Overview
University Council has developed several mechanisms for the approval of new and revised courses and programs, student admission requirements, course and program deletions, prerequisites, and other types of curricular changes. While retaining approval authority for significant curricular changes, University Council has delegated authority for a number of curricular changes to college deans, the provost, University Course Challenge and the Academic Programs Committee (APC).
Overview of Steps
- Review the Year at a Glance Memo to familiarize yourself with deadlines for the various committee approvals.
- Review the procedures and complete any required curricular changes forms (see Procedures and Forms below)
- Consult with your department and college about their review and approval procedures
- Check the Curricular Changes Authority Chart (see below) to determine whether university-level notices and approvals are also required (through Council, Academic Programs Committee, or University Course Challenge).
- For changes requiring university-level approval, please submit any required forms to seanine.warrington@usask.ca and amanda.storey@usask.ca. If you require assistance with the curricular change process, please contact amanda.storey@usask.ca.
Highlighted below are procedures for some commonly-proposed curricular changes.
Procedures and Forms
Adding, changing or replacing a program or course
Procedures
New Degree and Degree-Level Program
including brand new degrees; new fields of study; and new degree-level certificates and diplomas
New Non-Degree Level Programming
including non-degree certificates and courses
Major and Minor Program Revisions
including minor editorial changes; changes to required and elective courses in existing programs; program terminations; and tuition changes
New Courses and Course Changes
including new courses; course deletions; changes to prerequisites and corequisites; course title changes; course fee changes
Name Changes
including changes to existing degree and non-degree programs; fields of study; concentrations; and options, college, school, and department names
Forms
- Deleting a program:
- Adding a new program:
- Adding, changing or replacing a program:
- Proposal Form for Curricular Changes (for submission to Academic Programs Committee) Word | PDF
- New Course Creation Form Word | PDF
- Consultation with the Registrar form Word | PDF
- Physical Resource and Space Requirements Form PDF
- Library Requirements form Word
- ICT Requirements form Word | PDF
- Budget Requirements form Word | PDF
- University Course Challenge Submit form Word | PDF
- Name Change form Word | Fillable PDF
- SESD: Interdisciplinary Use of Subject Codes form PDF
Guidelines, Policies and Other Resources
- Information Guide for Course and Program Deletion
- Academic Courses policy on course delivery, examinations and assessment of student learning
- Admission to Degree Programs policy
- Certificate and Diploma Guidelines
- Criteria for evaluation of program proposals and APC Worksheet
- Double-listing of courses: definitions and procedures
- Academic and Curricular Nomenclature
- Special Topics Courses: procedures for approval
- University Course Challenge procedures; Moribund Courses procedures
- Viable Enrolments Report 2007
- Approved Programs and Fields of Study listing
- Adoption and Oversight of Cross-College Minors
Examples
- Example of a new program - this proposal is for the BSc in Applied Mathematics (2013)
- Example of a course list and calendar entry with revised courses
- Example of how to map skills and knowledge, and career paths to a curriculum
- Example of a revised program -- these changes show a marked-up Calendar entry
- Example of a new field of study at the minor level
- Example of a program option
- Example of a Deans Letter of Support
- Example of a College Statement and Related Documentation
Course Challenge
The University Course Challenge is a collegial procedure for rapid approval of many curricular changes. The Challenge submissions are posted.
Authority Chart
Academic and Curricular Changes Authority Chart for approval of academic unit and curricular changes
Questions or issues about the appropriate level of approval required for a curricular change can be reviewed by the Academic Programs Committee of Council.
By Authority
Level of Curricular Change
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Type of change
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University Approval LevelGeneral Principles: Existing programs, curricular innovations and changes will maintain reasonable consistency in academic standards, program requirements and expectations, and student experience. NOTE: All new programs and curricular revisions with tuition adjustments are not considered to be final until Board of Governors� approval is secured. See the University of Saskatchewan Act (1995) (Part Five, Section 48) |
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UNIVERSITY COUNCIL | |
Principles and Procedures: Council approves academic matters which establish university precedents, set policies, or affect allocation of university resources. Council requires recommendations from the Academic Programs Committee on the proposal's academic merit, budget implications, and academic priority. |
Additions or deletions
Program changes
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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS COMMITTEE (APC) | |
Principles and Procedures: APC ensures that the application and interpretation of University Council policies, procedures and nomenclature relating to academic standards, program requirements and student experience is reasonably consistent across programs. APC can consult with other committees if required. . |
Additions or deletions
Program changes
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UNIVERSITY COURSE CHALLENGE (UCC) | |
Principles and Procedures: University Course Challenge is appropriate for approval of straightforward curricular changes to existing programs, including those which may affect students and programs in other colleges. However, if the APC determines that curricular changes submitted to UCC have significant financial impact they will be referred to university budgetary authority for review prior to approval. Deadlines: The January UCC is the deadline for any change for the next Course and Program Catalogue; the April UCC is the deadline for any new classes for the next year; the May UCC is the deadline for any prerequisite or other course change for the next year. |
Additions or deletions
Program changes
Course changes
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College Approval LevelGeneral Principles: Colleges are responsible for organizing and administering delivery of approved programs and for ensuring that progression and graduation standards reflect the specific academic and professional standards and requirements of the degree programs offered by that college. |
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COLLEGE | |
Principles and Procedures: Colleges approve most straightforward changes in courses which do not affect students or programs in other colleges. Colleges also approve changes to academic rules which affect student selection, progression and graduation. Course changes which will be of interest to students and faculty advisors in other colleges can be posted as an information item in the UCC. |
Additions
Program changes
Course changes
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COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH | |
Principles and Procedures: University Council has delegated special authority to the College of Graduate Studies and Research to make program changes in graduate thesis programs which streamline those programs and enhance research productivity. The curricular changes made by CGSR under this delegated authority should be submitted annually to APC and forwarded to Council for information.
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Additions or deletions
Program changes
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Other Approval LevelsGeneral Principles: Curricular approvals for non-degree-level programs has been delegated to academic officers, on the principle that while such programs make use of university administrative capacity and expertise, they are cost-recovery, service or adjunct programs only and do not require ongoing oversight by University Council. |
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VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC AND PROVOST | |
Principles and Procedures: University Council has delegated to the Provost the authority to approve Certificates of Successful Completion. Contact Registrarial Services Office to complete a Consultation with the Registrar Form. |
Additions or deletions
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DEAN | |
Principles and Procedures: University Council has delegated to the Dean the authority to approve Certificates of Attendance. Contact Registrarial Services Office to complete a Consultation with the Registrar Form. |
Additions or deletions
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FEE REVIEW COMMITTEE | |
Principles and Procedures: The Provost's Committee on Integrated Planning (PCIP) has delegated to the Fee Review Committee authority over ancillary service fees. All new or revised course and class fees outside of standard tuition and fees must be approved by the Fee Review Committee. Please see the Tuition and FeesAuthorization Policy.
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Additions or deletions
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REGISTRAR | |
Principles and Procedures: University Council has delegated to the University Registrar authority for registration, the student information system, and course delivery so that academic programs may be administered in an orderly manner. The Consultation with the Registrar Form must be completed for all new programs and other curricular items that are meant to be listed on academic records. |
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Questions?
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