SFU Curriculum Workshop Everything you should know about SFU’s curriculum development process....

SFU Curriculum WorkshopEverything you should know about SFU’s curriculum development process.

Presented by Senate and Academic Services and Office of Graduate Studies

SFU Curriculum Workshop September 2015

Agenda

• introductions• the steps• the forms• effective dates• programs• changes• reminders• resources


Acronyms

• Acronyms we all know and love:– APR – Academic Progress Report

– AEM – Content management system

– Curricunet – Curriculum Management System

– Docushare – on-line repository of all Senate documents since 1965

– FPP – Full Program Proposal

– NOI – Notice of Intent

– SGSC – Senate Graduate Studies Committee

– SCUP – Senate Committee on University Priorities

– SCUS – Senate Committee for Undergraduate Studies

– SIMS – Student Information Management System

– WQB – Writing, Quantitative, Breadth Requirements


The Steps

1. Department/Faculty– Undergraduate / graduate committees

2. Faculty– Undergraduate / graduate committees

3. SCUS / SGSC

4. SCUP

5. Senate

6. Board of Governors*

7. Curricunet / SIMS

8. Calendar / APR*note: new programs may require BC Ministry of Advanced Education approval


Baby steps

• Library resources check• Overlap check* these are required and may take significant amounts of time, so plan ahead, don’t leave it to the last minute or your proposal may get delayed.

• WQB approval (creating a new W course does not mean the non-W version will be automatically deleted.)


The Forms

• Undergraduate– On-line fillable PDF forms for

new courses and course changes – Instructions for NOI/FPP proposals

• Graduate– Information on how to make calendar edits, create

or modify courses, and create new programs can be found:

http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/administration/curriculum-planning.html

http://www.sfu.ca/content/sfu/senate/senate-committees/scus/_jcr_content/main_content/download_11/file.res/New%20Course%20Form.pdf

http://www.sfu.ca/content/sfu/senate/senate-committees/scus/_jcr_content/main_content/download_12/file.res/Course%20Change%20Form.pdf




Special Temporary Topics

• STT (Special Temporary Topics) courses require the approval of the dean and the Registrar.– Must include rationale and plan for offerings– Valid for 3 terms of active offering– Will automatically be deleted


Effective Dates

• Effective dates drive all the systems– Curricunet– SIMS– Scheduling– Calendar– Academic Progress Report (APR)

• e.g. Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Fall 2016


Effective Dates

• Senate approved changes:– Between May and July are reflected in

the Spring Calendar– Between September and December

are reflected in the Summer Calendar– Between January and April are

reflected in the Fall Calendar

• BE REALISTIC


Sample Timelines-program changes and courses

• Effective Summer 2016– Approved by Senate no later than December 2015– Approved by SCUS/SGSC no later than November 2015– Approved by Faculty ?– Approved by Department ?– Proposed ?

Note: this timeframe best describes what happens when everything is done correctly.

Often items are sent back or revised and may take longer.

The effective dates still hold true.

Sample timeline program changes and courses


Sample timeline- new programs

• Effective Summer 2016**– Approved by Senate no later than December 2015– FPP Approved by SCUP no later than November 2015– FPP Approved by SCUS/SGSC no later than October

2015– NOI approved by both SCUS/SGSC and SCUP prior to

the FPP process– Approved by Faculty ?– Approved by Department ?– Proposed ?

** Note – new programs may require Ministry approval, which may delay this timeline. You are advised to contact Susan Rhodes [email protected] for details

mailto:[email protected]


Program Deletions

• Two step process:– Step 1 – suspend admission to the program.

• This must be approved by SCUS/SGSC/SCUP and must include a plan for students in the program or who might want to get into the program and how this will be communicated to them.

– Step 2 – dissolution of the program. • Must be approved by SCUS/SGSC/SCUP/Senate.• Must include rationale and outcome of suspension

plan.


changes

• All curriculum changes require approval by SCUS/SGSC • eg. Pre-requisites, certificate deletions,

unit changes, WQB designations, additions to elective lists, admission/continuation gpa, concentration titles

Don’t assume it’s an editorial change.

*new* EXCEPTION – re-instating temporarily withdrawn courses can now come directly to Senate and Academic Services for implementation.


Program changes

• Changes that require approval by SCUP– Name changes to existing credentials– Deletion of programs

Note: these all pass through SCUS/SGSC first but important to remember the extra step.


Reminders

• Prerequisites need to have logic• Does the Calendar you are working from

include recent curriculum updates?• Does the change apply to ALL your unit’s

programs i.e. honours and major and minor?• Are the course components accurately

marked?• Consistency between unit value and number

of courses required.


Accuracy

• Inaccurate or incomplete documents submitted may result in delay or denial by SCUS, SGSC, SCUP, Senate.


Graduate vs Undergraduate

Differences between Graduate and Undergraduate Curriculum process

• Course forms • WQB approval not required for graduate courses• Graduate Certificate and Diploma proposals do not require a

Notice of Intent (NOI)• Cohort Special Arrangement programs – faster approval

process for short-term (max 3 years) graduate programs• Academic Progress Report (APR) not available for graduate

programs at this time


• Same team, different players• Academic staff, advising staff,

administrative staff• Accurate curriculum

management = accurate calendars and accurate academic progress reports= happy students and advisors.

Tying it together


Resources

• Departmental / faculty minutes

• SCUS dates and minutes

http://www.sfu.ca/senate/senate-committees/scus.html

• SGSC dates and minutes

http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/administration/senate-graduate-studies-committee/agenda.html

• Senate documents

https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/View/Collection-12682

• SCUP

http://www.sfu.ca/senate/senate-committees/scup.html

• Senate approved Calendar guidelines

https://docushare.sfu.ca/dsweb/Get/Document-399034/S.10-143.pdf

• Graduate Curriculum Management

http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/administration/senate-graduate-studies-committee/schedule.html

Resources


















Talking Points

• Due diligence is required at all levels• Realistic effective dates• Use the proper forms, follow format• Make your changes obvious• Check resources for approvals, what

really happened• Don’t be afraid to ask the experts.• Include your advisors in the

conversation


Questions

SFU Curriculum Workshop Everything you should know about SFU’s curriculum development process....

Documents

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