Faculty Senate

Curriculum Council Operating Papers

I. Membership

The membership of the Curriculum Council will be determined in accord with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Faculty Senate (Bylaws VI, Section C.).

A. The Curriculum Council shall have representation distributed as follows:

1. Faculty Representation: The Executive Committee shall appoint to the Council six to twelve faculty representatives from among those elected by academic units. Terms of office shall be for one year, with annual reappointment by the Executive Committee.

2. Student Representation: Two students shall be appointed to the Council by the Student Senate for annual terms. Students must qualify for membership in the Student Senate. These representatives shall be voting members of the Council.

3. Administrative Representation: On the request of the Council, the Faculty Senate President shall appoint, with the concurrence of the President of the University, two members to serve one-year terms. Annual reappointment will be contingent upon renewal of the Council's request. These representatives shall be voting members of the Council.

4. The following shall be ex-officio, voting members of the Council: The Director of Academic Counseling and Advising, the Director of Instructional Services, the Director of Assessment, or their designated representatives, and the Chair of the General Education Committee.

II. Officers

A. The Chairperson of the Curriculum Council for the coming year shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate Past-President, President, and President-Elect in accord with Faculty Senate bylaws Section V-B. This appointment shall be submitted to the Faculty Senate for approval at the May meeting.

B. The Chairperson of the Curriculum Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Convene and facilitate regular meetings of the Council

2. Appoint Chairs of the Academic Standards and Policies Committee; Undergraduate Courses Committee; Undergraduate Programs Committee; and ad hoc Committees with Council approval; appoint a Secretary of the Council, and other officers with approval of the Council.

3. With the Chair of the General Education Committee, identify and present to the Curriculum Council membership recommendations for this Committee.

4. Serve as member of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee.

5. Serve as liaison for the Council to the University Governance Office, for purposes of: monitoring the progress of course/program change requests through the review and approval process; maintaining up to date Curriculum Council minutes and other documents on-line.

6. Attend and report regularly to the Faculty Senate on the work of the Council, including any items needing Senate review and/or action.

7. Maintain Curriculum Council records of course/program approval actions; amendments to Operating Papers; and other actions of Curriculum Council Committees.

8. Provide leadership to the Council in matters relevant to the Council's charge, consistent with the Council's powers and functions, described in Section III of the Curriculum Council Operating Papers.

C. The Chairperson shall appoint a Secretary of the Council with the approval of the Council. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to take minutes at all meetings of the Council and to submit these minutes to the Chairperson for review.

D. Other officers may be appointed by the chairperson with approval of the Council.

III. Powers and Functions

A. The powers and functions of the Curriculum Council are those established by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Faculty Senate (Bylaws VI, Section C). The Curriculum Council shall concern itself with all matters of curriculum, instruction, advisement, and program review at the undergraduate level, as well as the broad level of Area Services, including International Services, Area Development and Services, Adult Education, and Extension Services.

B. Illustrative of the matters within the jurisdiction of the Curriculum Council are the following:

1. Recommending policy on requirements for entrance, retention, and graduation for undergraduates.

2. Recommending policy on requirements for undergraduate majors and minors.

3. Recommending policy on adopting new programs or eliminating existing programs.

4. Recommending policy on grading students.

5. Recommending policy on accepting credit from other institutions or testing programs.

6. Recommending policy on advising undergraduates.

7. Recommending policy concerning the special problems that may arise with regard to teaching undergraduates at centers other than the main campus.

8. Maintaining a continuing review and evaluation of Continuing Education programs.

9. Maintaining a continuing review and evaluation of undergraduate programs and courses.

10. Recommending policy regarding the University's Assessment Plan.

11. Participating in the selection of the Director of Assessment when a vacancy occurs and when the term of office of the incumbent Director is expiring.

IV. Meetings

The Curriculum Council shall normally meet the first Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Special meetings will be called by the chairperson when deemed necessary. A quorum at any meeting shall be a simple majority of those members eligible to vote.

