In our department, newly proposed courses must be approved by the department to be initially offered at least twice as a Special Topics course (to gauge student interest). If there is sufficient enrolment over these two offerings, our departmental undergraduate curriculum committee takes a look at the proposal and determines whether to recommend to the department that the course become a "regular" course (regularly offered with a course description in the (now online only) undergraduate calendar). If the department approves, the course goes to the Faculty of Science Program and Curriculum Committee, and then to Faculty of Science Divisional Council, where it is voted on by all faculty members from the Faculty of Science (or at least those that show up at the meeting). Finally, it goes to Senate for final approval. I've never seen a course rejected along the line if it's approved by our department. So, from the first offering as a Special Topics course to becoming a regular course, we're usually talking two to three years. -Max Gwynn Maxwell Gwynn, PhD Psychology Department Wilfrid Laurier University 519-884-0710 ext 3854 [email protected]
>>> "Dr. Bob Wildblood" <[email protected]> 7/13/2009 2:27:25 PM >>> I can just discuss my experience with creating new courses (for which I held the record in a "contest" of fellow faculty at my most recent position at Indiana University Kokomo at 14 that I could remember). At state colleges and universities, the procedure that Michael described seems to be the norm, including that it is often possible to have a special topics that nobody has to approve except your departmental colleagues. At private liberal arts colleges, it has been my experience that creating new courses is much easier. In fact it is just like creating a special topics course in a state university. Now that I have about reached the end of my teaching career (I'm going back to work at a private practice, but will still do adjunct work at my new location in Fredericksburg, VA) I won't have to deal with that state level of bureaucracy any more. Bob --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
