Curriculum development

The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent framework for the creation, deletion and modification of courses and academic programs at Lynn University.

Course name, number, description, prerequisite change; program content or name change

The first step in the process is to have the developed proposal discussed and approved by the department offering the course and/or program. New curricula or modifications to existing curricula should be tied to program, college, and university learning outcomes and developed with consideration of the strategic action plan created during the most recent program review.

After department approval, curricular proposals are reviewed and approved by the curriculum and academic standards committee of the college within which the department proposing the new or modified curriculum or course resides.

After this review, the dean of the college must review and approve or disapprove all curricular proposals.

Course change

If the proposal is for any of the following, the dean will sign off on the proposal and send a notification to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the university curriculum and academic standards committee, and the Registrar:

Course name change/number change

• Content, SLOs, and intent of the course remains largely unchanged

Course description change, including prerequisite change

• Content, SLOs, and intent of the course remains largely unchanged
• No additional resources required

If a proposal is for a course change that requires additional resources, the dean will present the proposal to the deans council. If the additional resources are approved by the deans council, the proposing dean will send the proposal, with the proposing dean’s and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ signatures, as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee , and to the Registrar.

Program change

If the proposal is for a program content change that meets all of the following three requirements, the dean will present the proposal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval. If approved, the dean will send the proposal, with the dean’s and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ signatures, as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee, and to the Registrar.

• Change uses already approved courses within the proposing college
• No additional resources required
• Total program credit count remains the same

If a proposal is for a program content change that requires additional resources, or requires approved courses outside the proposing college, the dean will present the proposal to the deans council. If the additional resources and/or courses are approved by the deans council, the proposing dean will send the proposal, with the proposing dean’s and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ signatures, as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee, SACSCOC Liaison, and Registrar.

If the proposal is for a program name or total credit count change, the dean will submit the proposal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs with the supporting rational. If approved, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit the proposal to the President for Board approval. If approved, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit the proposal, with the dean’s, Vice President for Academic Affairs’, and President’s signature, as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee, SACSCOC Liaison, and Registrar.

If the proposal is for program closure, the dean will submit the Program Closure Form to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, including date of proposed program closure, the number of students in the program, a teach out plan, and a plan for current faculty teaching in the program as well as other information pertinent for accreditation notification. Closure is defined as closed to admission or entry, not the cessation of instruction; i.e., closure date is when students can no longer start, not the date instruction ends. Closure approval ensures the institution has a plan and process to provide students reasonable completion options that minimize disruption and additional costs. Because closure approval is approval of the teach-out process, not the closure per se (i.e., not after the fact), a teach-out plan should be submitted as soon as possible after the decision is made to close.

Program closure includes ending a program at any location, including all methods of delivery, but also includes ending a student's completion option at a specific location or by a specific method of delivery. Therefore, program closure approval is required if a program closes:

• at a location (on-campus or off-campus instructional site) but continues to be offered at other locations, or
• by a method of delivery but continues to be offered by other methods of delivery

The college curriculum and academic standards committee will submit the Program Change Notification Form to the Dean who will forward it to the Executive Director for Accreditation and Academic Reporting for review. It will then be sent to the Academic Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs for review and approval.

If approved, the Vice President for Academic Affairs/SACSCOC Liaison will submit notification to SACSCOC and will notify the university curriculum and academic standards committee, the President (who will notify the Board of Trustees), the Registrar, Advising Center, Marketing, and Enrollment Services of the impending closure.

New course and/or program

There are two curricular proposals that require approval by the university curriculum and academic standards committee: new course proposal and new program proposal. Both follow similar processes:

The first step in the process is to have the developed proposal discussed and approved by the department offering the course and/or program. New curricula or modifications to existing curricula should be tied to program, college, and university learning outcomes and developed with consideration of the strategic action plan created during the most recent program review. After department approval, curricular proposals are reviewed and approved by the curriculum and academic standards committee of the college within which the department proposing the new or modified curriculum or course resides. After this review, the dean of the college must review and approve (by signing the proposal), or disapprove all curricular proposals.

If the proposal for a new course and/or program is approved by the respective dean, the university curriculum and academic standards committee college representative will present the proposal to the university curriculum and academic standards committee as new business. The curriculum and academic standards committee will review all proposals for academic merit, consistent rigor, potential overlap and/or duplication with existing courses and programs, minimum academic standards required for acceptable student performance, and issues concerning standards in teaching and learning. After discussion, each representative will bring the proposal back to their respective college for further discussion. At the next meeting of the university curriculum and academic standards committee, the proposal shall be introduced as old business and subject to further discussion and/or a vote to approve or reject the proposal.

Each college represented in the university curriculum and academic standards committee will be granted a single vote. Voting can only occur in person and requires a quorum of 2/3 of the colleges to be represented. An affirmative outcome will be defined as a simple majority of the votes cast. Any college that chooses to abstain from a vote will be not be counted in the number required for a simple majority, but will be counted in the quorum necessary to conduct the vote. After the votes have been tabulated by the chair, the voting process shall be considered closed and final. Any member that chose to abstain cannot change their position and later cast a vote, nor can a member who voted later request that his/her vote be modified.