V. Standing Committees and Operations

A. Undergraduate Programs Committee (UPC)

1. The Chairperson of the Undergraduate Programs Committee shall be appointed from among the members of the Council by the Council Chairperson with the approval of a majority of the Council. The term of office shall be one year; the same chairperson may not serve more than three successive terms.

2. The Chairperson of the Undergraduate Programs Committee shall appoint five additional members to the committee of which at least four shall be faculty. These appointments shall be approved by a majority of the Council. The term of Committee members shall be one year; they may succeed themselves.

3. The Undergraduate Programs Committee has the responsibility to: review proposals for modifications, additions or terminations of programs. The Committee shall forward such proposals to the Council, recommending either approval or disapproval. All proposals for change sin programs approved by the Council shall be forwarded to the Senate Executive Committee as policy recommendations.

4. The Undergraduate programs Committee shall meet at the call of the Committee Chairperson.

5. Procedure of the Undergraduate Programs Committee shall be as follows:

a. The various University forms related to curriculum changes that come to the UPC shall be divided by the Chairperson into the following three classes:

(1)Class 1 - forms for program modification that involve only minor changes such as wording of program titles or program description.

(2) Class 2 - forms that request substantive changes in programs already in existence. Substantive changes include changes in credit hours, program content, and program requirements.

(3) Class 3 - forms that request new programs, propose elimination of existing programs, and all forms concerning additions or modifications that seem significantly to involve more than one School of the University.

b. The various classes shall then be handled as follows:

(1) Class 1 - The Committee Chairperson may approve them, or submit them to the Undergraduate Programs Committee for action.

(2) Class 2 - The Committee Chairperson may use the Campus Mail and/or telephone conversations to determine whether a majority of the Committee approves the proposal in question, or submit such proposals at a meeting of the Undergraduate Programs Committee.

(3) Class 3 - The Committee Chairperson must submit such proposals to the Undergraduate Programs Committee at a meeting open to all University students, staff, and faculty. Whenever such a proposal is to be considered by the Undergraduate Programs Committee, the Chairperson shall give advance notice to Chairpersons of those departments whose proposals are to be considered.

6. Forms that concern the addition of undergraduate programs shall be routed as follows:

a. Originated by the individual faculty members who desire to offer the program;

b. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the Department;

c. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the School;

d. Forwarded to the Office of the Provost to be reviewed for conformance to institutional priorities and mission; and, simultaneously forwarded to the University Governance Office and directed to the Curriculum Council Chairperson;

e. Reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Programs Committee of the Curriculum Council;

f. Reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Council;

g. Forwarded to the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee.

7. Justification for new programs: The proposal for each new program shall include the Form 92 and the New Program Request Form (required format for submission to IBHE) with statements provided rationale for the programs, evidence of communication with other departments or schools that might be interested in the program, and evidence of collation or consultation with any other department or schools with which the program subject matter overlaps.

8. Forms that concern the modification or termination of undergraduate programs shall be routed as follows:

a. Originated by the individual faculty members or department concerned;

b. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the Department;

c. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the College or School;

d. Forwarded to the University Governance Office and directed to the Curriculum Council Chairperson;

e. Reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Programs Committee of the Curriculum Council;

f. Reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Council;

g. Forwarded to the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee.

9. Justification for modified or terminated program: The proposal for each modified or terminated program should include the proper form, a description of the program as modified, a listing of all changes, and a rationale for the changes.

10. Forms that concern the modification or termination of undergraduate programs shall be routed as follows:

a. Originated by the individual faculty members or department concerned;

b. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the department;

c. Approved by the Curriculum Committee of the School;

d. Forwarded to the University Governance Office and directed to the Curriculum Council Chairperson;

e. Reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Programs Committee of the Curriculum Council;

f. Reviewed and approved by the Curriculum Council;

g. Forwarded to the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee.

11. Justification for modified or terminated program: The proposal for each modified or terminated program should include the proper form, a description of the program as modified, a listing of all changes, and a rationale for the changes.

