Curriculum and Academic Policy

Approval Process

The CAPC approves new degree programs, certificates, majors, minors, areas of emphasis, and courses, as well as changes and terminations of these items.

New Program Proposals

Proposals for new degrees, programs, certificates, majors, minors, or areas of emphasis should begin with a consultation with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Dean.
For Online Programs, please consult the Director for Online Education regarding best practices, guidelines and procedures for developing online offerings.
Following consultation, with tentative approval of either on-campus or online programs, an Intent to Plan must be submitted through the Curriculum Inventory Management (CIM) Programs system. This Intent to Plan is reviewed by the Dean’s Office and the Provost’s offices via the CIM system.
- What changes can I propose in CIM? See: Proposal Types
- Need help with CIM system? See: Resources
The Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Assessment and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs can be consulted for assistance with the requirements for an intent to plan on CIM.
If the intent to plan is approved, review the information on Program Proposals.
An approved intent to plan may be followed by a full program proposal. Note: Full proposals must be submitted within one year of the intent to plan. After one year, the intent to plan will be rolled back to the originator for resubmission.

Important Considerations Important consideration before submitting your full proposal

New Course Proposals

Before submitting a New Course Proposal, please consider the following:

Has the course been taught before as a flexible title? If not, offer the course as a flexible title course for one or two semesters to gauge student interest/enrollment. Registrar's link for a Flexible Title request.
If 'yes' to the above question, did the flexible title course enroll approximately 30 students in undergraduate courses or 7 students in graduate courses.
Will the new course be taught at least once every year (for required courses) or once every three years (for elective courses). See policy on Course Offerings and Course Deactivation Policy.
Will another required or elective course be deactivated within the major curriculum for the new course to be in rotation and staffed.

For Online Courses, please consult the Director for Online Education regarding best practices, guidelines and procedures for developing online offerings.
Review the detailed information from Faculty Senate on Course Proposals.
Follow guidelines provided for Syllabus Format. Please include a full course schedule, even if unprompted.
Submit final version of syllabus and course proposal for review using CIM Course system.

Course/Program Changes

See Proposal Types prior to requesting a course/program change.
For Online Courses, please consult the Director for Online Education regarding best practices, guidelines and procedures for developing online offerings.
Course adaptations or changes must be submitted using the CIM Course system.
Program changes or terminations must be submitted using the CIM Programs system.
The Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Assessment and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs can be consulted for assistance with the requirements, workflow, or help with CIM.

All new proposals and changes to existing courses/programs must be received (via the CIM system) by the College Deadlines for CAPC review.