Guidelines for
Additions, Deletions, and Changes to
Undergraduate Courses (100-599)
A. All course addition, deletion, and change proposals require a "Course Proposal and Change Request" (CPCR) form.
Guidelines for completing the form
A New Course requires:
- CPCR
- New Course Proposal Memo, with signatures Signatures of department chair and college dean indicate that course approval procedures practiced by the department and college have been completed. In the event the proposal is rejected during some stage of the approval process, written notice of the reason for rejection should be provided to the initiator(s) by the department chair or college dean as appropriate.
- Course outline or syllabus
- Memo of Intent The memorandum should be circulated after the college approval process via the Intent Distribution List on campus e-mail, with a two-week response request deadline. Distribution of the memo must occur while regular classes are in session (i.e., during the fall and spring semesters). It is the responsibility of the college dean to respond to any reservations or suggestions received or to refer the matter to Academic Affairs for resolution. A copy of all responses, reservations, or suggestions, with an indication of how the reservation was accommodated or resolved, should be attached to the Memo of Intent before submitting the paperwork to Academic Affairs.
A Deleted Course requires:
- CPCR
- Memo of Intent The memorandum should be circulated after the college approval process via the Intent Distribution List on campus e-mail, with a two-week response request deadline. Distribution of the memo must occur while regular classes are in session (i.e., during the fall and spring semesters). It is the responsibility of the college dean to respond to any reservations or suggestions received or to refer the matter to Academic Affairs for resolution. A copy of all responses, reservations, or suggestions, with an indication of how the reservation was accommodated or resolved, should be attached to the Memo of Intent before submitting the paperwork to Academic Affairs.
A Memo of Intent to delete a course is required only when any of the following apply:
- Course is required in any program other than those of originating department.
- Course is a listed elective in any program other than those of originating department.
- Course is cross listed.
- Course is articulated with community college coursework.
- Course has GE, Ethnic, Non-western, or WP status.
A Major Change requires:
- CPCR
- Memo of Intent The memorandum should be circulated after the college approval process via the Intent Distribution List on campus e-mail, with a two-week response request deadline. Distribution of the memo must occur while regular classes are in session (i.e., during the fall and spring semesters). It is the responsibility of the college dean to respond to any reservations or suggestions received or to refer the matter to Academic Affairs for resolution. A copy of all responses, reservations, or suggestions, with an indication of how the reservation was accommodated or resolved, should be attached to the Memo of Intent before submitting the paperwork to Academic Affairs.
Note: If you are uncertain about whether or not a change is major or minor, please contact Bitsy Wagner in Academic Affairs for assistance.
Definition: Major Change
- Substantial change of course title or description (i.e., if a naive reader cannot tell it's the same course, it's a substantial change).
Note: A new course should be created if the changes are substantial enough that a student taking the revised course should receive credit for both old and new versions of the course.- Change of course level (renumberings from lower- to upper- or graduate-divisions, or changes from upper- to lower-division status).
- Change of course units.
- Addition or deletion of laboratories or activities.
- Change to the grading method.
- Change in semester offered.
- Change in prerequisites or corequisites.
The above applies if:
- Course is required in any program other than those of originating department.
- Course is a listed elective in any program other than those of originating department.
- Course is cross listed.
- Course is articulated with community college coursework.
- Course has GE, Ethnic, Non-western, or Writing Proficiency status.
A Minor Change requires:
If you are uncertain about whether or not a change is major or minor, please contact Bitsy Wagner in Academic Affairs for assistance.
B. Forward completed CPCRs with all appropriate attachments to Academic Affairs where they will be reviewed for adherence to procedures and completion of required forms. Discrepancies or non-compliant paperwork will be returned to the college dean for resolution. Course proposals approved by Academic Affairs will be incorporated into The University Catalog and computer files and the various offices concerned will be informed. A copy of the approved CPCR will be returned to the college at the end of each catalog cycle.
C. Any and all unresolved reservations or problems of non-compliance to procedures may be referred by Academic Affairs or the college dean to the Educational Policies and Programs Committee of the Faculty Senate for review and recommendation.
D. Changes to existing courses will normally become effective with the next edition of the catalog. Course additions usually become effective at the beginning of any semester, regardless of the catalog cycle.
Honors Courses
Honors courses must be a part of either Honors in General Education (GE) or Honors in the Major.
Honors in the Major - Students in Honors in the Major must complete six units of special Honors course work in their major. At least three of these units should be 499H, Independent Studies.
- Creating a 499H course - Submit a CPCR form to Academic Affairs to create a 499H; use an appropriate course subject abbreviation (e.g., UNIV 499H) and an appropriate title (e.g., Honors in University Studies). Activation of a new 499H course does not require a memo of intent and a new course proposal. The Honors Director will indicate approval by initialing the CPCR and returning it to the department.
- Creating a new course specifically for Honors in the Major (other than 499H) - A new Honors in the Major course is one that does not have a non-honors version. The approval process requires the same paperwork as any other new course.
- Creating an Honors version of an existing course - Academic Affairs will authorize an Honors version of an existing course after a department has
- submitted a course syllabus, a brief statement describing how the Honors version meets the expectations for Honors curriculum enhancement, and a CPCR to the Honors Director, who will recommend approval to Academic Affairs by initialing the CPCR and returning it to the department.
- consulted with the GWAR coordinator if the course will function as a WP course. If approved, the GWAR coordinator will notify the appropriate parties in Academic Affairs by e-mail;
- the college has completed an e-mail distribution of a memo of intent to add the course.
Honors in General Education
- Creating a new course specifically for Honors in GE - A new Honors in GE course is one that does not have a non-honors version. The course approval process requires the same paperwork as any other new course. The review for GE status requires a separate application and approval process.
- Creating an Honors version of an existing GE course - Academic Affairs will authorize an Honors version of an existing GE course after the following has occurred:
- The department has submitted a course syllabus, a brief statement describing how the Honors version meets the expectations for Honors curriculum enhancement, and a CPCR to the Honors Director, who will recommend approval to Academic Affairs by initialing the CPCR and returning it to the department. In addition, the Honors Director will recommend the inclusion of the course in the Honors curriculum in a memo or e-mail to the Provost.
- The Provost approves the recommendation.
- The college has submitted a CPCR and completed an e-mail distribution of a memo of intent to add the course.
Honors Courses Changes and Deletions
Changes to and deletion of Honors courses require recommendation of the Honors Director prior to approval and adherence to these guidelines for changing or deleting regular courses. Departments should forward CPCRs for deletes and changes to Honors courses to the Honors Director for review. The Honors director will initial the CPCR if recommended for approval and return to the department.
Graduate Courses (600-699)
The procedures are the same as for undergraduate courses except that these proposals must also be approved by the graduate committee of the department and college. Signatures of department chair and college dean indicate the graduate course approval process approved by department (and college, if applicable) has been completed.
Web-based Courses
For web-based courses, the following will apply:
An on-line course that is significantly different in
content (e.g., no lab) or for which the web-based course is not interchangeable
with the standard course may be differentiated from the traditional course
by the addition of a "W" after the number (e.g., NURS 302W). Such courses
will appear in the program's course offering section of the catalog below
the existing course. This type of change is only needed in special circumstances
-- consult with Jim Jessee (x4535) or Bitsy Wagner (x6941) prior to preparing
paperwork.
This type of course requires new course paperwork.