HOW TO PREPARE FOR CURRICULAR ACTIONS

Guidelines for College of Arts & Sciences Curricular Actions               as of  9/08/09

WHEN TO SUBMIT

New courses must complete the entire curricular approval process before being offered.  It is recommended that curricular actions be initiated at least six months to one year before the term the course or change is expected to be implemented. 

CAAC requires that all documents be ready for distribution at least 10 business days before the monthly meeting where a proposal is to be presented.  CAAC does not meet during the summer.  Motions may be voted upon during the meeting at which they are made. .  A representative from the program should be present and able to defend and explain the proposal:  a program may send an additional non-voting spokesperson to provide information.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

All actions require submission of

New Course Form

 Course Modification Form

Program Modification Form

New Program

a)  Curricular proposal Transmission Form
b)  z Program Checklist    
c)  Rationale *
d)  Other support materials as needed

* REQUIREMENTS FOR A RATIONALE

Content:

1. Explain the importance to the program of proposing this new course, revising an old one, or changing the course's mode of delivery. 

Assessment: SEE FACULTY COUNCIL’S WEB PAGE ON ASSESSMENT,   
http://neiu.edu/~facsen/FCAA%20Fall%202009.htm

2. Indicate which course objectives contribute to specific program goals. Explain the objectives of the course: e.g. what knowledge or  understanding of the principles, modes of inquiry, or content of a discipline should students gain?  What should students know or be able to do as a result of having completed the course?

While this may be presented in a narrative form, a table of objectives/goals (or for course changes, old/new, each with rationale) is suggested. 

3. For each objective, provide performance criteria against which students' work will be measured.
4. What various instruments will the instructor use to measure students' success in reaching the above objectives (e.g. papers, exams, journal-writing, listserv participation, oral presentation)?
5. How will the information about student performance gathered in (3) be used to improve teaching and student learning?

Syllabus (when required) must include: 

1)  course number, title, and description  
2)  instructor’s name, office hours,  phone number and e-mail                             
3)  required text and other material        
4)  course objectives                                                                                                                                                     
          5)  student task requirements
          6)   grading policies and Formulae     
          7)  course policies   
          8) weekly course outline   
          9)  list of resource materials and/or readings. A Bibliography is required for  
               graduate courses and 300 level graduate credit courses                                                                                                                    
Requests for General Education status must include the General Education approved list course proposal form, available from the Dean’s office.  Proposals for changes to existing courses and programs should describe both the proposed change and the original information.  

 TYPE OF ACTION

Following are two lists of proposals.  Proposals on the left must be presented at the CAAC meeting.  Proposals on the right can be published for ten business days instead.

Presented at CAAC meeting	Published for 10-Day A&S Challenge
New Program         Program Modification   New Course (including Title Varies described in Catalog) *  Substantive Course Description or Catalog  change *   Numbering Change Affecting Level *   Credit Hour Change *	Temporary course **  Course Deletion               Substantive Title Change *             Non-substantive Title Change              Non-substantive Course Description                                           or Catalog change             Number Change not affecting course                                         level             Prerequisite Change
*      Syllabus required	** approved and added to Master file after publication (no further Committee review)

HOW MANY COPIES TO SUBMIT

for A&S Dean:......2 hard copies initially-Additional copies (27 or 5 hard copies and e-mail copy) will be requested as needed.

After approval by CAAC the dean’s office will forward copies to GCAC, GEN ED & FCAA as appropriate.  The Dean’s office will confirm the number of copies that are needed and return a proposal signed by the dean for copying.  These will be returned to and routed through the dean’s office.  GEN ED AND GCAC may make recommendations to FCAC.

for General Education....................13  (Gen Ed courses only)	For FCAA.................23 Or 5 hard and e-mail copy	FOR GCAC....................13  (for graduate proposals)
	THERE IS A 10 - day challenge period at the University Level before review by FCAA

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