New course

If the proposal is for a new course and receives an affirmative vote from the university curriculum and academic standards committee, the chair will sign the proposal form and the members of the committee will inform their respective colleges. The dean of the originating college will then present the proposal to the deans council for discussion and to ensure adequate resources. If approved, the presenting dean will send the proposal with the dean’s and Vice President for Academic Affairs’ signatures as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee, SACSCOC Liaison, and Registrar.

New program

If the proposal is for a new program and receives an affirmative vote from the university curriculum and academic standards committee , the chair will sign the proposal form and the members of the committee will inform their respective colleges. The dean of the originating college will then present the proposal to the deans council for discussion and to ensure adequate resources. If approved, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit the proposal to the President for board approval. If consented to, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will present the proposal, with the Dean’s, Vice President for Academic Affairs’, and President’s signatures, as a notification to the university curriculum and academic standards committee, SACSCOC Liaison, and Registrar.

Note: It is acceptable to include new course proposals within a new program proposal. However, all proposed new courses must receive an affirmative vote from the university curriculum and academic standards committee before the new program can similarly be approved.

The role of the faculty in regard to curriculum

The full-time faculty has a professional responsibility to define and offer a curriculum of the highest academic quality. In some fields, this professional responsibility is exercised within accrediting guidelines developed and enforced by professional associations. This professional responsibility cannot, by its very nature, be delegated. The faculty, charged by their college dean therefore, has primary responsibility for making curricular recommendations to the curriculum and academic standards committee . Faculty appropriately have this responsibility because they possess the expertise to judge best whether courses, majors, and programs adhere to scholarly standards.

Curricular matters for which faculty should make recommendations include:

1. The initiation of new academic courses and programs, and the discontinuance of academic courses and programs;
2. Course content, including choice of texts, syllabus design, assignments, course organization, and methods of evaluating students;
3. The designation of courses as degree or non-degree applicable, lower or upper division, or graduate level;
4. The adoption, deletion, or modification of requirements for degree major programs, minor programs, formal concentrations within programs, credential programs, and certificate programs.

The role of the colleges

Colleges should form a curriculum and academic standards committee , with representation from all departments, to review the proposals forwarded by each department. Each college and the conservatory should have two representatives from their college curriculum and academic standards committee on the university curriculum and academic standards committee , of which one should be the chairperson of the college committee. On matters requiring a vote, in the university curriculum and academic standards committee, each college receives one vote.

The role of the college curriculum and academic standards committee chairs

Each college, in accordance with accepted policy, should select a person experienced in the curricular process to serve as Chair of the college curriculum and academic standards committee , and will sit on the university curriculum and academic standards committee . The Chair should have knowledge of the department and college/program curricular processes. Chairs will be responsible for submitting all curricular changes, revisions, additions, and deletions to their respective Dean for action.

The role of the college curriculum and academic standards committees

The college curriculum and academic standards committees are responsible for reviewing all proposals from departments within the college for their academic merit and relationship to the undergraduate and graduate programs (where applicable) of other departments and the college as a whole. The committee shall also be responsible for reviewing proposals to avoid duplication, or to promote cooperation across departments within their college for maximum utilization of resources.

The role of deans

Every curricular proposal shall be submitted by the college curriculum and academic standards committee to the Dean of their college for approval or disapproval. The Dean's approval will be based on the determination that the proposal is consistent with plans for the long-range development of the college and university, that all resource implications of the proposal (teaching positions, space, equipment, supplies, staff) have been considered carefully, and that resources are available and committed for new courses and/or programs.

The role of the deans council

The deans council, chaired by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, will review all proposals that require courses and/or resources outside the proposing dean’s college, as well as all new courses and programs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs’ signature will indicate approval by the deans council.

The role of the university curriculum and academic standards committee

This committee's responsibilities are to make recommendations concerning curriculum, standards, and assessment including but not limited to: curriculum process; review of all proposals for new courses, and new programs for duplication and conformity; minimum academic standards required for acceptable student performance; and issues concerning standards in teaching and learning.

The university curriculum and academic standards committee will review new course proposals and new program proposals once they have been approved by the Dean of the college where the proposal originates. The university curriculum and academic standards committee will review all proposals for academic merit, consistent rigor, potential overlap and/or duplication with existing courses and programs, minimum academic standards required for acceptable student performance, and issues concerning standards in teaching and learning, and make recommendations in accordance with section 2 above.

The role of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

The Vice President for Academic Affairs will work with the deans individually, or through the deans council, to ensure that all changes are consistent with plans for the long-range development of the college and university. The Vice President for Academic Affairs’ approval will indicate that all resource implications of the proposal (teaching positions, space, equipment, supplies, staff) are or will be available and committed for the new courses and/or programs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will communicate any approvals to the dean of the proposing college, who will notify the university curriculum and academic standards committee, and Registrar.

All Academic Council matters that need to be communicated to the President and/or Board of Trustees will be done solely through the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The role of the SACSCOC Liaison

The SACSCOC Liaison will determine if new courses, new programs, or program changes are substantive and require SACSCOC notification and/or approval. The SACSCOC Liaison will request SACSCOC approval for all program closures as soon as possible after the decision is made to close the program.

The role of the President and Board of Trustees

All final curriculum proposals, as outlined in section 2.2 above, are subject to and will not be considered in effect until approved by the Board of Trustees and President of the university. The President’s signature on all proposals will indicate approval by both the President and the Board of Trustees.

To learn more about this policy or the supporting procedures, please contact Academic Affairs.