Background and Guidelines

There are two types of curriculum changes:  Changes to individual courses and changes to programs.  Please use the correct procedure.

The purpose of the Curriculum Change Proposal form is to guide academic programs through the process of proposing all curricular changes to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Please visit the Curriculum Resources Page to access the College curriculum policy, review procedures, and timelines. The website also provides resources for navigating the UO curricular review process and includes UO Curriculum Committee (UOCC) meeting dates and timelines, tips for writing a proposal for the UOCC, CourseLeaf instructions, and more.

Before starting a Curriculum Change proposal, please consult the UOCC approval timeline in order to create your own internal timeline for suggested changes.  For example, in order for a course change to be approved and take effect by Fall 2024, the change should be submitted to the UOCC by December 2023.  This would mean any changes would need to be presented at the COE curriculum committee meeting in Fall 2023.

Individual Course Change Process

This is the short version of what takes place:
Departmental approval
COE CC approval
Faculty Vote
Entry into Courseleaf after Faculty approval
Submission through Courseleaf system for eventual UOCC approval

Here are the details for this process:
• Faculty member develops course change or program synopsis/proposal, completing program and departmental review approval processes.
• Faculty member/Program representative submits proposal to the Associate Dean for Academics for review.  The proposal should answer all the questions below.  Just copy and paste the questions into a Word document and answer the questions.  Add all supporting documentation such as syllabi or updated program plans.  This will be submitted at least a two weeks prior to the scheduled COE CC meeting.
• COE CC convened to review the materials. Please note the date and time of the COE CC meeting as it’s likely a representative from your program may need to be present when the COE CC discusses your proposal.  Programs may be asked for revisions.
• The COE CC approves the proposal.
• The proposal is submitted to a faculty vote.
• The Associate Dean for Academics, or their delegate, sends a memo to the program approving the changes and discussing the next steps.
• If approved by the faculty vote, the program begins the Courseleaf Workflow process.  Note, this proposal is now the responsibility of the department to enter into Courseleaf, and not the COE CC.  The entry into Courseleaf needs to contain all relevant information in the Courseleaf fields themselves, especially learning outcomes and student engagement hours. Also attach the syllabus. This is important to complete prior to the deadlines for UOCC submission.
• The UOCC reviews the proposal, with the process taking a full term. They may come back to the program for additional information.
• The UOCC approves the program, submits it to the UO Senate for approval. When approved, it moves to the Registrar’s office who makes the update in Banner.
**note: There may be concurrent processes that accompany this list if you need undergraduate council, graduate council, TSPC or HECC approval.

Curriculum Change Questions

• Academic Program/Department submitting proposal
• Summary of Proposed Curriculum Changes
• Rationale or Justification for Proposed Changes
• Curricular Review Process, i.e., a brief statement confirming the steps you followed to review and approve the proposed curricular changes in accordance with your Department’s governance policy.
• An attached course syllabus (Word Document or PDF)
• Context for Curriculum Review and Changes Background information that will help the COE Curriculum Committee (COE CC) understand why you are reviewing your curriculum and proposing changes now as well as academic justification for the specific changes proposed. [Note. Please refrain from using acronyms that COE CC members may not know and include relevant program details for those COE CC members who are not familiar with the details of your academic program.]
• Detailed Review of Proposed Curricular Changes
• Description of the academic benefits of proposed changes (e.g., curricular accessibility and quality improved, enrollment increased, academic program costs to students reduced, etc.)
• Description of the academic impact of proposed curricular changes  (e.g., program plan changes, licensure or accreditation standards met, etc.)
• Description of the budgetary impact of proposed curricular changes  (e.g., losses or gains in FTE, increased SCHs)
• Market Analysis (for new programs only, not for revising existing programs)  (e.g., how proposed changes improve academic growth and/or sustainability, particularly in comparison to other existing programs in Oregon and/or across the country, if applicable; how many students might take this course?)
• Projected Timeline for implementing curricular changes
• Does this proposal require or promote collaboration with other programs either within or outside of the COE?
• Does this proposal promote and/or maximize the existing COE disciplinary expertise in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion?  If yes, please describe how the proposal does this.
• Does this proposal prepare graduates to serve culturally and linguistically diverse communities?  If yes, please describe how the proposal does this.

Courseleaf Questions (need to be answered for all submissions)

• Name of person curriculum committee should contact with questions:
• Email of that person
• Subject
• Course number
• Is this 400/500 level? If yes, you only need to do the data entry once.
• Course title
• Number of credits
• Can the course be repeated for credit?
• Catalog description (Up to 45 words):
• Describe delivery mode (Please describe the primary mode of delivery. For instance, is the class primarily face-to-face in a classroom, a laboratory, hybrid where some face-to-face is replaced by online instruction, online only, small seminar, activity such as Physical Education or dance, etc. This information is primarily used in assigning and scheduling classrooms, labs or other physical spaces used for courses.):
  **For online courses, the UOCC requires two lecture samples for approval. You will need to upload those when you do the actual data entry into Courseleaf.
• Is this a topics course?
• Is this part of a sequence?
• Any enrollment restrictions? (Examples: EDST majors only; at least Sophomore standing; No Freshmen; Seniors only)
• Grading options (optional, graded or P/NP):
• Has this course been offered before?
• What is the rationale for creating or changing this course?
• How does it fit into the curriculum of the department?
• Is this course connected to any other curricular changes?
• Student engagement inventory (should match engagement hours in syllabus):
• Student learning outcomes (What are the skills, abilities, major concepts you want students to acquire?)
• Other (anything else the reviewers should know?)
• Is this a multi-listed course?
• Document your due diligence in consulting with other department heads, or faculty curriculum coordinators if duplication with another course is potentially an issue. Supporting documents or e-mails may be attached
• Document your due diligence in consulting with other department heads, or faculty curriculum coordinators if a new course or changes to an existing course potentially impact another department or program (For instance, if the course is a requirement or elective for another major, and your changes will impact enrollments for the other unit. Supporting documents or e-mails may be attached)
• Expected enrollment
• Faculty available to teach this
• Other resources needed to sustain course
• Attach a syllabus when submitting

New and Revised Programs Process

UO Central Administration is currently revising policies for new program proposals and program changes.  The new process will be posted as soon as it is available.