B. Undergraduate Courses Committee (UCC)

1. The Chairperson of the Undergraduate courses Committee shall be appointed from the Council members by the Council Chairperson with the approval of a majority of the council. The term of office shall be one year; chairpersons may succeed themselves, but cannot serve more than three successive terms.

2. The Chairperson of the Undergraduate Courses Committee shall appoint at least five additional members to the Committee: At least four faculties (not necessarily on the council). These appointments shall be approved by a majority of the council. The term of Committee members shall be one year; they may succeed themselves.

3. The UCC has the following responsibilities: To review proposals for revision, additions, and terminations of undergraduate courses, except those in the General Education Program. The Committee shall act on these matters with the approval of the Curriculum Council, and call to the attention of the Council any proposed changes.

4. The UCC shall meet at the call of the Committee Chair.

5. Procedures of the Undergraduate Courses Committee shall be as follows:

a. The primary responsibility of the UCC is to review proposals for new courses (Forms 90A) or experimental courses and those proposed changes or eliminations that directly impact General Education requirements.

(1) Modifications to courses (Forms 90C) (wording of course title, descriptions, change in credit hour, level of instruction, and so forth) do not require consideration by the Curriculum Council or the UCC unless the proposed modification impacts the status of the course with respect to the General Education requirements.

(2) Elimination of courses (Forms 90B) do not require consideration by the Curriculum Council or the UCC.

(3) Proposals to teach existing courses in the on-line format (Forms 94) do not require consideration by the Curriculum Council or the UCC. For new on-line courses, Forms 90A and 94 should be submitted simultaneously.

b. The Committee Chairperson may call a meeting or may use campus mail, email, and/or telephone conversations to determine whether a majority of the committee approves the proposal in question.

6. Forms that concern the addition, modification, or elimination of undergraduate courses shall be routed as follows:

a. As indicated above (B. 5.a.) Forms 90B, 90C, and 94 require approval only by the Curriculum Committee of the Department and the Curriculum Committee of the School/College of the originating unit.

b. In addition to approval by the Curriculum Committee of the Department, the Curriculum Council of the School/College.

(1) "All forms 90A shall be reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Courses Committee of the Curriculum Council. Other forms that directly impact General Education requirements shall be reviewed and approved by the Undergraduate Courses Committee. All proposals that directly impact General Education requirements shall be simultaneously considered by the General Education Committee. Four hundred level courses for graduate credit shall be routed simultaneously to the Graduate Council for its review and approval."

(2) Approved by the Curriculum Council.

(3) Forwarded to the Faculty Senate or its Executive Committee.

7. Justification for new courses:

a. The application for each new course shall include the Form 90, a syllabus for the course (which may be brief), a short statement concerning the need for the course, evidence of communication with members of any other departments who might be interested in the course, and evidence of collation or consultation, if the course is co-listed or if the subject matter is similar to, or possibly overlaps, that of another discipline.

b. Applications for course modifications require only the Form 90 and a brief statement justifying the change.

c. Applications to change an experimental course to a regular course must be accompanied by a brief statement concerning the success of the course and a description of the process used to evaluate it.

C. The General Education Committee (GEC)

1. The voting members of the Committee shall be as follows: Eight faculty members, four from CAS, one from each of the other schools with a baccalaureate program (staggered three-year terms). Two undergraduate students, (one-year term), appointed by the Student Senate. The Dean of CAS (or his/her designated representative).

2. The non-voting members of the Committee shall be as follows: The Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (or his/her delegated representative; indefinite term). The Assistant or Associate Dean of CAS who has primary responsibility for Academic Counseling and Advising (or his/her delegated representative; indefinite term). The Director of the Office of Admissions and Records (or his/her delegated representative; indefinite term).

3. The method of selection of the faculty members of the Committee shall be as follows:

a. During the Spring term, the Dean of each School or College will appoint the required number of members and alternates.

b.The candidates shall be presented for confirmation by the Curriculum Council and the Senate at their April meetings.

c. For all faculty members, service on GEC is for a three-year term commencing

August 15th. Vacancies created in the middle of a term by resignation or inability to serve shall be filled by appointment of one of the designated alternates of GEC by the Chair of GEC until the following Spring Semester, at which time the vacancy shall be filled according to the procedure in a. (above).

