Unit Heads/Chairs/Directors

Key Responsibilities

  • Ensure that curriculum proposals align with unit priorities
  • Review feedback from the unit-level curriculum committee
  • Conduct unit-level resource analyses to evaluate the impact of curriculum proposals on faculty assignments, classroom spaces, equipment, etc
  • Accompany initiators to present proposals to College Curriculum Committees, Undergraduate or Graduate Council, Committee on Academic Affairs, Senate Executive Committee, and Faculty Senate
  • Provides approval on behalf of the unit-level curriculum committee (graduate proposals) 

Guiding Questions

For New Program Proposals
  • Are the resources (personnel, space, equipment, budgetary) required by this proposal already in place in the unit? If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled?
    • Note: hiring needs should be discussed with your Dean and the Provost’s Office before being included in new program proposals     
    • Can this proposal be implemented with minimal impact on current faculty workloads? How? If not, how will those impacts be absorbed by the unit?
  • New program proposals should be reviewed by unit faculty. How will you incorporate their feedback to make the proposal stronger? 
  • Are the learning outcomes appropriate for and aligned with the unit’s academic mission and strategic priorities?
  • New program proposals should be reviewed by units that may be affected by implementation of the proposal. How will you incorporate their feedback to make the proposal stronger? 
For New Course Proposals
  • Are the resources (personnel, space, equipment, budgetary) required by this proposal already in place in the unit? If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled? 
    • Note that hiring needs should be discussed with your Dean and the Provost’s Office before being included in new program proposals
    • Can this proposal be implemented with minimal impact on current faculty workloads? How? If not, how will those impacts be absorbed by the unit?
  • New course proposals should be reviewed by unit faculty. How will you incorporate their feedback to make the proposal stronger? 
  • How many current faculty in the unit are qualified and prepared to teach this course? Please do not rely on one individual faculty member to teach a course – FILs and other leaves, unit demands, and student needs could necessitate assignments that prevent such a course from being taught on a sufficient basis.
  • Do you agree with the proposer’s and the curriculum committee’s assessments of the following aspects of the proposal? If not, please explain your response.
    • Required readings represent a diverse and inclusive range of perspectives on the subject matter covered in the course?
    • Readings are up-to-date, representing state-of-the-art, current methodologies and perspectives in the field of study?
    • Course’s fit with current curriculum in the unit?
    • Learning outcomes are appropriate for and aligned with the unit’s academic mission?
    • If this course is intended to be an elective, is it needed by the unit’s students?
  • New course proposals should be reviewed by units that may be affected by implementation of the proposal. How will you incorporate their feedback to make the proposal stronger?  
For Program Modifications
  • Are the resources (personnel, space, equipment, budgetary) required by this proposal already in place in the unit? If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled? 
    • Note that hiring needs should be discussed with your Dean and the Provost’s Office before being included in new program proposals
    • Can this proposal be implemented with minimal impact on current faculty workloads? How? If not, how will those impacts be absorbed by the unit?
  • Has this proposal been seen and commented on by unit faculty? If not, why? What was their feedback?
  • Has this proposal been seen by affected units beyond your own? What was their feedback?
For Course Modifications
  • Are the resources (personnel, space, equipment, budgetary) required by this proposal already in place in the unit? If not, what resources are required and how will those needs be fulfilled? 
    • Note that hiring needs should be discussed with your Dean and the Provost’s Office before being included in new program proposals
    • Can this proposal be implemented with minimal impact on current faculty workloads? How? If not, how will those impacts be absorbed by the unit?
  • Has this proposal been seen and commented on by unit faculty? If not, why? What was their feedback?
  • How many current faculty in the unit are qualified and prepared to teach this course? Please do not rely on one individual faculty member to teach a course – FILs and other leaves, unit demands, and student needs could necessitate assignments that prevent such a course from being taught on a sufficient basis.
  • Do you agree with the proposer’s and the curriculum committee’s assessments of the following aspects of the proposal? If not, please explain your response.
    • Required readings represent a diverse and inclusive range of perspectives on the subject matter covered in the course?
    • Readings are up-to-date, representing state-of-the-art, current methodologies and perspectives in the field of study?
    • Course’s fit with current curriculum in the unit?
    • Learning outcomes are appropriate for and aligned with the unit’s academic mission?
  • Has this proposal been seen by affected units beyond your own? What was their feedback?

Updated: 09/07/2023 10:51AM