About

Policy 2301 – Policies and Procedures of the Instructional Policies Committee

Revision Date: 05/01/2024
Last Review: 05/01/2024
Original Effective Date: 01/23/1964
Responsible Office: Provost

Policy

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMITTEE

Introduction

The Instructional Policies Committee (hereafter IPC or Committee) of Louisiana Tech University was created by a directive issued by the President on January 23, 1964. Selection to Committee membership is made with utmost care, and each member’s position is considered one of honor as well as responsibility.

Purpose

The Committee considers problems of College life in the areas of courses, curricula, and instruction in undergraduate studies. It may either initiate or review recommendations for establishing or revising instructional policies and programs. The Committee further serves as an instrument of control to avoid course duplication and proliferation.

It is, however, an examining and recommending body and makes its recommendations to the Office of the Provost. The Provost will review these recommendations with the Council of Academic Deans, of which he/she is Chairman, and this group will make their recommendations to the President. The President of the University makes all final decisions. It is not the responsibility of this Committee to determine if an item must go before the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors or the Board of Regents, or to decide the legality of a proposal submitted to it.

Organization

MEMBERSHIP

The membership consists of two representatives from each of the Colleges at Louisiana Tech, one representative from the Library, one representative from the Louisiana Tech Barksdale Instructional Site,[1] and two student members. The University Registrar or his/her representative is an ex-officio member without voting privileges. Specifically, one faculty member is appointed by the Dean of each College, and one is elected by the faculty. The Library representative is appointed by the Executive Director of Libraries, the Barksdale representative is appointed by the Provost, and the student representatives are appointed by the President of the Student Government Association. Terms of the faculty are for two years and student terms are for one year. All members are eligible for reappointment or re-election as the case may be. The elections and appointments are made prior to the September meeting each year. New members are seated at the September meeting, and the new Committee elects a Chair and a Vice Chair from its membership to serve a one-year term of office.

ALTERNATES

Substitutions are permitted for the regular members when they are unable to attend Committee meetings. For this purpose, each academic Dean appoints two alternates who serve for a period of two years. These alternates represent either regular member in his/her absence. The Colleges are to be represented only by the regular members or the alternates appointed by the Dean.

MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be the second Tuesday of each month, and other meetings may be called by the Chair as the need arises.

VOTING

The Committee shall abide by Robert’s Rules of Order.

A quorum of the Committee shall consist of one-half plus one of the voting members of the committee. The decisions of the Committee shall be by a majority of the members voting.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Louisiana Tech University is dedicated to quality education, and, therefore, proposals for the alteration of instructional policies are matters of great importance. These guidelines are furnished as a positive aid to persons preparing proposals to present to the Committee. In making proposals, it should be borne in mind that all agents in the process will be taking their reviewing function seriously, and they should be aided as much as possible by 1) presenting proposals that are prepared accurately and completely, and 2) allowing time enough for complete review. Agenda items must be submitted to the Office of the Provost at least fifteen (15) days prior to a regular meeting.

The Committee considers many factors during the evaluation of new proposals. No proposal should be submitted which fails to emphasize high academic standards. Attention must also be directed toward more pragmatic questions such as these:

  1. Is the proposal in direct harmony with the specific objectives of Louisiana Tech, the College, and the Department?
  2. Has the cost of offering the proposed program been realistically assessed? For example, will salary increases be adversely affected by its addition? Will the Departmental teaching load be increased? Will existing programs be denied financing? In each case, the evidence should indicate the benefits are at least proportionate to the financial impact.
  3. Is the proposal in the best overall interest of higher education in Louisiana, or is it proposed from a selfish viewpoint? Is the alteration really necessary and substantive, or is it merely change for the sake of change? Have the appropriate Library personnel been consulted to ensure that adequate holdings exist or can be purchased to support fully the implementation of the proposal?
     

