The designation code is (W) following the course title or a
restriction of “Completion of Tier I writing requirement.”
The University’s Tier II Writing Requirement is met by completing
either:


One or more 300-400 level Tier II writing courses as specified for the
student’s academic major and degree program or
A cluster of 300-400 level courses that involve writing experiences and
that are approved as the Tier II writing requirement for the student’s
academic major and degree program.
New Courses
Policy Considerations

Diversity Designation Codes for Integrative
Studies Courses

The designation codes follow the course title and
are as follows:




(I) International and Multicultural Diversity
(N) National Diversity
(D) National Diversity, and International and
Multicultural Diversity
Students must include at least one “N” course
and one “I” course in their Integrative Studies
programs. A “D” course may meet either an “N”
or an “I” requirement, but not both.
New Courses
Academic Preparation and Access





Prerequisites
Recommended Background
Corequisites
Restrictions
Semester Alias
New Courses
Academic Preparation and Access

Prerequisites


A course to be completed either prior to or
concurrently with another course. The Student
Information System (SIS) will verify.
Recommended Background

Prior academic work, experience, or other
qualifications recommended, but not required, to be
successful in the course. SIS will not verify.
New Courses
Academic Preparation and Access

Corequisites


A course completed concurrently with another course.
SIS will verify.
Restrictions

A limitation on student access to the course.


Class levels, majors, departments, or colleges
Semester Alias

A course identified as the equivalent of another
course.
New Courses Checklist
Does the course accurately inform the
student about the course content?
Have you requested appropriate approvals
and/or signoffs?
Is the course request form complete?
Revising an Existing Course

Simply enter revisions by creating a
course change request in the COURSES
system.

If the revision is substantial and completely
alters the content of the course, it will be
necessary to request a new course.
Deleting a Course

Simply request the deletion of a course in
the COURSES system.


Course numbers may not be reused for a
period of six years.
Courses not taught for a period of four years
will automatically be deleted by the Office of
the Provost with notification to the Associate
Dean.
How long will it take for my
courses to become effective?
New Courses



A new course may have a two-year interim
approval in SIS after being approved by the
College.
The request for interim approval must be made
to the University Curriculum and Catalog office.
After interim approval is granted, the course
may be scheduled.
Concurrently, the new course will continue its
normal route through the governance process.
Course Changes and Deletes

Must go through the governance process. May not
be scheduled as an interim course to avoid
negative impact on students.

The UGC and UCC recognize that departments, schools, and
colleges are responsible on an ongoing basis for monitoring
enrollments in the courses that they administer and taking the
actions that they deem appropriate. The UGC and UCC also
recognize that the courses that are listed in the catalog must be
taught on a regular basis as part of the University's contract with
students.
Course Changes and Deletes



Four Year Rule - To provide a mechanism for deleting from the
catalog those courses that have not been taught on a regular
basis, the UGC and UCC reaffirm the goal of deleting from the
catalog courses that have not been taught in the preceding four
calendar years.
After the end of every Summer Semester, courses that have not
been taught, either on or off campus, during the preceding 4
calendar years (12 calendar semesters including summer
sessions) shall be identified and administratively deleted from
the catalog.
Notification will be sent to Assistant/Associate Deans.
To find all the information
needed for MSU’s curricular
process, visit . .
University Curriculum and Catalog
Website
http://www.reg.msu.edu/UCC/UCC.asp






What’s New ?
Academic Programs (Keyword Search)
Course Descriptions
Academic Programs and COURSES
Academic Policies
Academic Programs: Guidelines and Procedures


Academic Program Terminology
University Committee on Curriculum
Important Items to Remember
Think about how your change affects other existing programs
or courses and notify affected units before the college
submits to the University Curriculum and Catalog office.
Don’t assume others know. Share!
Approvals and signoffs are necessary!
 If they are not available, program review will be
delayed.
COURSES Training is available for those needing authorization.
See http://train.msu.edu/
If you have questions, ask!
University Curriculum
and Catalog

To serve as a curricular resource


Explain academic policies and procedures
Develop and maintain the University catalog




Academic Programs
Descriptions of Courses
To assist units in implementing curricular changes via
academic governance
To facilitate faculty efforts in shaping the curriculum.
The University Curriculum and Catalog office works with
you (Associate Deans, Chairpersons, and Staff) in this
ongoing process.
Whom to Contact
Office of University Curriculum and Catalog
176 Administration Building
355-8420
[email protected]
Joy Speas
Stephanie Smith
University Curriculum Administrator
Administrative Assistant