4. During the Spring term, a voting member on GEC shall be designated Chair by the President of the Faculty Senate and the Chair of the Curriculum Council (whose terms begin in April or that Spring term). This selection shall be presented for confirmation by the Curriculum Council and the Senate at the same time as the slate of proposed new members of the GEC. The Chair shall serve for one year and may succeed him/herself once.

5. In meetings of the GEC, the Chair shall only vote in case of a tie. The responsibilities of the Chair shall be as follows:

a. To serve as the official representative of GEC as a voting member of the Curriculum Council;

b.To call meetings of the Committee (at least once per term) for the timely consideration of such matters as shall have been submitted to it;

c.To monitor the Committee's oversight (see below) of the General Education Program;

d. To consult regularly with the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs about General Education, to describe to the Provost any problems in the program that have come to the attention of the Committee, and to keep the Provost apprised of changes that the Committee might suggest in the program.

6. A secretary of GEC shall be appointed by the Chair from among the membership of GEC. The secretary shall serve for one year, and shall have the following responsibilities:

a. To keep accurate minutes of all meetings of GEC;

b. To assist the Governance Office in the maintenance of the records of GEC's activities.

7. The GEC shall meet at the call of its Chairperson, but not less frequently than once per term. A quorum of the Committee shall be six (6)-voting members, including the Chairperson.

8.The GEC bears the primary responsibility for maintaining and developing the General Education Program at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Its responsibilities include the following:

a. To review proposals for additions, terminations, and modification of all Skills, Introductory, and Interdisciplinary courses.

b. To review request for waivers of the team-teaching requirement in Interdisciplinary courses.

c. To review request for additions and deletions to the list of Advanced General Education Courses.

d. To review proposed modifications in the General Education program and/or requirements, and to recommend them as appropriate.

e. To exercise continual oversight of the scheduling and content of General Education courses, and to recommend changes in the scheduling or content of courses where appropriate.

f. To communicate to departments the need for additional courses deemed necessary to the General Education curriculum.

g. To consider any other matters that GEC believes essential to the continued success of General Education at SIUE, and to recommend appropriate actions.

9. All decisions of GEC are subject to review and approval by the Curriculum Council.

10. Procedures of the GEC shall be as follows:

a. All proposals for the addition of Skills, Introductory and Interdisciplinary courses shall receive tow readings; no course shall be approved or deleted at the time it is first presented GEC.

b. Representatives of the proposing Department(s), College or School(s) shall be invited to meet with GEC during the discussion portion of deliberations relating to their proposal.

c. Proposals for minor modifications of a General Education course may be acted upon at their first reading. If there is question by any member of GEC about whether the modification is major or minor, action shall be delayed until the second reading of the proposal.

11. Requests to propose, modify, or delete Skills, Introductory or Interdisciplinary courses shall include all information called for on the "criteria" sheets for these course) available in the Governance Office). Course proposals shall be routed in the following sequence:

a. Originated by the individual faculty members who desire to teach the course (or by departments in cases where GEC has requested the course);

b. Submitted for consideration and approval by the Department(s) involved;

c. Submitted for consideration and approval by the Curriculum Committee(s) of the School(s) involved;

d. submitted to the Governance Office for preliminary screening;

e. Submitted for consideration and approval by GEC (IS courses cannot be considered by GEC until the course is approved by at least two different departments within the College of Arts and Sciences, by CAS and one other School, or by two different Schools);

f. Submitted for consideration and approval by Curriculum Council;

g. Submitted for consideration and approval by the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