Justification of a change solely on the grounds that certification, accreditation, or Federal funding depends on it is not sufficient. The Committee certainly recognizes the importance of satisfying appropriate certifying, accrediting, and granting agencies, but where the satisfaction of such agencies constitutes the essence of the justification of the proposal, the rationale of the accrediting agent should be given. Moreover, the Committee would like to see some sort of justification in the existing curriculum which would accommodate the new changes without introducing excessive proliferation or expansion. In any case, specific reference should be made to requirements of the agency and should accompany the submittal.

ESTABLISHING A NEW COURSE

Policy

Proposals normally should originate with the faculty of a department under its appropriate leadership. A course should be thoroughly discussed and approved at the departmental level prior to submission for College-level or University-level consideration.

The university requires all new or revised course proposals to provide justification for the level and number of credit hours for a proposed course. Proper justification of a course includes: the educational significance of the proposed course (including new capabilities, skills, and levels of awareness obtained by students taking the course); a list of measurable learning objectives for the course; an explanation of the rationale used by the department to arrive at the course level; an explanation of how the course will be placed within a particular curriculum structure or program of study; the number of hours per week in lecture and in laboratory; and the number of credits for lecture, for lab, and the total credits for the course.

The Committee’s request for a description and justification of a proposed course should be taken seriously. The description should be clear and the justification as specific as possible. While lecture-by-lecture details are not necessary, the outline should nevertheless plainly indicate the content and the objectives of the course.

Extreme care should be exercised to avoid needless duplication of instruction on the same subject at the same level in different departments and colleges. Major consideration should also be given to student needs and to strength of course offerings in related areas. Inclusion of specific data of this type will help expedite the proposal.

Prerequisites specified for a course should realistically delineate the advance preparation requirement of students entering the course. Prerequisites should not be redundant, but should specifically list the highest levels of achievement that students entering the course will be expected to have.

Courses numbered at the 400-level may include provision for listing with a “G” designation. In order for courses to be labeled with a “G” designation, they must be approved by both the Instructional Policies Committee and the Graduate Council. Students take the 400-level course for undergraduate credit and the 400G-level course for graduate credit. The undergraduate and graduate sections may be taught concurrently. In these courses, students earning graduate credit are expected to complete additional and more advanced course requirements above those completed by a student earning undergraduate credit (e.g., additional projects, research, presentations, etc.). Qualified faculty determine these additional requirements that must bring the course to a level of rigor commensurate with a graduate level course and are described in the course syllabus. Courses with a “G” designation are to be taught by faculty holding Graduate Faculty status.

Courses offered for zero credit are approved via the same process as other courses offered for credit. A course syllabus is required for zero-credit courses with the exception of placement and comprehensive examinations. The course syllabus shall include learning outcomes, course expectations, and grading scale (Pass/Fail, etc.) and must meet all requirements listed in Policy 2205-Goals and Requirements of Each Course Syllabus.  Zero credit courses can count toward the satisfaction of the requirements for an undergraduate major. These can include but are not limited to recitals, capstone projects, preparatory work, professional development, placement/proficiency exams, and portfolio development.

Procedure

  1. The faculty of a Department will decide criteria for a new course, and when all matters are agreed upon, the proposal is drafted (including the Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog Form) and submitted to the appropriate Dean of the College.
  2. The signed original of the Proposal for Changes to Catalog form and supplemental materials are to be delivered to the Office of the Provost. Email a PDF of the complete signed original packet to the Office of the Provost.
  3. The Provost reviews the material for accuracy, coordination, and content. The proposal is submitted to the IPC for action.
  4. The IPC meets and takes action on the proposal. Three decisions are possible: 1) the course can be approved, 2) the course can be disapproved, and 3) the proposal can be returned with a specific request for more information, further clarification, etc. If the proposal is disapproved, it cannot be resubmitted to the IPC for a full academic year. Frequently, the request for additional information can be expedited if the Head of the submitting Department is available to the Committee during the meeting in which it considers the proposal. Regardless of the action taken, the IPC will return the proposal to the Office of the Provost.
  5. If the course is approved by the IPC, it is then reviewed by the Provost and the Council of Academic Deans. If approved, the proposal is forwarded to the President for final approval. If the course is disapproved, or if additional information is needed, the proposal is returned to the submitting College with the reason(s) for the action. If additional information is required, the Department should reply by sending the necessary information through the Dean of the College and the Office of the Provost. In certain instances, the IPC may invite a representative for further clarification.
     

