Policies - Bloomsburg University

PRP 3230 - Course and Program Development

Issued by: Wilson G. Bradshaw, Provost and VPAA

Effective Date: Jan 1. 1997

Notes: Approved by BUCC, 4.24.85. Revised by BUCC, 2/20/87. Revision, page 2, approved by BUCC, 12/7/88.This policy voids PRP 3231, 3232, and 3234. Revised by BUCC, 11/20/96.

Policy:

1. The development of academic programs is a crucial aspect of the long-range well-being of the University. New programs must be mounted as student and societal needs become known. Existing programs facing declining enrollments become subject to review so that adjustment steps may be taken. In some cases a program may have to face the possibility of discontinuation. Courses within programs go through a similar evolutionary cycle.

2. It is the policy of Bloomsburg University that program development be objective (based on demonstrable evidence), orderly (done in conformance to a prescribed procedure), timely (neither pre-mature nor overly delayed), efficient (cost-effective in terms of the investment of both time and energy), and in conformance with the overall mission of the University. Program development must tap the creative talents of all faculty and administrators. Procedures must not stifle those creative talents.

3. Inasmuch as program development ranges from the development of an entirely new mission for the University, down through the development of new degree programs, options, concentrations and minors to matters involving individual courses and even the numbering of a course, it is imperative that the complexity of procedures be correlated with the complexity of the program developments. Differing actions will involve different actors and different approval levels. Inasmuch, however, as program changes in one area will likely have an impact on other areas, it is essential that all changes be reviewed in such a way that inter-organizational impact is carefully considered.

Procedures:

Introduction: All proposals for the addition, deactivation or modification of an academic program, or element thereof, must use the prescribed "Omnibus Course and Program Development Cover Sheet" (Document P). This form clearly indicates what additional documents must be prepared, and where they are to be routed for approvals. For information not included below and for clarification of the following instructions, please contact the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs or the BUCC Chairperson. Forms and formats are available from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The distribution of all documents is outlined in Instruction 8 below.

2. Instructions for completing Document Q - Summary of the Proposal

• Q-1: Identify department and contact person. Write a concise and common-sense description of what is being proposed.
• Q-2: Set forth the rationale for the proposed action.
• Q-3: Include both departmental and extra-departmental cost estimates. If additional resource requirements exceed $1, 000 for the first year and $500 per year thereafter you must complete Document T even if not required by the cover sheet.
• Q-4: This inter-unit impact statement is the key to streamlined procedures. Units should contact Academic Computing and Library Resources when necessary. The originating department is accountable for the careful completion of the statement, as indicated by the Chairperson's signature. The statement need not include the widely diffused impact of changes in general education offerings or the impact of new programs on the enrollments of existing programs.
• If "understandings" cannot be worked out, the originating department should seek the mediating assistance of the Dean(s). If a total impasse occurs the originating department may bring Q-4 to BUCC for arbitration.

3. Instructions for completing Document R - Course Syllabus:

• a. See PRP Issuance 3233 for format.
• b. The syllabus should be the working one for classroom use, not a special edition for peers and superiors.

4. Instructions for completing Document S - Full Description and Rationale:

• a. Include, but not be limited to, the following: S-1: A full description of what is proposed including required courses, total hours, special features. Do not include information covered in other documents. S-2: A full rationale for what is proposed. How will the proposed action benefit the University? Its students? S-3: Interunit impact. Explain how the proposed change affects the rest of the University. Indicate how negative impact has been resolved with negatively affected units. S-4: Indicate how the quality of the proposed change will be guaranteed, both initially and in the long run. Quality analysis should include references to the training and expertise of faculty and the adequacy of support personnel, equipment, facilities, and so forth.
• b. For a course to be included in the general education listing the major emphasis should be on how well the course fulfills the objectives of general education.

5. Instructional for completing Document T - Fiscal Impact:

• T-1: Faculty Requirements. Indicate the contact hours (load factor) that will be needed to offer the proposed program. What would be the current CBA cost of those contact hours? Explain how the cost will be met. (Will new faculty be needed? Will current faculty be used? If, so how will the utilization of current faculty be altered?) T-2: Support Personnel: Analyze in a manner similar to T-1.
• T-3: Equipment Requirements: Indicate what equipment will be used in implementing the proposed program. If existing equipment is to be used indicate how its utilization will be altered by the new program. Indicate what new equipment will be needed and how much it will cost.
• T-4: Facility Requirements: If existing facilities are to be used, indicate how the current utilization of those same facilities will be impacted by the new program. Indicate what new facilities will be needed and their cost.
• T-5: Other Resources Requirements: Give details and costs.

6. Instructions for completing Document U - Needs Analysis.

• U-1: Describe the enrollment projection over the next five years and how you arrived at the projection.
• U-2: Source of Students - Indicate if the students in this program will come from within the University or if the total student body must be increased to accommodate this program.
• U-3: Describe the career and employment opportunities in the field with valid documentation.
• U-4: For items 21-24 list the institutions in the region offering the same or similar programs. Contact the VPAA to find out how "communications with other appropriate institutions" is to be conducted.

7. Instructions for completing Document 10: Program Completion Plan - With proper course selection, it should be possible for a student to complete a degree in eight semesters. Give an eight semester plan of courses that would permit a student to complete a degree in the program. Choices among courses are permitted. Allow for general education courses (suggested or required general education courses may be given). Check that prerequisite requirements are met. Although required courses may not be offered every year, it should be possible for a student to obtain all necessary courses in eight semesters. The program completion plan should document that this is possible. It is understood that not every student in a particular program will follow the course selections in the program completion plan exactly. Nor does the existence of a program completion plan guarantee that all students in a program will complete their degrees in eight semesters.

8. Other documentation: Attach, if germane.

9. Distribution of copies: The "original" should be routed sequentially as indicated on the Cover Sheet. The initiating department should distribute information copies as indicated in the right hand column of Box 3. For swing and graduate courses the original goes to the College Curriculum Committee with a copy to the Graduate Council. Contact your Dean's secretary to find out how many copies to send to that College's Curriculum Committee.