12. The GEC shall have responsibility for the continuing review of the General Education program. To assist in this responsibility, GEC may establish a subcommittee for evaluation to administer and oversee the continuing subcommittee shall include the Director of the Office of Academic Counseling and Advising or his/her delegated representative. Other membership considerations are left to the discretion of GEC, but faculty will comprise at least 50% of the subcommittee. Responsibilities of the Subcommittee for evaluation include:

a. To establish and maintain a strategy for the continuing evaluation of the General Education program.

b. To implement the 5-year re-approval of General Education courses called for in the June 11, 1984, General Education document (Edwardsville Bulletin, VOL. 15, No. 11, p. 10). The first such review is to occur during the 1990-91 academic year.

c. To prepare materials in support of both the annual review of undergraduate education reported through the Resource Allocation and Management Program (RAMP) process and any special reviews of General Education that the University shall undertake.

d. To participate with the Office of Instructional Research in any regular inventories it conducts, such as ACE/UCLA New Freshman Survey, that shall result in data pertinent to the evaluation of the General Education Program.

e. To conduct any and all additional evaluation activities that the subcommittee or GEC shall deem necessary and appropriate.

D. Academic Standards and Policies Committee

1. The Chairperson of the Academic Standards and Policies Committee shall be appointed from the Council members by the Council chairperson with the approval of the majority of the Council. The term of office shall be for one year; Chairpersons may succeed themselves, but cannot serve more than three successive terms.

2. The Chairperson of Academic Standards and Policies Committee shall appoint at least three additional members to the Committee of whom at least two shall be faculty. These appointments shall be approved by a majority of the Council. The term of the committee members shall be one year; they may succeed themselves.

3. The Chairperson of the Academic Standards and Policies Committee shall serve as a liaison to other committees within the University, which deal with academic standards and policies (for example, Graduate Council, Special Task Forces).

4. The Academic Standards and Policies Committee has the following responsibilities: to review existing standards and policies (such as grading, suspension, admission, adding and dropping classes); to recommend changes in existing standards and policies for the purpose of improving the quality of instruction.

E. Graduation Appeals Committee (GA)

1. A member of the Admissions staff shall serve as the non-voting Chairperson of the Graduation Appeals Committee.

2. In addition to the Chairperson, the Committee shall include three members of the faculty appointed annually by the Committee Chairperson and approved by the Curriculum Council. Committee members may succeed themselves, but may not serve for more than three consecutive terms.

3. For liaison purposes, a member of the Curriculum Council shall be appointed by the Chair of the Curriculum Council to serves as a non-voting member of the Graduation Appeals Committee. This appointment is for three years; reappointment is permitted.

4. The Graduation Appeals Committee shall hear appeals from undergraduate students who seek exceptions to the University general graduation requirements in order to graduate, and shall render decisions in such cases.

5. The Graduation Appeals Committee shall report to the Curriculum Council annually, via the Curriculum Council liaison.

F. Director of Assessment

1. The Director of Assessment shall be selected and approved by the Provost, only from among those names submitted by a Search Advisory Committee. The Search Advisory Committee shall consist of five faculty members, including the Committee Chairperson, appointed by the Curriculum Council in consultation with the Provost. The Search Advisory Committee shall submit the names of at least two acceptable applicants to the Provost, or meet with the Provost if it determines that fewer than two applicants are acceptable to the Committee. The term of office of the Director of Assessment shall be three years. The Director shall be eligible for reappointment if so recommended by the then current Search Advisory Committee.

2. The Director shall serve as an ad hoc member of the Curriculum Council and shall be a voting member of the Council.

3. The Director is responsible for reviewing undergraduate programs, including their courses, and making recommendations to the Curriculum Council on the basis of such reviews. The Director is also responsible for assisting the Committee on Assessment in implementing the Assessment Plan.

