College of Charleston

Faculty Curriculum Committee (FCC)

 
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Faculty Curriculum Committee (FCC) Members, 2007-2008

Gonsalves, Gerald (Management and Entrepeneurship) Chair
Callahan, Timothy (Geology) Secretary
Bruns, John (English)
Ellis, Edith (Physical Education & Health)
Frankel, Sara (Studio Arts)
Johnston-Thom, Katherine (Mathematics)
Nenno, Nancy (German & Slavic Studies)
Perkins Jr., Robert (Foundations, Secondary and Special Education)
Ross, Thomas (Psychology)

Spring 2008 Deadlines for Proposals to be Received by the FCC Chair
before 3 pm: January 16, February 13 and March 12

Approved Proposals will be presented at the corresponding Senate Meetings:
February 12, March 11, and April 8 respectively

 
 
General Guidelines for Proposals back to top
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) has been the voice of liberal education for over 80 years. At the end of the 1980s it inaugurated the project "Liberal Learning and the Arts and Sciences Major." The undergraduate experience was analyzed from many perspectives by a national panel and twelve national societies. A strongly learner-oriented, liberal arts view emerged. A number of departments at the College of Charleston have participated in a self-examination known as "Re-Forming the Major." The Committee on Curriculum and Academic Planning has adopted the AACU's framework for program review (Program Review and Educational Quality in the Major) as its guide for considering new programs (majors or degrees), new concentrations, new minors and any major revisions of the aforesaid. The committee's deliberations will be focused by such questions as the following:

1. What are the goals, objectives and intended outcomes of the program?

2. How do the beginning, middle and end of the curriculum develop the goal objectives and intended outcomes of the program?

3. How are the goals and the intended outcome of the program made clear to the students?

4. Are the program goals linked to specific courses (as manifested, for example, in syllabi)?

5. Do the courses in the major provide depth and perspective in a context that will enhance the liberal education of the students? Conversely, is the selection of the courses so narrow and specialized that the major interferes with rather than enhances liberal education?

General Procedures for Course and Program Changes back to top
1. The Academic department prepares the proposal on the appropriate Faculty Curriculum Committee (FCC) proposal form, and any required supporting documentation as stated in the form. 

2. Proposal package (i.e. proposal form and supporting documentation) is directed to the dean of the school for review. If approved, the dean signs the form and returns the package to the department chair. The package should be first directed by the chair's office to the Business Office or Provost (see ordered list of signatures on the specific proposal form involved).

3. Department chair forwards the package to the Business Office if necessary (see list of signatures on the form). The head of the Business Office signs the form, and reports his/her recommendation when the package is returned to the department chair.  

4. Department chair forwards the package to the Provost if necessary (see list of signatures on the form). The Provost signs the form, and the package is returned to the department chair.

5. The department chair submits the proposal package for FCC review. Please send the hardcopy package including the proposal with signatures to the FCC chair. The department must also email a matching electronic version of the package (except for signatures) to the FCC chair. Both versions must be received by the FCC proposal review deadline stated earlier on this website.
 
6. The FCC reviews the proposal at a public meeting announced via email by the FCC chair.  The FCC optionally recommends that departments send representatives to the meeting to answer any questions from committee members. 

7. If the Committee approves the proposal, the FCC chair signs the original form and submits it with supporting documentation to the Speaker of the Faculty Senate. The proposal is then included as a motion at the next meeting of the Senate.

8. If the Senate approves the motion, the Faculty Secretary signs the original form and sends it to the Registrar. 

9. The Registrar then takes the actions outlined below.
A. Information is entered into the SIS course inventory.
B. Information about the change is communicated to:

  • Department chair
  • Business Affairs Office (establishes course fee structure in SIS, referral to Board for necessary approval)
  • College Relations (for addition to the Undergraduate Catalog)
  • Academic Affairs Office (Attn: Provost, c/o Beth Murphy)
List of Curriculum Committee Forms

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The Curriculum Committee Web Page is maintained by Gerald Gonsalves and was last updated January 8, 2008. Please e-mail comments or suggestions to: gonsalvesg@cofc.edu