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading Part A, Part B, and “Course Addition” must be completed when proposing the establishment of a new course.

The “Effective Date” is the quarter that the Department wants to begin teaching the new course. In order for a Department to offer a new course for the quarter it wishes, it should submit its proposal to the IPC according to the following schedule: [5]

IPC Meeting Day

Earliest Effective Date

January – April

Summer/Fall

May – September

Winter

October – December

Spring

No course can be listed in the Quarter Class Schedule or the catalog until it has received the final approval of the President.

Departments should submit a complete catalog description, not to exceed twenty-five words, in the formal catalog format. For example:

  1. Intermediate Accounting. 0-3-3. Preq., ACCT 301. The theory and application of accounting procedures to financial reporting.

Courses that may be repeated for multiple credit should show the maximum number of hours of credit that may be obtained. For example, a course that may be repeated twice for a total of six hours credit would be indicated 0-2-2 (6).

MINOR CHANGE IN AN EXISTING COURSE

Policy

Individual Departments are authorized to make minor editorial changes in the catalog descriptions of their courses without formal submittal through the IPC by following the procedure below. A minor change is defined as slight changes in one of the following: course title, prerequisites, or course description. Changes in course credit or credit hours are never considered minor.

Procedure

Requests for minor changes are made to the Office of the Provost in the form of a memorandum which should set forth clearly the changes in the description of the courses by listing the current description and the proposed description. Approval of these minor changes requires only the signature of the Provost. If the changes are not considered minor, they will be returned to the appropriate Unit Head for submission to IPC.

MAJOR CHANGE OR DROPPING OF AN EXISTING COURSE

Policy

Changes in course numbers, credit hours, number of hours of lecture and laboratory per week, and substantial changes in course content or prerequisites are considered to be major changes.

A strong effort should be made to coordinate changes in existing courses with all Departments that have an interest in the course. Courses offered in one Department and either required or considered a desirable elective by another Department have sometimes proved troublesome items when submitted for revision or for dropping. The Committee will attempt to resolve any lack of interdepartmental coordination, but the most desirable procedure is to take care of these matters before submitting the request for change to the Office of the Provost.

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining approval of a major course change or for dropping of an existing course is identical to that for the establishment of a new course.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. Requests for major course change or for dropping of an existing course must include completion of the form heading and responses to Part A, Part B, “Course Change” or “Course Drop,” as is appropriate.

The Unit Head should keep in mind that, after receipt in the Office of the Provost, approximately 30 days are required to obtain final approval of a course proposal, and six weeks of additional lead time prior to the beginning of a term is necessary for schedule printing. Therefore, the proposal should be submitted early enough to obtain final approval before the desired effective date.

DROPPING OR CHANGING AN EXISTING CURRICULUM, OPTION, OR DEGREE PROGRAM

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining approval for dropping or changing substantially an existing curriculum, option, or degree program is identical to that for establishing a new curriculum or option. After approval by the appropriate on-campus bodies, the request will be submitted to the University of Louisiana  Board of Supervisors and to the Louisiana Board of Regents.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading and Part C must be completed.

On a separate sheet, in two columns labeled “Present” and “Proposed” list by academic year the courses to be dropped and the courses to be added, respectively. The total hours required for present and proposed curricula must be included.

If an existing curriculum, option, or degree program is to be dropped, a short statement to that effect and a brief explanation must be attached to the proposal form to IPC.

Each new course contained in the proposal must be individually submitted to the Committee in accordance with the section involving the establishment of a new course.

Each course being dropped must likewise be submitted in accordance with the section concerned with “Major course change or dropping of an existing course.”

In determining the “Effective Date,” the Unit Head should consult 2b on the second page of the proposal form.

