Consultation

The complexity of the curriculum development process requires consultation with departments that may be affected by curricular proposals and/or should be involved in the curriculum development process. Due to issues relating to planning and financial considerations, consultation with Deans and Department Chairs/School Directors is of paramount importance early in the curriculum development process. Proposers may elect to attach copies of email communications as evidence of consulation. In Curriculog, proposers also have the option to Custom Route (instructions linked) the proposal to department or college.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is responsible for initiating a curricular consultation?
  • It is the responsibility of the department/school initiating the curricular change to assess the impact of the proposed change and consult with those who might be affected. Each consultation should be initiated in writing (communication and forms can be sent via email) and should identify the nature of the proposed change. If departments/other units have objections to the changes, it is their responsibility to promptly notify the initiating department/school of the reasons for the objections. Both parties are then expected to work together to attempt to find a solution.
• What happens if the objections are not resolved?
  • Every effort should be made to resolve any objections at the college level, however, if proposals with unresolved objections are approved at the college level, the College of Graduate Studies or Undergraduate Education Office must be notified of the unresolved objections. The Graduate Studies and Research (GS&R) and Undergraduate Studies (UGS) committees provide forums for the parties with unresolved objections. If the objections cannot be resolved at this level, the proposal may be elevated to the Curriculum and Research (C&R) Committee and, subsequently, the Provost. 
• What are typical examples of curricular proposals requiring consultation?
  • 1. A change in an existing course, which may include a change to course content, a change in course pre/corequisites, a change in the credit hours or units, and/or a change in course title, that may affect other departments that require the course or use the course as an elective or have a similar course offering or a course with a similar title (a potential duplication issue).
    2. Adding or removing courses to a program will affect other departments whose courses are being added or deleted, as well as other departments whose courses are prerequisites for the course being added or deleted. The addition of courses to a major or minor may impact demand for library resources, educational technologies, laboratory space, computer resources and other support services, and additional consultation by the originating body may be advisable.
    3. The development of a new or revision of an existing program will affect departments whose course may be used as part of the plan of study to meet general education, support courses, and/or recommended electives. The addition of courses to a new major, minor or certificate may impact demand for library resources, educational technologies, laboratory space, computer resources and other support services, and additional consultation by the originating body may be advisable.