Curriculum and Program Approval Process

All curriculum changes are submitted to the Faculty Senate each September for review by the Academic Standards and Curricular Review Committee (ASCRC) and Graduate Council. These committees assure that the proposed changes meet current academic policy and standards.

After Senate approval, Level I and II program changes are shepherded through the Board of Regents approval process by the Office of the Provost. Please note that the Board of Regents requires separate forms than the Faculty Senate (see http://mus.edu/che/arsa/Forms/AcademicForms.asp for the latest BOR forms).

Course Changes and slight Program Modifications for Campus Approval

Course changes and small modifications include:

• Adding a new course or making changes to an existing course: addition, deletion, or change in title, credit, course number, level, pre-requisites, description, cross-listing, or repeatability;
• Adding a new general education course or General Education writing course, changing existing General Education courses and removing designations for existing General Education courses;
• Adding new upper division writing courses; and
• Making slight changes to programs, such as adding a writing course to the major, changing the list of accepted elective courses, or removing a requirement of a minor.
• These do not need Board of Regents approval.

Level I Proposals for Campus and Board of Regents Approval

Level I proposals address changes such as:

• Re-titling or eliminating existing majors, minors, and options;
• Adding new minors where there is a major;
• Departmental mergers and name changes;
• Program revisions; and
• Distance delivery of previously authorized degree programs.

The following Level I changes require additional Level II Board of Regents documentation submitted to the Office of the Provost:

• Adding option within an existing major or degree;
• Eliminating organizational units such as departments, divisions and colleges or schools;
• Consolidating existing program and/or degree; and
• Creating temporary certificate or A.A.S. degree programs.

Level I proposals include campus initiatives typically characterized by (a) minimal costs; (b) clear adherence to approved campus mission; and (c) the absence of significant programmatic impact on other institutions within the Montana University System and community colleges.

Level II Proposals for Campus and Board of Regents Approval

Level II proposals address changes such as

• Changing names of degrees (e.g. from B.A. to B.F.A.);
• Implementing a new minor where there is no major;
• Establishing new degrees and add majors to existing degrees;
• Expanding/extending approved mission; and
• Any other changes in governance and organization described in Board of Regents' Policy 218, such as formation, elimination or consolidation of a college, division, school, department, institute, bureau, center, station, laboratory, or similar unit.

Level II proposals entail more substantive additions to, alterations in, or termination of programs, structures, or administrative or academic entities typically characterized by the (a) addition, reassignment, or elimination of personnel, facilities, or courses of instruction; (b) rearrangement of budgets, cost centers, funding sources; and (c) changes which by implication could impact other campuses within the Montana University System and community colleges.

New Centers - Level II Proposals for Campus and Board of Regents Approval

Proposals for new centers are considered Level II Proposals, but they require additional steps for approval.

Emeritus - Level II Proposals for Board of Regents Approval

In order to meet the criteria for emeritus status, a retiring faculty member must have been employed by The University of Montana for no less than ten years, and during that time, maintained a record of excellence in teaching, research/creativity, and service.