ESTABLISHING A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM

Policy

Requests to establish new degree programs are to be developed with input and discussion among departmental and college faculty with review and approval of appropriate campus units. Constitutionally, new degree programs are established by approval of the Louisiana Board of Regents following statewide adopted policies and procedures. The procedure involves submission of a Letter of Intent to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents for initial consideration. If approved, the institution will submit a full program proposal for consideration by both Boards. External reviews are required for selected undergraduate and all graduate level programs. Degree programs cannot be initiated until final proposal approval is granted by the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents.

Procedure

Copies of the Board of Regents Guidelines for New Degree Programs are available from the Office of the Provost. Requests must be prepared in accordance with these policies and university curriculum requirements. Initial factors to be addressed include program relationship to role and scope of the institution, relationship to other similar degree programs at other institutions, and compliance with mandates of the State guidelines. The Letter of Intent/Proposals require documentation of the following: Need, Students, Faculty, Library and Other Resources, Facilities and Equipment, Administration and Costs. Final program curricula must be approved in accordance with IPC guidelines, including approval by IPC, Council of Academic Deans, the Provost, and the President prior to program publication or student enrollments.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading and Part C must be completed.

On a separate sheet, list by academic year the courses to be included in the new degree program. The total hours required during each academic year as well as for the curriculum must be included.

SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES [8]

A procedure for approval of college special topics courses has been established by the Council of Academic Deans to encourage the development and offering of new special topics courses. Special topics courses may be proposed by faculty with departmental support. The College Dean, if recommending the offering, will submit a request to offer, including rationale and course syllabus, to the Council of Academic Deans for approval. If approved, the course offering will be forwarded to the President for final approval. Special topics courses will be identified with the college designation, appropriate course numbers (189/194, 289/294, 389/394, 489/494, and 589/594), and topic title. An approved course may be offered two times in the special topics category. If the department wishes to continue the offering, the course must be submitted and approved in accordance with IPC (or Graduate Council if graduate course) policy and procedure.

Appendix A: Proposal for changes to University Catalog – Louisiana Tech University (IPC: University Policy 2301 ) (GC: University Policy 2311)

Definitions

Not Applicable.

Procedures

See above.

Policy 2301 – Policies and Procedures of the Instructional Policies Committee

Revision Date: 05/01/2024
Last Review: 05/01/2024
Original Effective Date: 01/23/1964
Responsible Office: Provost

Policy

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMITTEE

Introduction

The Instructional Policies Committee (hereafter IPC or Committee) of Louisiana Tech University was created by a directive issued by the President on January 23, 1964. Selection to Committee membership is made with utmost care, and each member’s position is considered one of honor as well as responsibility.

Purpose

The Committee considers problems of College life in the areas of courses, curricula, and instruction in undergraduate studies. It may either initiate or review recommendations for establishing or revising instructional policies and programs. The Committee further serves as an instrument of control to avoid course duplication and proliferation.

It is, however, an examining and recommending body and makes its recommendations to the Office of the Provost. The Provost will review these recommendations with the Council of Academic Deans, of which he/she is Chairman, and this group will make their recommendations to the President. The President of the University makes all final decisions. It is not the responsibility of this Committee to determine if an item must go before the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors or the Board of Regents, or to decide the legality of a proposal submitted to it.

Organization

MEMBERSHIP

The membership consists of two representatives from each of the Colleges at Louisiana Tech, one representative from the Library, one representative from the Louisiana Tech Barksdale Instructional Site,[1] and two student members. The University Registrar or his/her representative is an ex-officio member without voting privileges. Specifically, one faculty member is appointed by the Dean of each College, and one is elected by the faculty. The Library representative is appointed by the Executive Director of Libraries, the Barksdale representative is appointed by the Provost, and the student representatives are appointed by the President of the Student Government Association. Terms of the faculty are for two years and student terms are for one year. All members are eligible for reappointment or re-election as the case may be. The elections and appointments are made prior to the September meeting each year. New members are seated at the September meeting, and the new Committee elects a Chair and a Vice Chair from its membership to serve a one-year term of office.

ALTERNATES

Substitutions are permitted for the regular members when they are unable to attend Committee meetings. For this purpose, each academic Dean appoints two alternates who serve for a period of two years. These alternates represent either regular member in his/her absence. The Colleges are to be represented only by the regular members or the alternates appointed by the Dean.

