Curriculum Committee

The University Curriculum Committee bases its role on the premise that primary responsibility for curriculum rests with the faculty in each department in each college and with the faculty of each professional school. This permits diversity of programs within the University to meet the varied needs of students. However, the University exists as a unified whole that requires coordination among departments and schools along with the preservation of integrity of the various components. The University is accountable to the state and the society that it serves and must act to coordinate its curricular offerings.

The University Curriculum Committee is assigned the primary responsibility for coordinating the courses and academic programs of the University. It is composed of faculty members and a representative of the Library nominated by the Faculty Senate Committee Selection Committee and appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. One undergraduate student nominated by the Vice President for Student Life and one graduate student nominated by the Dean of the Graduate School may also serve as members. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Senior Associate Provost, Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies and Academic Partnerships, the Director of Teaching and Learning with Technology, the Registrar or designee, and a representative of Admission Processing are ex officio members. The chair and the vice chair are elected annually from the faculty membership.

The Curriculum Committee has responsibility for the following: 1) approve/disapprove all proposals for deletion of courses, modification of courses, and addition of courses; 2) advise the President, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and appropriate University components concerning the formulation of academic program and curriculum policy; 3) make periodic reviews of curriculum offerings, programs and program modifications; 4) hear, review, and resolve curricular disputes; and, 5) report on actions taken to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and to all academic components, and as appropriate, to the Faculty Senate, Graduate Council, and Undergraduate Council.

Course or program proposals may come to the Committee as recommended by the faculty of each component and reviewed by the dean of the requesting component and the Senior Associate Provost. The Committee also may initiate proposals concerning courses and programs, especially as a result of its periodic reviews. In such cases, components involved will be given notice that proposals concerning their courses or programs will be considered.

Curriculum Committee Process