FORM A -- SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM CHANGES AND BUDGET SUMMARY
DATE: _2/1/2016__________
COLLEGE: __CHAS___________
DEPT/SCHOOL: Earth & Env Sci
I.
DROPPED COURSES [see FORM B-1]
• Automatic Course Drop: initiated by the Office of the Registrar (list titles and course numbers)
• Course Drop: initiated by Department/School [see FORM B-1] (list titles and course numbers)
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II.
DROPPED AND/OR SUSPENDED MAJOR/MINOR/EMPHASIS/CERTIFICATE [see FORMB-2] (list
titles)
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III.
COURSE CHANGES [see FORM C] (list titles and course numbers; star all changes that are editorial)
* EARTHSC 3328 (870:125)
Fossils and Evolution
* EARTHSCI 3340/5340 (870:165g) Oceanography
IV.
NEW COURSES [see FORM D] (list proposed titles, course numbers, and credit hours)
EARTHSCI 3327/5327 Paleoclimatology 3 hours
V.
RESTATEMENTS OF MAJORS/MINORS/EMPHASES/CERTIFICATES [see FORM E] (list titles; star
all changes that are editorial)
Geology Minor
VI.
NEW MAJORS/MINORS/EMPHASES/CERTIFICATES [see FORM F]
(list proposed titles) [also see FORM G for new majors only]
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VII.
OTHER CATALOG CHANGES and/or ADDITIONS [See FORM H] (list items)
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VIII.
BRIEF NARRATIVE EXPLAINING WHAT YOU ARE HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR
CURRICULAR CHANGES, identifying the relationship of the proposed changes to other planning
processes (i.e., Academic Program Review, Student Outcomes Assessment, strategic planning, and
licensure or accreditation/re-accreditation requirements). Explain how you know these changes are needed,
based on those planning processes. (e.g., Based on what we learned through assessing our _____ learning
goal for the major, showing that we needed more emphasis on _______, we are restating the major to add
some possible electives and change the required core from 9 to 12 credits with the addition of a newly
created core course.)
All of the curricular changes are due to the new course proposal, Paleoclimatology. This course will become part
of a 3-course sequence offered in the spring semester over a 3 year rotation cycle, involving the other courses
listed as “Course Changes” above. The course will be part of the regular load of a faculty member, and will not
create an additional burden on the faculty member’s course load.
The need for a new course on paleoclimatology stems from the need for earth science/geoscience students to have
certain content (based upon results of geoscience educators and employers surveys). These content areas include
an understanding of “Deep Time”, “Integrated Systems”, and “Chemical Processes”. All of these concepts are
included in the new course proposed here, and it also includes content in stratigraphy that would be of value to
students with an interest in geological applications.
One of the courses listed for change is Fossils and Evolution. This course was originally a required course in the
Geology Minor. Its offering on a 3-year cycle would likely be difficult for a student to schedule, so the Geology
Minor was changed to include a different required course (Hydrogeology, 3 hours), while Fossils and Evolution
and Paleoclimatology are now electives. Since Hydrogeology has 1 fewer hours, this also reduces the required
credits in the minor, and the overall credit hours is now 25-26 hours (down from 26-27 hours).
IX.
BUDGET SUMMARY FOR DEPARTMENT
(should summarize needs for entire curriculum proposal package)
A. Will the curriculum changes proposed in this package increase the budgetary needs of the department?
x No
Yes
If NO, explain the changes in the department or the departmental rotation of courses
which offset the costs.
The new course proposal will become part of the regular spring semester course load of a
faculty member (Alexa Sedlacek) with the other courses changed to make them offered on a 3year cycle. There is no need for additional staffing for this curricular change.
If YES, identify the total costs.
1. Staff
2. Additional facilities
3. Equipment
4. Support personnel
5. Library requirements
6. Computer service
7. Educational technology
8. Other services (identify)
______________________
TOTAL COSTS
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
$ _________
B. If the costs above are not simply the sum of all the various budgets in this package (FORMS C, D, E,
F), explain why.
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X.
UNRESOLVED OBJECTIONS TO COLLEGE-APPROVED PROPOSALS
(list all proposals with unresolved objections)
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XI.
COLLEGE-APPROVED PROPOSALS WHICH VIOLATE CURRICULAR GUIDELINES
(list all proposals violating curricular guidelines)
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Department Head Signature
Date ____________________
(starting Fall 2015, Form A is due to Dean’s office by Dec. 15)
College Dean's Signature
Date ____________________
Approved to proceed to College Senate or College Curriculum Councils
__ Yes
__ No
College Dean Comments – starting 2016, Dean sends a copy to Provost office and College Senate Chair by
Feb. 1
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College Senate Comments – due to Dean of College and Provost office by May 15
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