MEETINGS

Regular meetings shall be the second Tuesday of each month, and other meetings may be called by the Chair as the need arises.

VOTING

The Committee shall abide by Robert’s Rules of Order.

A quorum of the Committee shall consist of one-half plus one of the voting members of the committee. The decisions of the Committee shall be by a majority of the members voting.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Louisiana Tech University is dedicated to quality education, and, therefore, proposals for the alteration of instructional policies are matters of great importance. These guidelines are furnished as a positive aid to persons preparing proposals to present to the Committee. In making proposals, it should be borne in mind that all agents in the process will be taking their reviewing function seriously, and they should be aided as much as possible by 1) presenting proposals that are prepared accurately and completely, and 2) allowing time enough for complete review. Agenda items must be submitted to the Office of the Provost at least fifteen (15) days prior to a regular meeting.

The Committee considers many factors during the evaluation of new proposals. No proposal should be submitted which fails to emphasize high academic standards. Attention must also be directed toward more pragmatic questions such as these:

  1. Is the proposal in direct harmony with the specific objectives of Louisiana Tech, the College, and the Department?
  2. Has the cost of offering the proposed program been realistically assessed? For example, will salary increases be adversely affected by its addition? Will the Departmental teaching load be increased? Will existing programs be denied financing? In each case, the evidence should indicate the benefits are at least proportionate to the financial impact.
  3. Is the proposal in the best overall interest of higher education in Louisiana, or is it proposed from a selfish viewpoint? Is the alteration really necessary and substantive, or is it merely change for the sake of change? Have the appropriate Library personnel been consulted to ensure that adequate holdings exist or can be purchased to support fully the implementation of the proposal?
     

Justification of a change solely on the grounds that certification, accreditation, or Federal funding depends on it is not sufficient. The Committee certainly recognizes the importance of satisfying appropriate certifying, accrediting, and granting agencies, but where the satisfaction of such agencies constitutes the essence of the justification of the proposal, the rationale of the accrediting agent should be given. Moreover, the Committee would like to see some sort of justification in the existing curriculum which would accommodate the new changes without introducing excessive proliferation or expansion. In any case, specific reference should be made to requirements of the agency and should accompany the submittal.

ESTABLISHING A NEW COURSE

Policy

Proposals normally should originate with the faculty of a department under its appropriate leadership. A course should be thoroughly discussed and approved at the departmental level prior to submission for College-level or University-level consideration.

The university requires all new or revised course proposals to provide justification for the level and number of credit hours for a proposed course. Proper justification of a course includes: the educational significance of the proposed course (including new capabilities, skills, and levels of awareness obtained by students taking the course); a list of measurable learning objectives for the course; an explanation of the rationale used by the department to arrive at the course level; an explanation of how the course will be placed within a particular curriculum structure or program of study; the number of hours per week in lecture and in laboratory; and the number of credits for lecture, for lab, and the total credits for the course.

The Committee’s request for a description and justification of a proposed course should be taken seriously. The description should be clear and the justification as specific as possible. While lecture-by-lecture details are not necessary, the outline should nevertheless plainly indicate the content and the objectives of the course.

Extreme care should be exercised to avoid needless duplication of instruction on the same subject at the same level in different departments and colleges. Major consideration should also be given to student needs and to strength of course offerings in related areas. Inclusion of specific data of this type will help expedite the proposal.

Prerequisites specified for a course should realistically delineate the advance preparation requirement of students entering the course. Prerequisites should not be redundant, but should specifically list the highest levels of achievement that students entering the course will be expected to have.

Courses numbered at the 400-level may include provision for listing with a “G” designation. In order for courses to be labeled with a “G” designation, they must be approved by both the Instructional Policies Committee and the Graduate Council. Students take the 400-level course for undergraduate credit and the 400G-level course for graduate credit. The undergraduate and graduate sections may be taught concurrently. In these courses, students earning graduate credit are expected to complete additional and more advanced course requirements above those completed by a student earning undergraduate credit (e.g., additional projects, research, presentations, etc.). Qualified faculty determine these additional requirements that must bring the course to a level of rigor commensurate with a graduate level course and are described in the course syllabus. Courses with a “G” designation are to be taught by faculty holding Graduate Faculty status.

