Educational Policies and Planning Committee

Meeting Minutes

November 12, 2010

 

I.                    Call to order:  Scott Gordon, EPPC Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. on November 12, 2010 in Rawl Annex 142.  The following persons were present:

Regular Members:  Susan Bashinski, Scott Gordon, James Holloway, John Kenney, Janice Lewis, Blaise Williams

Ex-Officio Members: Deedee Glascoff, Linner Griffin, George Kasperek, David Siegel

Absent:  Marianna Walker, Ed Stellwag

 

II.                  The minutes of the October 8, 2010 meeting were approved as submitted.

 

III.                Unfinished Business:  Chancellor Ballard’s proposed revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual, Part V. Academic Information, Section III. Curriculum Development

A motion was passed to take off the table a motion to add the following sentences to C.2. New Minors, Certificates, Concentrations; Degree Title Changes; Teacher Licensure Areas; and Discontinuing Degree Programs:  “The Chancellor and his or her designee with consent of the Chair of the Faculty Senate may establish deadlines by which each person and/or committee listed must report its concurrence (approval) or non-concurrence with the proposed action.  Failure to report by the established deadline shall be considered an abstention and the proposed action shall progress to the next level for consideration.”  The Chair read the untabled motion and opened the floor for discussion.  Following discussion, an amended motion was made, seconded and passed to add the following sentences to C.2. New Minors, Certificates, Concentrations; Degree Title Changes; Teacher Licensure Areas; and Discontinuing Degree Programs:  “The Chancellor or his or her designee in consultation with the Chair of the Faculty may establish deadlines of not less than two weeks by which each person and/or committee listed must report its concurrence (approval) or non-concurrence with the proposed action.  Failure to report by the established deadline shall be considered an abstention and the proposed action shall progress to the next level for consideration.”  This revision will be added to the draft of Part V. Academic Information, Section III. Curriculum Development that was circulated with the October 8, 2010 minutes.

 

IV.                New Business

a.       EPPC’s role in the Unit Academic Program Review process. 

Dr. Griffin reviewed the October 22 Unit Academic Program Review Workshop and noted that Professors Gordon and Lewis represented the EPPC at the workshop.  The committee reviewed the flow chart and checklist/timeline on pages 10-11 of the Procedures for Unit Academic Program Review.  Dr. Griffin asked whether the Task Force’s understanding of the role of the EPPC in the process matched the committee’s understanding.  Following discussion, a motion was made, seconded and passed as follows:  “The EPPC will review the Self-Study, Review Committee Report, and the Unit Response Plan which is the product of Step 8 on the timeline on the checklist included in the Procedures for Unit Academic Program Review.  The EPPC will provide an appropriate response to the Coordinator prior to Step 9 on the timeline for consideration in the preparation of the draft Final Action Plan.”  Following discussion concerning the type of review to be conducted by the EPPC, a motion was made, seconded and passed that the EPPC will review the Self-Study, Review Committee Report, and the Unit Response Plan for issues that fall within the committee’s charge.  Dr. Griffin will send the committee the documents for the Department of Chemistry and the School of Communication for discussion at the December 10 meeting.

 

b.      Review of Low Productivity Programs

A faculty member requested that the EPPC start immediate action on the list of low productivity programs distributed by the UNC Office of the President.  To facilitate discussion of this request, Chair Gordon distributed a copy of the list, Faculty Senate Resolution #08-52 (which was rejected by the Chancellor), and the section of Part V of the ECU Faculty Manual dealing with discontinuation recommendations resulting from the Board of Governors’ low productivity review.  During the discussion, it was pointed out that the Board of Governors guidelines supersede Part V in the area of review of low productivity programs and that the review procedures listed in Part V have not been followed for a number of years.  A motion was made, seconded and passed with one abstention that as a committee, we ask the Chair to write a memo to the Provost and the Vice-Chancellor for Health Sciences asking them to inform the EPPC if they make a decision to discontinue a program. 

 

V.                  Announcements

a.       The Chair and Professor Lewis participated in the interview of a candidate for the position of Coordinator of Academic Program Development.

 

b.      Professor Sid Rachlin of the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Instructional Technology Education sent the Chair a memo asking that the department’s request for a new teaching field option for mathematics education in the Master of Arts in Teaching degree be placed back on the table.  The Chair will find out if there is a set procedure for such requests and if there is an appellate procedure for the denial of requests by the EPPC.  The Chair clarified that the denial of the request was presented to the Faculty Senate as an informational item, but that the Senate did not vote on it and that in the case of denials, the EPPC does not give a timeline or suggestions to the department, but simply votes to approve or deny the request.

 

VI.                Adjournment

There being no further business, Chair Gordon adjourned the meeting at 3:40 p.m.