4. Regarding the undergraduate review process, the duties of the Director shall be:

a. Direct undergraduate program review process for the purpose of assessing program quality and areas which need improvement.

b. Prepare the necessary instruments for obtaining data from the program director, the faculty, current students, and recent graduates.

c. Set the timetable and deadlines for completion of reviews.

d. Select members for review committees.

e. Conduct orientation meetings for program review committees.

f. Meet with program director and faculty of departments being reviewed to discuss review process and outline steps for completing a self-study.

g. Work closely with program directors to insure maximum departmental involvement in the review process.

h. Screen and hire applicants for graduate assistants and/or student workers.

i. Supervise activities of graduate assistants and/or student workers.

j. Serve as a liaison between reviewers and reviewees.

k. Set up schedule for interviews of faculty and students in cooperation with the program director.

l. Reproduce and distribute completed departmental self-studies to review committees.

m. Direct the completion of program review reports from the review committees.

n. Present completed reports to the Curriculum Council for approval.

o. Submit reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for informational purposes and action.

p. Meet with program directors for follow-up of final report.

q. Serve as liaison to Associate Provost.

5. Regarding the Assessment Plan, the duties of the Director shall be to serve as ex-officio member of the Committee on Assessment, and to assist the Committee on Assessment in its charge.

6. The Director of Assessment shall serve as fiscal officer for the account entitled, "Undergraduate Assessment and Program Review".

G. Committee on Assessment

1. The functions of the Committee on Assessment include:

a. Implementing the SIUE Assessment Plan.

b. Making further policy recommendations that may arise in the implementation process to the Curriculum Council.

c. Maintaining the Assessment Program.

d. Making recommendations to the Curriculum Council as warranted by the findings of assessment activities.

2. Membership

a. Members of the Committee on Assessment shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate in consultation with the Provost.

b. The Committee on Assessment shall be constituted of eight faculty members, one of whom will be a liaison from the Curriculum Council; two undergraduate students, and one representative from each of the following: the Office of Institutional Research, the Office of the Provost (the Director of Assessment), the Office of Admissions and Retention (Instructional Services), and the Academic Deans.

c. Appointments to the Committee shall normally be for three-year teams; reappointment is permitted. All members of the Committee are voting members.

d. The Chairperson of the Committee shall be appointed from among the Committee membership, by the Faculty Senate President in consultation with the Provost. The term of office as Chairperson shall be one year; reappointment of the same individual to additional term is permitted.

VI. Ad Hoc Committees

A. The Chair of the Council may from time to time create ad hoc committees with the approval of the Council. The nature of the Committees, their duties, estimated life, and the voting status of the Chairpersons of these committees shall all be subject to approval by the Council.

B. Dean's College Advisory Board (DCAB)

1. The Coordinator of the Dean's College shall serve as the non-voting chairperson of the Dean's College Advisory Board except in cases when the Board is considering a student appeal of a decision of the Coordinator. In such cases the Board shall select an interim Chairperson.

2. In addition to the Chairperson, the committee shall include three faculty and three student members who shall be appointed by the chairperson of the Committee, and approved by the Curriculum Council.

3. The Dean's College Advisory Board has the following responsibilities:

a. To review the Dean's College program and, when appropriate, propose modifications of the programs to the Curriculum Council.

b. To hear appeals from Dean's College students on decisions of the Dean's College Coordinator.

C. The Miscellaneous Programs Committee (MPC)

1. The Chairperson of the Curriculum Council shall appoint the Chairperson of the Miscellaneous Programs Committee from members of the Council with the approval of a majority of the Council. The term of office shall be one year; the same chairperson may not serve for more than three successive terms.

2. The Chairperson of the Miscellaneous Programs Committee shall appoint two additional faculty members, who must be approved by a majority of the Council. The term of the Committee members shall be one year; they may not serve for more than three consecutive years.

3. The Miscellaneous Programs Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Curriculum Council polices relating to the School of Dental Medicine, undergraduate academic programs that are not within the College of Arts and Sciences or any School of the University, or undergraduate academic programs that involve other universities.

4. The Chairperson of the Miscellaneous Programs Committee shall call meetings of that committee.

VII. Amendments Recommendations

A. Recommended amendments to the Operating Papers may be made by two-thirds of Council members present and are subject to approval by the Faculty Senate. Previous notice of the proposed amendment(s) must have been circulated to members on week prior to the meeting at which it is considered.