Please use the following established colors for all cover sheets, including all duplicate copies.

Please use cover sheets for all curricular proposals, including new courses, changes to existing courses, and check sheet revisions, etc. Fill in all requested information. The latest cover sheets are available by clicking HERE.

For reference purposes, each proposal traditionally has been given a seven character code such as LAS 0513. This coding is done according to a three part scheme: three letters, followed by two digits, followed by two more digits.

The first three letters of the code refer to the unit submitting the proposal:

The next two digits refer to the current academic year, specifically the last two digits of the current academic year's spring semester. The last two digits (use a leading zero) refer to the sequence of consideration within the college. That is, the first course considered by a college in the academic year is numbered "01”, the next is numbered "02”, etc. Since this coding scheme is indigenous to each college, each college curriculum committee should code proposals before sending them on to UCC. Each proposal will retain the proposal number given by the originating unit as it proceeds through the routing process.

A. All proposals for revised and new programs and courses must be completely developed and include:

1. Course Description (as it will appear in the University Catalog)

A succinct description of the course content must be written. The number of clock hours, semester hours of credit granted, and prerequisites must be included. If pertinent, semester(s) when the course will be offered may be provided. Avoid verbosity, but use complete sentences.

2. Rationale

The rationale should indicate the reason(s) for the development of the course and its inclusion in the curriculum and, where appropriate, the relationship of the proposed course to the other courses in the curriculum.

3. Course Objectives

These objectives should be written in such a way as to reflect the desired outcomes from the course as observed in student behaviors. They must indicate demonstrable learning expected of the student for the successful completion of the course. Please click HERE for more information regarding writing course objectives.

4. Assessment

A list of the instruments used to assess students’ achievement of the course objectives must be included. The composition of this list and the nature of the assessments themselves are at the discretion of the submitting department.

5. Course Outline

The course outline should provide sufficient detail so that course content can be determined from the outline.

6. Instructional Resources

A list of instructional resources supporting a proposed course must be provided. Such Bibliographic information should include author(s), copyright date, title, place of publication, and publisher for books, and similar information for non-book items.

Check the instructional resources against University Library holdings to indicate whether the items are owned or on order by the Library. Persons proposing a course should ensure that the Library owns or has ordered at least 50% of the core literature for the course. Where appropriate and applicable, resources should be as recent as possible.

7. Additional Information

Some departments may wish to include such items as controls, special costs or needs, unusual procedures or teaching strategies to be used in the course. Decision as to whether or not to include such information is at the discretion of the individual department.

It is suggested that twelve (12) point font (no smaller than 10-point) be used for printing proposals. Also, please make back-to-back copies to save paper. A letter quality printer should be used to facilitate readability of copies. Please see attachment regarding format for course proposals for submission to UCC.

B. All proposals must follow the curriculum routing procedure as specified in the UCC Bylaws. A copy of the UCC Bylaws can be viewed HERE.

C. All proposals must be accompanied by a complete cover sheet in the appropriate college color.

D. Seventeen copies (17) and three (3) original copies of all proposals must be submitted by the the appropriate deadline (see below). Compliance is necessary for a proposal to be placed on the agenda for that particular month.

E. One-Time-Only/Selected Topics Course Proposals

1. These proposals do not follow the same routing procedures as all other proposals as they are routed directly from the department to the UCC.

2. These proposals will be announced at the UCC meeting but not voted upon.

3. These proposals must be accompanied by the appropriate and complete cover sheet.

4. Seventeen (17) copies and three original copies of these proposals must be submitted to the UCC.

Under the routing procedures, courses only arrive at the UCC after they have been "passed" by a college. Obviously, any changes to a proposal made at the college level will have been incorporated into the final version that is forwarded on to the UCC. Occasionally, the UCC suggests additional changes. These changes fall into two categories: substantive and editorial.

Substantive Changes: If a substantive change is suggested, the proposal will be tabled and referred back to the college for action, and no vote will be taken by the UCC until we again receive the proposal. (Note: the code number remains the same, even if the revised proposal doesn't arrive back at the UCC until a subsequent academic year.) When tabled, the proposal will remain on the table and on the UCC agenda for the academic year as “Old Business” until a representative from that college removes it from the table.

Editorial Changes: If an editorial change is suggested, UCC makes that change then and there with the approval of the college's representatives.

New Copies: After changes have been made, either substantive or editorial, UCC needs three new copies of the proposal before we can send it on to the administration for the permanent record. It is the responsibility of the college's representatives to the UCC to see to it that revised copies are forthcoming.

New courses need to be approved by UCC by March 1 for the Fall term and by October 1 for the Spring term. New program and program versions are effective the corresponding semester of the following academic year after they are passed by the UCC. The UCC has the right to grant exceptions in unique circumstances.

Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions about these mechanical procedures, please feel free to e-mail Randy Schaeffer, Chair of the University Curriculum Committee by clicking HERE.

	Meeting Dates & Deadlines Mechanical Procedures | Minutes | Agenda Members | Routing Procedures | Format for Course Proposals Cover Sheets | Writing Objectives | Bylaws Assessment | Previous Approvals