Contact person: Audrey Shalinsky (ashal@uwyo.edu)
Adding, modifying, or eliminating courses is one part of maintaining a curriculum. The Course Action Request Form for initiating a request to add, modify, or eliminate a course is available at University of Wyoming Office of the Registrar: Course Committee Information. The instructions for the form accompany it.
Requests for new courses need to follow the numbering system explained in UNIREG 721. The various course committees will be stringent in applying that numbering system. Requests for new courses need to include a proposed syllabus for the new course, and a clear explanation of the availability of resources to offer the course. For example, will other courses be offered less often or is an instructor increasing her/his teaching load?
Changes to courses, including adding a cross-list or dual-list or proposing a change in prerequisites, for example, are handled through the same process. Requests to change the content of a course should be accompanied by both the old and the proposed new syllabus. However, unless the request is to change the content of the course, it is not necessary to attach a syllabus. Requests to change or eliminate a course with a 1000 or 2000 number also requires contacting the Statewide Course Catalog coordinator (consult Janet Timmerman at X6-3152).
Requests for courses to be dual-listed (that is, to have both a 4000 and 5000 number) need to explain what different requirements there will be for graduate students. The explanation may be included in the accompanying syllabus. If it is not, attach an explanation to the syllabus.
The completed form must be signed by the head(s) of the department(s)/ program(s) involved in the creation, cross-/dual-listing, modification, or elimination of the course.
For all requests, the original, plus 10, copies are sent to the A&S Dean’s Office. Deadlines for submitting requests will be published at the beginning of fall and spring semesters. The Course Action Review Sub-committee reviews the requests and makes a recommendation to the Central Committee. Upon approval by the Central Committee, the request is sent to the University Course Committee. If approved by the University Course Committee, the requested action becomes effective. The process takes a minimum of 60 days. For a change or new course to be included in the next Bulletin, the process should be initiated no later than September.
The College of Arts and Sciences process requires that any requests for USP approval are first submitted to the Central Committee. That group will screen applications only regarding availability of resources in the unit to offer the courses in a regularly scheduled fashion. The University Studies Committee will review the proposals based on its criteria. Also, no unit may submit more than 10 USP courses without getting approval from the Central Committee. The criteria for approving courses beyond ten are at http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Faculty/university_studies_information.htm.
The Dean’s Office has a short form to be filled out and attached to USP approval requests, http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&s/Faculty/USP%20and%20Resource%20Commitment.doc That form will ask for the information necessary for the Central Committee to make its decisions relating to the availability of resources. Directions for submitting courses for USP are at USP forms http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/unst/USP_2003_faculty_page.htm.
Graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences are expected to be liberally educated—to have the knowledge and skills to deal with the unexpected and to see opportunities from multiple perspectives. A liberal education enhances the intellectual flexibility needed to find new applications for knowledge and to offer varied solutions to complex problems. To develop these abilities, the college faculty designed the A&S Core.
When you advise students, they should understand that you are suggesting courses that may meet different types of requirements: USP, the A&S core, their major and their minor (if applicable). Refer to the A&S Web for information on degree requirements.
Departments/programs submit proposals for the creation or elimination of a degree program to the dean, who after discussion with and recommendation from the A&S Central Committee, forwards the proposal to the vice-president for Academic Affairs. The Trustees must approve the addition or elimination of a degree program.
Following approval by the Trustees, the registrar includes the information in subsequent lists of UW degrees and materials that the Registrar’s Office controls. The department/program must make sure the information is included/eliminated in the appropriate department/program sections of the UW Bulletin, brochures, Web pages, etc.
The department/program is responsible for working with the registrar to incorporate any revisions in the online CAPP progress report program.
If it is a graduate program, the A&S Central Committee will first review the proposal and the dean will forward recommended proposals to the vice-president for Academic Affairs and the dean of the Graduate School.
A&S departments and programs may review their degree programs to determine if a concentration is appropriate. A printout of the material discussed here can be accessed by clicking on this link, Concentrations.htm.
A concentration is an area of focus that can be earned only within a specific bachelor’s degree program.
1. To qualify as a concentration and distinguish it from the major, at least 15 hours should be required, with specific core courses identified.
2. All required courses must be offered within a two-year period.
3. If two or more departments wish to share a concentration, both departments must agree on the requirements and offer the courses within a two-year period. A concentration cannot also be a minor, as minors are usually earned in a department other than the major.
4. Proposals for concentrations are to be submitted to the dean for review by the A&S Central Committee.
5. If approved, the dean will inform the vice president for Academic Affairs, the registrar, the Outreach School, Center for Advising and Career Services, and the department/program.
6. Once the concentration is approved, the department/program is responsible for working with the Office of the Registrar to ensure that the requirements are accurately reflected in the online degree progress program, CAPP.
Some particulars to keep in mind as you develop the concentrations:
1. Concentrations do not need Trustee approval. However, when an existing degree program is eliminated in favor of a concentration, the Trustees must approve the elimination of the degree program.
2. A concentration will not appear on the student’s transcript, but does appear on the student's Banner record.
3. If your department already uses descriptors such as tracks, sequences, options, specializations, etc., that are already like concentrations, consider changing the descriptors to streamline the language that will appear in print in the UW Viewbook, UW Bulletin, department/program brochures, or any other publications or listings.
4. Include the approved concentration on the department Web pages.
1. Eighteen to 24 credit hours are required for a minor in A&S. At least nine of these hours should be at the upper division (3XXX and above) unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise. A student must earn a grade of C in all courses taken for the minor. The University policy also indicates that along with a description of the requirements the proposal to add a minor should include learning outcomes.
2. At least 12 credit hours in the minor must be from courses not being counted toward the student’s major(s). Some departments or interdisciplinary programs may have additional conditions or restrictions regarding the minor.
3. The proposal should address whether or not additional resources will be necessary to offer the minor, and should indicate how often required courses will be taught. The university policy states that provision of a minor does not, in itself, constitute justification for the allocation of institutional resources.
4. The department head/program director will submit the proposal to the A&S Central Committee through the dean.
5. Following recommendation by the Central Committee, the dean will submit the proposal to the Office of Academic Affairs. A committee of academic college deans will make final approval of a minor.
6. The Office of Academic Affairs will inform the dean, the department head, the Admissions Office, the registrar, the Center for Advising and Career Services, and the Outreach School of the decision.
7. Once the minor is approved, create an abbreviated identification for the minor (up to four characters). Discuss this with the registrar for guidance.
8. Once the minor is approved, the department/program is responsible for working with the Office of the Registrar to ensure that the requirements are accurately reflected in the online degree progress program, CAPP.
9. The department/program should have the minor and requirements added to its Web pages. The Dean’s Office will add the minor to the listing on the college Web page so students can link to the department/program of the minor.