Program Modification Process
- Why are these program changes needed at BGSU at this time?
- What is the student-centered reason for proposing changes to this program?
- If possible, cite available data, results of consultations with faculty, students, advisors, advisory boards, etc., as evidence.
- If this proposal is the result of a change in accreditation or licensure standards, please provide that information.
- How does this proposal align with the Forward strategic plan? Please note specific objectives from Forward and provide an explanation of how these changes align with those objectives.
- How does this proposal impact students currently enrolled in the unit’s programs?
- If this proposal results in the elimination of courses required by students matriculating under previous catalog years, is there a plan for accommodating those current students?
- Citing available evidence, please describe the impact of these changes on student demand for this program.
- Do these changes result in this program requiring something other than four calendar years for a baccalaureate degree and two calendar years for an associate degree?
- Yes or No
- If so, how many hours/years to obtain the degree?
- Why is it necessary for this degree to require more than the standard time for degree completion?
- Please note that most undergraduate degree programs should not exceed 122 credit hours.
- If matriculation requirements are being changed, such as a pre-major program or GPA threshold why are these changes necessary?
- Does this proposal impact other units in your college or in other colleges?
- Yes or No
- If so, please attach letters of endorsement from unit heads in impacted areas. E-mails are sufficient.
- In what ways do the proposed program changes positively impact recruitment and retention?
- Do the proposed program changes work to increase access and reduce opportunity gaps among students from underrepresented populations?
- If so, please explain how.
- Are the resources (e.g., personnel, space, equipment, budgetary) required by this proposal already in place in the unit? Yes or No
- If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled?
- If hiring is required, please include a letter of endorsement from your dean and the Provost or designee.
- Can this proposal be implemented with minimal impact on current faculty workloads?
- Yes or No
- If so, please explain how. If not, how will those impacts be absorbed by the unit?
- If hiring is required, please include a letter of endorsement from your dean and the Provost or designee.
- Are the space and/or equipment resources required by this proposal already in place in the unit?
- Yes or No
- If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled?
- Please include a letter of endorsement from your dean if additional space and/or equipment resources are required.
- Please check here to confirm that you have consulted with the University Library to ensure that necessary library resources are available.
- Indicate any new one-time costs for materials, equipment, services, etc. directly associated with the modified program.
- Please describe how these costs will be covered.
- Please submit a checksheet that shows the degree requirements, highlighting the changes being proposed here.
- Please describe the proposed changes to this program.
- If this proposal is for a minor change to the checksheet, please upload the new checksheet.
- Please upload new catalog copy.
- Proposed Program Name:
- Please describe the rationale for change.
- If you have documentation to support the change, such as materials from accrediting bodies, national disciplinary organizations, etc., please upload that here.
- Describe the rationale for suspending admission or eliminating a program. Please include enrollment data for the last five years.
- Please describe how students currently enrolled in a program being eliminated will be accommodated to finish their degrees.
When an existing graduate program requires modification, either a single faculty member or a group of faculty may work on the curriculum development. However, a single faculty member is required to “author” the curriculum development process and be the primary faculty contact by completing a Curriculum Development form, found on the Graduate College website.
Within this line college approval process, the Graduate Council requires approval of the chair/director and line college dean (see Graduate Curriculum Modification Routing Info).
For programs that involve multiple departments or colleges, evidence of support from all departments/schools or colleges involved must be included. Line colleges may have additional procedures (e.g., a College Graduate Curriculum Committee). If they do, the curriculum developer should contact their college for their college process.
Courses or programs that are online or hybrid will also be reviewed and approved by Online and Summer Academic Programs (OSAP).
Once the line Dean’s signature is secured, Curriculum Development forms will be reviewed by the GCR committee.
Curriculum Development forms are first viewed by the chair of the GCR, along with the Graduate Dean’s designate, to judge if the modifications are minor and have no influence on any other unit. For example, course changes that are limited to title, number, or credit hour modifications should not require committee review. If the chair and dean’s designate determine that the modifications do not require sub-committee review, they are forwarded for the Graduate Dean’s approval. However, these modifications will be included as informational items on the full council agenda for review with the option of sending them back to GCR (in the event that there are unforeseen issues.)
All other new and modified course forms in addition to program modifications must go to the GCR committee. Complete curriculum forms must be received by the GCR at least one week prior to committee meetings for potential inclusion on the committee’s agenda. Committee review of new and modified courses and modified programs requires a minimum of a single reading by the sub-committee. During this reading review, the author (or a representative) of the Curriculum Development form must attend the committee meeting in the event that there are questions (a review will not take place without the author or representative for the author present at this meeting). At the end of the review, the committee votes on whether to forward it to the full council for approval. If there are substantial questions about the new or modified course, at any time during this initial reading, a GCR committee member may ask for a vote to table the approval vote, thus in effect requesting a second reading. However, the default process will be a single reading and then a vote to forward it to the full council. The committee may also decide that a course or program modification does not require Graduate Council review if the modifications are minor and have no influence on any other unit. These are forwarded to the Graduate Dean for approval and will be included as informational items on the full council agenda for review with the option of sending them back to GCR. However, all curriculum modifications which require state approval will be reviewed by the GCR and the full council.
Once satisfactorily reviewed by the GCR, the Curriculum Development form is then sent to the full Graduate Council for review and approval. As with the GCR, during this reading review, the author (or a representative) of the Curriculum Development form must attend the committee meeting in the event that there are questions. At the end of the review, the Council votes on the curriculum approval. However, if there are substantial questions about the new or modified course or program during this reading, a member of the council may ask for a vote to table the approval vote in order to provide time for curriculum revisions. This in effect is requesting a second reading. However, the default process will be a single reading and then a vote for approval.
Updated: 10/03/2023 03:04PM