Courses offered for zero credit are approved via the same process as other courses offered for credit. A course syllabus is required for zero-credit courses with the exception of placement and comprehensive examinations. The course syllabus shall include learning outcomes, course expectations, and grading scale (Pass/Fail, etc.) and must meet all requirements listed in Policy 2205-Goals and Requirements of Each Course Syllabus.  Zero credit courses can count toward the satisfaction of the requirements for an undergraduate major. These can include but are not limited to recitals, capstone projects, preparatory work, professional development, placement/proficiency exams, and portfolio development.

Procedure

  1. The faculty of a Department will decide criteria for a new course, and when all matters are agreed upon, the proposal is drafted (including the Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog Form) and submitted to the appropriate Dean of the College.
  2. The signed original of the Proposal for Changes to Catalog form and supplemental materials are to be delivered to the Office of the Provost. Email a PDF of the complete signed original packet to the Office of the Provost.
  3. The Provost reviews the material for accuracy, coordination, and content. The proposal is submitted to the IPC for action.
  4. The IPC meets and takes action on the proposal. Three decisions are possible: 1) the course can be approved, 2) the course can be disapproved, and 3) the proposal can be returned with a specific request for more information, further clarification, etc. If the proposal is disapproved, it cannot be resubmitted to the IPC for a full academic year. Frequently, the request for additional information can be expedited if the Head of the submitting Department is available to the Committee during the meeting in which it considers the proposal. Regardless of the action taken, the IPC will return the proposal to the Office of the Provost.
  5. If the course is approved by the IPC, it is then reviewed by the Provost and the Council of Academic Deans. If approved, the proposal is forwarded to the President for final approval. If the course is disapproved, or if additional information is needed, the proposal is returned to the submitting College with the reason(s) for the action. If additional information is required, the Department should reply by sending the necessary information through the Dean of the College and the Office of the Provost. In certain instances, the IPC may invite a representative for further clarification.
     

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading Part A, Part B, and “Course Addition” must be completed when proposing the establishment of a new course.

The “Effective Date” is the quarter that the Department wants to begin teaching the new course. In order for a Department to offer a new course for the quarter it wishes, it should submit its proposal to the IPC according to the following schedule: [5]

IPC Meeting Day

Earliest Effective Date

January – April

Summer/Fall

May – September

Winter

October – December

Spring

No course can be listed in the Quarter Class Schedule or the catalog until it has received the final approval of the President.

Departments should submit a complete catalog description, not to exceed twenty-five words, in the formal catalog format. For example:

  1. Intermediate Accounting. 0-3-3. Preq., ACCT 301. The theory and application of accounting procedures to financial reporting.

Courses that may be repeated for multiple credit should show the maximum number of hours of credit that may be obtained. For example, a course that may be repeated twice for a total of six hours credit would be indicated 0-2-2 (6).

MINOR CHANGE IN AN EXISTING COURSE

Policy

Individual Departments are authorized to make minor editorial changes in the catalog descriptions of their courses without formal submittal through the IPC by following the procedure below. A minor change is defined as slight changes in one of the following: course title, prerequisites, or course description. Changes in course credit or credit hours are never considered minor.

Procedure

Requests for minor changes are made to the Office of the Provost in the form of a memorandum which should set forth clearly the changes in the description of the courses by listing the current description and the proposed description. Approval of these minor changes requires only the signature of the Provost. If the changes are not considered minor, they will be returned to the appropriate Unit Head for submission to IPC.

MAJOR CHANGE OR DROPPING OF AN EXISTING COURSE

Policy

Changes in course numbers, credit hours, number of hours of lecture and laboratory per week, and substantial changes in course content or prerequisites are considered to be major changes.

