The submission of courses for approval or modification is the responsibility of the Chairperson. If faculty propose a course, they are expected to go to the Chairperson with their proposal, and if the Chairperson wishes to submit it, s/he ensures, before submission, that the proposal is complete and follows all required guidelines. These include the careful and thorough response to items and questions on the 4 official forms, which are available electronically in Word format through the Provost’s office. In addition to these forms, it is necessary to attach a syllabus that accurately reflects the course development throughout the semester (session by session) and should indicate dates, assignments, required text or materials, exams and projects. A cover letter explaining the need for the new or revised course is also recommended, in order to assure a proper and fair evaluation at the committee level. Course approvals must follow State mandates.

Those requesting approval of a new course or changes to an existing course are strongly advised to consult the Registrar’s office to prevent duplication of course content, numbering, and to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the applications prior to the approval process.

Once the written material is in place, the steps for submission are as follows:

1. The Chairperson signs and submits the course documents to the Dean for approval.
2. If approved and signed by the Dean, the documents are forwarded to the Provost’s Office, where they are reviewed and processed.
3. The Provost’s Office forwards the course material to both the Senate and the Dean’s Council for final approval.
4. When both bodies have approved the application, the signed documents are forwarded to the Registrar for official listing, and to the Chairperson, for department implementation.

Courses may not be published if they have not received final approval as indicated. In some instances, a course may receive conditional approval, but in that case the department must resubmit the revised documents to the Provost with a copy to the Senate Committee, and provide assurance that all conditions have been met before publication.

What constitutes curriculum change?
Any changes to course number, title, credit allotment, contact hours, classification (studio/lecture) or content as documented in the bulletin description, constitutes a curriculum revision requiring a formal approval as described above.

Why is this procedure required?
All course approvals must meet NY State Education Department mandates.