SFU Curriculum Workshop
Everything you should know about SFU’s curriculum development process.
Presented by Senate and Academic Services and Office of Graduate Studies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
introductions
the steps
the forms
effective dates
programs
changes
reminders
resources
Agenda
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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
Acronyms
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
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
The Steps
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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.)
Baby steps
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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
The Forms
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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
Special Temporary Topics
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• Effective dates drive all the systems
–
–
–
–
–
Curricunet
SIMS
Scheduling
Calendar
Academic Progress Report (APR)
• e.g. Spring 2016, Summer 2016, Fall 2016
Effective Dates
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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
Effective Dates
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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 ?
Sample Timelines-program
changes and courses
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
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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 slrhodes@sfu.ca for details
Sample timeline- new programs
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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.
Program Deletions
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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.
changes
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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.
Program changes
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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.
Reminders
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• Inaccurate or incomplete documents
submitted may result in delay or denial by
SCUS, SGSC, SCUP, Senate.
Accuracy
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
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
Graduate vs Undergraduate
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
• 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
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
•
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-studiescommittee/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-studiescommittee/schedule.html
Resources
Resources
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
•
•
•
•
•
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
Talking Points
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015
Questions
SFU Curriculum Workshop
September 2015