A strong effort should be made to coordinate changes in existing courses with all Departments that have an interest in the course. Courses offered in one Department and either required or considered a desirable elective by another Department have sometimes proved troublesome items when submitted for revision or for dropping. The Committee will attempt to resolve any lack of interdepartmental coordination, but the most desirable procedure is to take care of these matters before submitting the request for change to the Office of the Provost.

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining approval of a major course change or for dropping of an existing course is identical to that for the establishment of a new course.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. Requests for major course change or for dropping of an existing course must include completion of the form heading and responses to Part A, Part B, “Course Change” or “Course Drop,” as is appropriate.

The Unit Head should keep in mind that, after receipt in the Office of the Provost, approximately 30 days are required to obtain final approval of a course proposal, and six weeks of additional lead time prior to the beginning of a term is necessary for schedule printing. Therefore, the proposal should be submitted early enough to obtain final approval before the desired effective date.

DROPPING OR CHANGING AN EXISTING CURRICULUM, OPTION, OR DEGREE PROGRAM

Procedure

The procedure for obtaining approval for dropping or changing substantially an existing curriculum, option, or degree program is identical to that for establishing a new curriculum or option. After approval by the appropriate on-campus bodies, the request will be submitted to the University of Louisiana  Board of Supervisors and to the Louisiana Board of Regents.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading and Part C must be completed.

On a separate sheet, in two columns labeled “Present” and “Proposed” list by academic year the courses to be dropped and the courses to be added, respectively. The total hours required for present and proposed curricula must be included.

If an existing curriculum, option, or degree program is to be dropped, a short statement to that effect and a brief explanation must be attached to the proposal form to IPC.

Each new course contained in the proposal must be individually submitted to the Committee in accordance with the section involving the establishment of a new course.

Each course being dropped must likewise be submitted in accordance with the section concerned with “Major course change or dropping of an existing course.”

In determining the “Effective Date,” the Unit Head should consult 2b on the second page of the proposal form.

ESTABLISHING A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM

Policy

Requests to establish new degree programs are to be developed with input and discussion among departmental and college faculty with review and approval of appropriate campus units. Constitutionally, new degree programs are established by approval of the Louisiana Board of Regents following statewide adopted policies and procedures. The procedure involves submission of a Letter of Intent to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents for initial consideration. If approved, the institution will submit a full program proposal for consideration by both Boards. External reviews are required for selected undergraduate and all graduate level programs. Degree programs cannot be initiated until final proposal approval is granted by the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents.

Procedure

Copies of the Board of Regents Guidelines for New Degree Programs are available from the Office of the Provost. Requests must be prepared in accordance with these policies and university curriculum requirements. Initial factors to be addressed include program relationship to role and scope of the institution, relationship to other similar degree programs at other institutions, and compliance with mandates of the State guidelines. The Letter of Intent/Proposals require documentation of the following: Need, Students, Faculty, Library and Other Resources, Facilities and Equipment, Administration and Costs. Final program curricula must be approved in accordance with IPC guidelines, including approval by IPC, Council of Academic Deans, the Provost, and the President prior to program publication or student enrollments.

Submittal Form

A copy of the “Proposal for Change(s) to Catalog” form is included as Appendix A. The form heading and Part C must be completed.

On a separate sheet, list by academic year the courses to be included in the new degree program. The total hours required during each academic year as well as for the curriculum must be included.

SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES [8]

A procedure for approval of college special topics courses has been established by the Council of Academic Deans to encourage the development and offering of new special topics courses. Special topics courses may be proposed by faculty with departmental support. The College Dean, if recommending the offering, will submit a request to offer, including rationale and course syllabus, to the Council of Academic Deans for approval. If approved, the course offering will be forwarded to the President for final approval. Special topics courses will be identified with the college designation, appropriate course numbers (189/194, 289/294, 389/394, 489/494, and 589/594), and topic title. An approved course may be offered two times in the special topics category. If the department wishes to continue the offering, the course must be submitted and approved in accordance with IPC (or Graduate Council if graduate course) policy and procedure.

Appendix A: Proposal for changes to University Catalog – Louisiana Tech University (IPC: University Policy 2301 ) (GC: University Policy 2311)

Definitions

Not Applicable.

Procedures

See above.