 

The next EPPC meeting will be on Friday, December 10, 2010, at 1:00 p.m. in Rawl Annex 142.

Minutes submitted by Janice S. Lewis

 

 

 

(Please refer to Faculty Senate Resolution #10-03 for additional revisions already incorporated into the text noted below.) 

 

Proposed Additional Revisions to the ECU Faculty Manual, Part V. Academic Information, Section III. Curriculum Development

Revise Part V. Section III. Curriculum Development to read as follows:
(Deletions are noted in strikethrough and additions are noted in bold print):

III.  Academic Program and Curriculum Development
Program and curriculum development is a faculty responsibility. Program and curriculum changes may be initiated, prepared, and presented for review to all relevant ECU campus bodies by voting faculty as defined in ECU Faculty Manual, Appendix L. Development of new academic degree programs and certificates is governed by the policies and procedures of the General Administration (GA).  , specified in Administrative Memorandum 406 and in Administrative Memorandum 407 for Distance Education. Consultation with the ECU Office of Academic Programs is recommended before preparing program development requests.   Instructions on specific procedures and documents for program and curriculum development proposals are available on the office of
Academic Programs website.

 

The Academic Program Development Collaborative Team, an advisory body to the Academic Council, collaborates with units to strengthen program proposals and informs the Educational Policies and Planning Committee of its recommendations to the Academic Council and to the dean of the Graduate School concerning graduate programs under consideration. The office of Continuing Studies processes requests to deliver new and existing academic programs through distance education. The chancellor has the final campus authority on academic program decisions.

 

A.  Definitions

1.   Degree Programs
A degree program is a program of study in a discipline specialty that leads to a degree in that distinct specialty area at a particular level of instruction. All degree programs are categorized individually in the University's academic program inventory at the twelve-digit CIP code level. As a general rule, a degree program requires coursework in the discipline specialty of at least 27 semester hours at the undergraduate level and 21 semester hours at the doctoral level. A master’s-level program requires that at least one-half of the total hours be in the program area. Programs with fewer hours are designated a concentration within an existing degree program. Degree programs require the approval of the GA and the Board of Governors (BOG). Minors and concentrations receive final approval at the campus level. 

 

 

2.  Certificates
A certificate program provides an organized program of study that leads to the awarding of a certificate rather than a degree.  Certificate programs are offered at the pre-baccalaureate, post-baccalaureate, and post-master’s levels.  UNC-GA has indicated that post-baccalaureate and post-master’s certificates must require a specified number of hours (18 sh for post-baccalaureate, and 24 sh for post-master’s) to be reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  Program planners should be aware that not meeting these criteria may impact consideration of financial aid eligibility.  Once a certificate is approved, ECU will submit it to the Department of Education to determine if the program is eligible for participation in the Title IV (financial aid) programs.

 

3.  Teacher Licensure Areas (TLA)
These are specific course clusters which meet licensure requirements of the State Board of Education but do not lead to the conferral of a particular degree or a certificate. These may be at the entry level or advanced level of teacher licensure. When an institution receives authorization from the State Board of Education to offer a TLA, the senior vice president for academic affairs of UNC-GA must be notified. A current inventory of teacher licensure programs approved by the State Board of Education is available from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.


B.  Curriculum Approval Process

Curriculum development includes developing courses and requirements for new academic programs, and developing and revising courses and requirements for existing programs.

 

The following is the order for seeking campus approval for undergraduate curriculum changes (1000-4000-level):

§ Curriculum committee of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Voting faculty of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Academic Standards (if requesting Liberal Arts Foundations Curriculum Credit);

§ Writing Across the Curriculum Committee (if requesting Writing Intensive credit);

§ University Service-Learning Committee (if requesting Service-Learning credit);

§ Communicate with units and programs that may be directly or indirectly affected by the curriculum;

§ Chairperson/director of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Curriculum committee of the college in which the program is/will be housed and TLA proposals to Council on Teacher Education;

§ Council on Teacher Education (for Teacher Licensure Areas);

§ Dean of the college in which the program is/will be housed;

§ University Curriculum Committee;

§ Faculty Senate;

§ Chancellor

 

The following is the order for seeking campus approval for graduate curriculum changes (5000-level and above):

§ Curriculum committee of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Voting faculty of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Communicate with units and programs that may be directly or indirectly affected by the curriculum;

§ Chairperson/director of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Curriculum committee of the college in which program is/will be housed and TLA proposals to Council on Teacher Education;

§ Dean of the college in which the program is/will be housed;

§ Graduate Curriculum Committee;

§ Graduate School Administrative Board;

§ Chancellor

 

C.  Program Development Approval Process

Program development includes developing new academic degree programs, minors, certificates, and new concentrations within existing degree programs, as well as requesting degree title changes, and moving or discontinuing programs. 

