Frequently Asked Questions

I have a question about C&C paperwork - who can help?
I have a question about catalog copy - who can help?
Can I submit my course proposal electronically?
How are new courses approved?
How are existing courses deleted or changed?
When do the new General Education requirements go into effect?
Is it too late to propose a course for the new General Education curriculum?
What are the requirements for a W course?

I have a question about catalog copy – who can help?
Your department’s C&C chair can help, as can the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.   In the Registrar’s office, the Publications Editor (Marianne Buck) is the ultimate authority on catalog copy.

Can I submit my course proposal electronically?
Yes! Departments should submit course proposals electronically to SFA C&C, since this is how they must be sent to GEOC and the Senate C&C. 

How are new courses approved?
A new course goes through an approval process that may include the Department, the School of Fine Arts, the Senate, and/or the Dean of the Graduate School depending on the type of course it is. The Department and the School of Fine Arts review all new courses offered in the School.  This means that a proposed course must be approved by the Department C&C Committee and go before the Department faculty for a vote, and then must be approved by the SFA C&C Committee and go before the SFA faculty for a vote.

Upon successful completion of this internal review process,  all 100-level courses, 200-level courses open to sophomores, and General Education courses must go to the Senate C&C Committee for review.  The General Education Oversight Committee (GEOC), which is a subcommittee of the Senate C&C Committee, reviews proposals for new General Education courses.

The Dean of the Graduate School must review all 300-level courses.

The  Department's C&C Committee Chair and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs can help determine the necessary approval process.  You may want to consult the senate guidelines and GEOC guidelines for more information.

How are existing courses deleted or changed?
The Department and the School of Fine Arts review must review all proposals for deleting or making substantial changes to existing courses in the School.  This means that all such proposals must be approved by the Department C&C Committee and go before the Department faculty for a vote, and then must be approved by SFA C&C Committee and go before the SFA faculty for a vote.

Upon successful completion of this internal review process, all proposals for deleting or making substantial changes to 100-level courses, 200-level courses open to Sophomores, and General Education courses must go to the Senate C&C Committee for review.   The General Education Oversight Committee (GEOC), which is a subcommittee of the Senate C&C Committee, reviews proposals for deleting or changing existing General Education courses.

A proposal for changing the grading system (from S/U to A-F or vice versa) for any 100- or 200-level course must be approved by the Department C&C and go before the Department faculty for a vote, and then must be approved by the SFA C&C Committee and go before the SFA faculty for a vote.  200-level courses would then go before the Senate Scholastic Standards Committee; 100-level and 200-level courses open to sophomores would go before the Senate C&C Committee; General Education courses would go before GEOC. 

All proposals for deleting or making substantial changes to 300-level courses must be reviewed by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Substantial changes include changes to the number of credits, prerequisites, consent provision, major alterations in title and/or description, and whether a 200-level class is open to Sophomores.  Changes in listed instructor, time of offering, frequency of offering, or minor editorial changes in course title or description require only Departmental action.

The Department's C&C Committee Chair and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs can help determine the necessary approval process. You may want to consult the Senate Guidelines for Submitting Course Proposals for more information.

When do the new General Education requirements go into effect?
The new General Education requirements go into effect in 2005-06.
All General Education courses, W courses, and competencies must be approved in time to meet the November 10, 2004 catalogue copy deadline.  Courses that are currently offered in the General Education curriculum but are not recertified will lose their General Education status.

For additional information, consult the General Education Oversight Committee (GEOC) website.

Is it too late to propose a course for the new General Education curriculum?
The review of General Education courses is ongoing and GEOC oversees this process. 
However, in order to be offered in the 2005-06 academic year, every new and existing General Education course must go through the entire approval process and be submitted to GEOC by October 15 to meet the November 1 catalogue copy deadline.   Courses that are currently offered in the General Education curriculum but are not recertified will lose their General Education status. Check the GEOC website and this website for additional information, and be sure to consult your Department C&C chair.

What are the requirements for a W course?
A W course is writing intensive and follows standards set by GEOC.  Under the new General Education guidelines, students must take two W courses, including one in the major field of study.

A W course requires that students write and revise a minimum of fifteen pages of writing.  The instructor must incorporate ways to supervise revisions, such as in-class writing workshops, individual consultations, or comments on drafts.  These courses are capped at nineteen students.  For additional requirements and information, consult the GEOC Writing (W) Competency Guidelines.

It is important to remember that non-W courses also typically include substantial writing assignments, even if they do not follow this format.

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