Curriculum Committee
Template for Adding a Major or Minor to the Curriculum or
For Addition of a Degree Program OR Academic Credit-Bearing Non-degree Program
[4.3A Curriculum Committee Manual]
*Please note that historic data will not change in Banner.*
SENATE BILL
From: Department of
This proposal was discussed by the Department/Program of
was:
For
Against
Abstain
This proposal was discussed by the School of
For
Against
on ________and the vote
on __________ and the vote was:
Abstain
The proposal was discussed by the Curriculum Committee on
For
Against
Abstain
and the vote was:
Approved by Senate___________
Proposal:
o Add a major/minor in
(Specify if a major or a minor.)
Title of major or minor _________________________________
Specify degree (such as BA, BS, BSE, etc.) __________________
OR
o Add a Degree Program
Title of Degree Program ________________________________
OR
o Add an Academic Credit-Bearing Non-Degree Program
Title of Non-Degree Program ___________________________
Effective Date:
Rationale:
Provide a rationale for the addition or change. This should include:
 How the new major or minor or academic credit-bearing (non-degree program)
would enhance student learning at Otterbein
 How the new major/minor or title change serves the University and/or
departmental mission and learning goals;
 How these changes will affect the “three principles of the Otterbein curriculum”:
broadly based education in the liberal arts, mastery of a particular field (or academic
and practical preparation needed for entry into a particular professional field), and
student choice.
 How the new major or minor or name change matches KMERI.
When appropriate, the rationale might also address:
 How these changes match with those of peer/aspirant institutions or aspirant
programs for the department;
 How these changes match with standards from accreditation bodies or
professional/disciplinary organizations related to the major or minor.
Audience and Offerings:
1. Audiences: (Identify the intended audience(s) for the major, minor, and/or title change:
undergraduate and/or graduate, Continuing Studies/traditional, designed for new students
and/or students currently enrolled in other programs);
2. Schedule of Offerings: Please provide a listing of the courses that would be included in
the major/minor/non-degree program. Please indicate in what terms these courses would
be offered. Indicate the delivery method of each course (see below).
Delivery Systems: In what delivery systems could the course be offered? (Check all that could
apply)
Face-to-face (“traditional classroom)
Face-to-face with additional lab/discussion sessions
Hybrid (inclusion of some on-line delivery to replace some face-to-face time)
Online (entirely on-line)
Distance (face-to-face portions available via telecommunication methods)
Day-time
Evening
Saturday
____May-Term
Total hours in new major/minor or Credit-Bearing Non-Degree Program:
Justification for increases above the University's general curricular guidelines, if needed:
If the new major is greater than 42 semester hours (or the minor is greater than 32 semester
hours), you need to provide a justification here.
Effect on Staffing:
 Describe the effect the new major, new minor or non-degree program would have on
staffing (because it would increase or decrease the number of sections required of particular
courses).
 Discuss how these changes would be managed (Decreases in offerings of other classes in the
department? Increased use of adjuncts? Need for additional full-time faculty? Reduction of
offerings in INST, FYS, SYE, HPES, WI? Increases in overload?) Be as specific as possible.
 If this change will result in a need for additional full-time faculty, discuss departmental plans
to request an increase in the number of faculty lines.
 If there are increased costs, document a meeting with the Dean of the affected school and
VPAA/Provost).
 If there are effects on other departments or programs, document a meeting with the affected
programs.
Does the change of major, minor or non-degree program require addition or deletion of
courses from the curriculum?
If yes, include proposals for adding or deleting courses to this proposal.
Need for Additional Academic Support:
1. Materials, Equipment, Facilities: Describe the materials, equipment and/or facilities are
needed to support this addition? Assess the suitability of current materials, equipment and
facilities to support the change.
 If additional materials, equipment or facilities are needed, identify funding sources
for these.
2. Library and Instructional Technology Support: Show evidence of discussion with the
library liaison or director, and IT staff if appropriate, concerning the adequacy of their
support for the addition.
3. Funds Required to Advertise the Change:
Communication:
Describe your plans for communicating to affected students about the changes.
Assessment of effect of the change(s):
How will the effects of the new major be assessed? How will this be reported, when, and to
whom? (Provide as much detail as possible.) Address KMERI if not already done.
Appendices:
 A copy of the proposed major, minor, academic credit-bearing non-degree program and
course descriptions for all courses.
 Learning objectives for the major, minor, or academic credit-bearing non-degree
program; (These learning outcomes will be evaluated by department/program
and reports submitted annually in accordance with Otterbein’s Program Review
guidelines)
 A grid matching courses in the major, minor or academic credit-bearing non-degree
program to University and departmental KMERI and/or learning goals.