 

1.  New Degree Programs

Proposals for new academic degrees must include a list of all UNC and private in-state institutions that offer the same or a similar degree. Program planners are expected to contact those institutions regarding their experience with program productivity (applicants, majors, job market, placement, etc.). To facilitate this portion of the planning process, the UNC-GA Division of Academic Affairs provides a link to the UNC Academic Program Inventory and a link to program inventories for other in-state institutions. In addition, proposals must include the Classification of Instructional Programs code under which the proposed program is to be classified. Faculty should allow ample time for review of proposals at all levels.

 

The approval process to plan or establish new undergraduate or graduate degree programs involves three distinct steps:

     

      Step I:  Notification of Intent to Plan (NIP) for bachelor's or master's; Request for Authorization to Plan (RAP) for doctoral


Step II: Program Requirements/Course Approval


Step III: Request for Authorization to Establish (RAE)

 

In Step I, the appropriate planning document (NIP for bachelor's or master's; RAP for doctoral) is submitted in the following order for seeking campus approval:

§  Consultation with Academic Program Development Collaborative Team

 

In Step II, the approval of new degree requirements and courses is completed as specified above in “Curriculum Approval Process” for undergraduate and graduate programs.

 

In Step III, a request for authorization to establish a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral program is submitted in the following order for seeking campus approval:

 

§  Consultation with Academic Program Development Collaborative Team;

§  Curriculum committee of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Voting faculty of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Chairperson/director of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Curriculum committee of the college in which the program is/will be housed; TLA proposals to Council on Teacher Education;

§  Dean of the college in which the program is/will be housed;

§  External review (master’s and doctoral programs only);

§  Appropriate Vice Chancellor (for information purposes only)

§  University Curriculum Committee or Graduate Curriculum Committee as appropriate for degree level;

§  External review (master's and doctoral programs only);

§  Graduate School Administrative Board for master's or doctoral programs;   

§  Appropriate Vice Chancellor (for information only)

§  Educational Policies and Planning Committee;

§  Faculty Senate and Academic Council;

§  Chancellor

 

2.  New Minors, Certificates, Concentrations; Degree Title Changes; Teacher Licensure Areas; and Discontinuing Degree Programs

The following is the order for seeking campus approval for undergraduate or graduate minors, certificates, concentrations, degree title changes, teacher licensure areas, and discontinuing a degree program.  (Discontinuing minors, certificates, concentrations, and teacher licensure areas are considered curricular actions.)  The Chancellor or his or her designee in consultation with the Chair of the Faculty may establish deadlines of not less than two weeks by which each person and/or committee listed must report its concurrence (approval) or non-concurrence with the proposed action.  Failure to report by the established deadline shall be considered an abstention and the proposed action shall progress to the next level for consideration.

     Curriculum committee of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

     Voting faculty of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Chairperson/director of dept/school in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Curriculum committee of the college in which the program is/will be
 housed; TLA proposals to Council on Teacher Education;

§  Dean of the college in which the program is/will be housed;

§  Appropriate Vice Chancellor (for information purposes only)

§  University Curriculum Committee or Graduate Curriculum Committee as appropriate for degree level;

§  Graduate School Administrative Board for graduate programs;

§  Educational Policies and Planning Committee;

§  Faculty Senate and Academic Council;

§  Chancellor (Once new teacher licensure areas are approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education, they must be submitted to UNC-GA.)

 

3.  Moving Degree Programs

The following is the order for seeking campus approval for moving a program. 

     Curriculum committee of dept/school in which the program is currently and will be housed;

     Voting faculty of dept/school in which the program is currently and will be housed;

§  Chairperson/director of dept/school in which program is currently and will be housed;

§  Curriculum committee of the college in which program is currently and will be housed; TLA proposals to Council on Teacher Education;

§  Dean of the college in which the program is currently and will be housed;

§  Appropriate Vice Chancellor (for information purposes only)

§  University Curriculum Committee or Graduate Curriculum Committee as appropriate for degree level;

§  Graduate School Administrative Board for graduate programs;

§  Educational Policies and Planning Committee;

§  Faculty Senate and Academic Council;

§  Chancellor

 

      4.  Process Completion

The proposing academic unit, in collaboration with the office of Academic Programs, prepares the final version of undergraduate and graduate program requests for the chancellor’s consideration. Once the chancellor has made an affirmative decision, the office of Academic Programs submits the new program request and chancellor’s communiqué to UNC-GA.

 

(Faculty Senate Resolution #03-29, April 2003)

(Editorially revised Section III.B. October 2003)