If an academic department believes that one (or more) of its courses-as currently designed-- is appropriate for inclusion in the General Education program, the department may petition to have the course(s) approved for the General Education program according to the following procedure:
Step 1.Proposals to add an existing course to the program begin in the department. A faculty member or committee completes the form titled "Proposal to the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee To add an existing course to the General Education Program" and revises the course syllabus in accordance with the "General Education Course Syllabus" form. The proposal must be approved by the department curriculum committee and the department chair before being sent forward.
Step 2.Ten copies of the Proposal, the General Education Course Syllabus, and the current "Official Course Syllabus" are sent to GECAC.
Step 3.GECAC schedules an open meeting to review the proposal in light of the program mission, the general learning goals and the learning goals established for the specific knowledge area of the program. The department proposing the course is given the opportunity to present the proposal and respond to questions from the committee or from interested faculty from other departments. Members of GECAC will then vote on the proposal.
Step 4.Course proposals approved by a simple majority of GECAC members will be sent to the Faculty Senate for review.
Step 5.Course proposals supported by the Faculty Senate are sent to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Catalog Review Committee which makes recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Step 6.Course recommendations approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs are officially added to the General Education program for the following academic year and are so designated in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Proposals for adding courses to the General Education program will be accepted by the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee throughout the academic year. However, because all recommendations from GECAC must be reviewed by the Faculty Senate before being sent to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Catalog Review Committee and then to the Vice President for final approval, the deadline for receipt of proposals by GECAC is September 30 for inclusion in the program for the following academic year.
The following is the official procedure for adding a new (or substantially revised) course to the General Education Program:
Step 1.New course proposals (or proposals for substantial course revisions) begin in the department and must be approved by the department curriculum committee and the department chair.
Step 2. New course proposals (or proposals for substantial course revisions) are submitted to the appropriate college curriculum committee for review and approval. (All proposals must be accompanied by the form titled "Cover Sheet for Proposal to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Catalog Review Committee." Proposals for new courses must be submitted in the format specified by the "New Course Proposal Form.")
Step 3.Course proposals approved by the college curriculum committee and intended for inclusion in the general education program are sent to the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee accompanied by the appropriate supporting materials. GECAC schedules open meetings to review the proposals in light of the established mission and goals of the general education program. The department proposing the new (or revised) course is notified of the meeting and is given an opportunity to present the proposal and respond to questions from the committee.
Step 4.Course proposals approved by GECAC are sent simultaneously to the Faculty Senate, the Student Government Association, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Step 5.The Faculty Senate and the Student Government Association forward their review and comments to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Course proposals supported by the Faculty Senate are sent to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Catalog Review Committee which makes recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Step 6.Course recommendations approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs are officially added to the General Education program for the following academic year and are so designated in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Proposals for adding courses to the General Education program will be accepted by the General Education Curriculum Advisory Committee throughout the academic year. However, because all recommendations from GECAC must be reviewed by the Faculty Senate before being sent to the Undergraduate Curriculum and Catalog Review Committee and then to the Vice President for final approval, the deadline for receipt of proposals by GECAC is September 30 for inclusion in the program for the following academic year.