Pine Technical College
Policy and Procedure
Policy Number: 211 REV 2 Date: 11/23/98
Revision Date: 02/06/01; 11/15/05
Division/Department: Academic Affairs
Author: Academic Affairs and Standards Council
Subject: Curriculum Review Process
Authorities:
MnScu Board of Trustees - Chapter 3 Educational Policy #3.2, 3.10,
3.11, 3.12, 3.14, 3.17, 3.19, 3.20, 3.22
Purpose:
To facilitate continuous improvement in instruction and meet
accountability requirements for curriculum delivery
Policy:
Faculty, the Curriculum Committee, and program advisory committees will
work together to establish and maintain curriculum integrity. The process will
use Pine Technical College policy, MnSCU policy, NCA guidelines, business and
industry criteria to develop and maintain curriculum. All faculty, under the
direction of the Dean of Academic Affairs, will be involved in the curriculum
process at the college by the:
• Creation and review of courses and program plans in their
departments
• Holding and facilitating one (1) department Advisory
Committee meetings per year
• Developing and revising courses to provide students with
meaningful and content rich department program plans and courses of study.
The Dean of Academic Affairs, the college Curriculum Coordinator, and the
Curriculum committee will oversee the process for curriculum review. The
Curriculum Committee and the Dean of Academic Affairs will establish a timeline
to review and facilitate quality courses and program plans at Pine Technical
College. Each faculty person and academic division will strive to meet the
curriculum standards set on an ongoing basis. The college will strive to review
and design curriculum to meet or exceed higher education and business and
industry standards.
Procedure:
1. Faculty will:
a. Provide access to a current copy of a course syllabus to
each student enrolled in a course at the college.
b. will work in collaboration with the Division Chair to
create program plans of quality to direct courses and instruction specific to
each degree, diploma, or certificate at the college.
c. will work with the 4-yr receiving institution to ensure
transferability when developing associate of science degree programs.
d. Not make changes to program plans and/or make major course
content changes without Curriculum Committee review.
Note: Major course content changes include changes in credit value, course
title, course description, course number, and/or a 10% change in content goals.
2. Program Advisory Committee Meetings are critical to the curriculum process.
Input from business and industry; and other partners will be documented during
the curriculum process.
a. Programs will hold one (1) advisory meeting per year.
Advisory members will work with faculty to ensure validity of content goals to a
specific technical industry, trade, and/or higher education transferable skill.
The results and strategies, expected outcomes, probable opportunities, discussed
at these meetings will influence changes departments or programs will make to
curriculum.
b. Advisory Committee minutes must document major curriculum
changes and provide a rationale for the changes.
c. All collaborative programs, (A.,A., AAS., and A.S.) will
seek an appropriately structured advisory process.
3. Curriculum Committee Responsibilities:
a. Curriculum Committee and Academic Affairs and Standards
Council membership will be one in the same.
b. Curriculum Committee review will take place in conjunction
with Academic Affairs and Standards Council meetings.
c. Approved program plans remain in place unless changes are
brought before the committee for review and approval. Changes cannot take place
in program plans unless approved by program faculty and advisory committees. The
changes are then submitted to the curriculum committee for review and approval.
d. New program plans, and any changes to courses or program
plans, are not official until approved by the Curriculum Committee, the Dean of
Academic Affairs and included on the MnSCU program inventory.
e. When program plans change or new programs are developed,
DARS and CAS will be updated by the curriculum coordinator
4. Customized Training will:
a. Provide access to a current copy of a course syllabus
and/or a course outline to each student enrolled in a customized training
course.
b. Work with the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Curriculum
Committee, and the Curriculum Coordinator in the curriculum process for all
credit base courses.
5. Adjunct Faculty will:
a. Disseminate a current copy of a course syllabus and/or a
course outline to each student enrolled in a course delivered to Pine Technical
College Students.
b. Work with all pertinent college staff to create shared
program plans of quality to direct courses and instruction specific to each
degree, diploma, or certificate at the college.
c. Work with the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Curriculum
Committee and the Curriculum Coordinator in the curriculum process.
6. The Dean of Academic Affairs, the Curriculum Committee, and the Curriculum
Coordinator will bring curriculum items to the Academic Affairs and Standards
Council for review when appropriate. These groups will have input to curriculum
changes that affect assessment, marketing, and student advising.
Responsibilities:
1. It is the responsibility of the Dean of Academic Affairs to insure
an orderly and timely process of curriculum review and will appoint a Curriculum
Coordinator to assist curriculum efforts of the college faculty, the advisory
committee members, and Division Chairs.
a. Academic Affairs maintains and stores college curricula.
This includes maintenance of the college curricula.
2. The Dean of Academic Affairs will work with the Curriculum Committee,
Division Chairs, and faculty to ensure participation in process and policy in
regard to curriculum.
3. Faculty have ultimate responsibility in completing their program curriculum.
The college recognizes and encourages academic freedom, but insists on
compliance with the college curriculum review process for all course and
programs at the college
Dissemination:
This policy will be distributed to all College personnel via the campus
intranet.
Reviewed by Executive Cabinet: Date: 10/26/98
Reviewed by Faculty Senate: Date: 10/14/98
Approved: Date: 10/26/98
Revised: 11/15/05 Revision reviewed by Leadership Team:
12-12-05 Revision reviewed by Faculty Shared Governance: 1-17-06 Approved:
_________________________ 1-20-06 Robert L. Musgrove, President