Organization of the Curriculum and Assessment Committee

This is a standing committee of the College. It is made up of all of the academic department chairs, two faculty members chosen by the committee for their interest or knowledge, Degree auditor from Student Services, Library Director, a Student Body Representative and the Dean of Academic Affairs as an ex-officio, non-voting member. The Student Body Association will choose the Student Body Representative.

1. The Committee will be reconstituted at the beginning of each academic year.
2. Two Co-Chairs will be selected from the Committee membership.
3. The recording secretary shall be the assistant to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
4. The Dean of Academic Affairs may schedule meetings and preside as Chair Pro-Tempore until the Chairs have been chosen.
5. A quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the active committee membership.
6. The Committee shall report to the Executive Council through the President of the Faculty Senate

Functions of the Curriculum and Assessment Committee

The Curriculum and Assessment Committee oversees the planning of new courses, course changes, and degree and certificate programs. It reviews existing courses at least once every three years. At the next to the last regular meeting each academic year, the Committee shall review the Curriculum Assessment Committee’s role, scope and authority document in light of the year’s experience.

Functions specific to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee are as follows:

1. To initiate academic programs which are consistent with the Academic Planning Committee’s recommendations, the long-range goals of the College, and the educational goals of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
2. To approve and implement degree and non-degree academic programs.
3. To approve proposed courses.
4. To assist with Academic Program Review.
5. To invite faculty members and other persons to present their views on issues under consideration by the Curriculum Committee.
6. To maintain records of existing and archived courses and changes.

Curriculum and Assessment Committee Meetings

The Curriculum and Assessment Committee meets during the Fall and Spring Semesters. It does not meet during academic vacations, holidays or during the Summer Semester.

Regular Meetings: Regular meetings shall be held on the first Thursday of every month at 11:00 a.m.

Special Meetings: Special Meetings may be called by either Co- Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Committee as he/she may deem necessary.

Conduct of Meetings: Committee meetings are conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order. The Co-chairs shall conduct the meetings on a rotational basis.

Minutes of Meetings: Curriculum and Assessment Committee minutes are recorded by the secretary. The Minutes shall:

1. Name the Committee, date, meeting time and place.
2. Identify the meeting as regular or special.
3. Identify the person presiding at the meeting.
4. List the names of those present or absent.
5. Indicate if a quorum was present.
6. Include the approval of the previous minutes, with corrections noted.
7. Record motions, actions, and a summary of the discussion.
8. Have a copy of the agenda attached to the original minutes.
9. Date and time of next meeting
10. Time of adjournment
11. Be signed by the Recording Secretary.
12. Be distributed to the members of the CAC, the President of the Faculty Senate and to the Institutional Research Department for purposes of posting on the Internet.

Procedures

Procedures for the development of a) new or experimental courses, b) new degree or certificate programs, or c) revision of existing programs and courses.

A proposal for a new course, new degree program, or new certificate program or a revision of an existing course or program may be initiated by a faculty member, administrator, or a concerned citizen as long as it is within the scope of the Academic Plan. It is important that each new course proposal first be evaluated by the department faculty in order to avoid duplication of courses and to assess the need for and viability of the proposed course before it is forwarded to the Curriculum Committee. Because new programs of study require additional faculty positions, new instructional equipment, and adequate curriculum support, the proposed source of funding should be stated in a proposal for a new program.

The procedures should be followed when submitting a proposal for a new course or program or revision of an existing program or course:

Non-Substantive Changes

1. Definition – non-substantive changes are those that do not affect the basic nature and contents of a course or program and are within the scope of the Academic Plan.

    

   This includes such changes as a change in the prerequisites for a course, the elimination or addition of cross-listing of a course, changing the wording of a course description without changing the course content, title changes, number change (example 100 to 200 level or visa versa, changes in course designations (example EN to LA or visa versa) and deletion of the course if the deletion does not affect a program.

    

2. Process – initiator submits the change to the Department Chair(s), the Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Curriculum and Assessment Committee Chair. If the changes are not approved by all three people, then the change shall be brought before the Curriculum and Assessment Committee for approval.

    

3. The procedure for the course outline review shall proceed in the same manner as provided for above.

Substantive Changes (This is an internal process not an accreditation compliance step)

1. Definition – substantive changes are those changes that affect the basic nature and content of a program or course including the development of new programs or courses, the deletions of programs or courses, and changes in degrees offered and are within the scope of the Academic Plan.

    

2. Program and Course Change Process – the initiator completes a cover page and a course outline based on the recommended format. All are submitted to the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs for review and approval. If the request is approved the change is brought to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee for final approval. The Curriculum and Assessment Committee will either approve, make modifications, or deny changes. In any case, the initiator, Department Chair, and the Dean of Academic Affairs will be notified. After final approval, the Curriculum and Assessment Committee Chair, the Dean of Academic Affairs and the Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs will sign to implement this as an official CMI course which is available to be offered.

    

3. New Program and New Certificate Program Process – the initiator completes a document describing the new program or new certificate program. The proposal shall include a description, background information, goals and objectives, the target group, methods for achieving the goals and objectives, additional faculty positions if needed, proposed sources of funding, a projected budget to include expenses for personnel, travel, housing, equipment, materials and supplies, books, testing materials, and facility supplies such as air conditioner, desk, chairs, and maintenance.

    

   The following is the procedure for the new program or new certificate program:

    

1. The complete request and documentation are given by the initiator to the department chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs for review and either approval, modification, or non-approval.
2. When the request and documentation are approved, with or without modification by the Department Chair and the Dean of Academic Affairs, the Dean of Academic Affairs submits the request and documentation to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee for approval, modification, or non-approval.
3. When the request and documentation are approved by the Curriculum Committee, the new program or program changes is submitted to the President of the College for approval.
4. The initiator and the Department Chair(s) concerned write course outlines for the curriculum changes proposed.
5. The course outlines are submitted to the Curriculum and Assessment Committee for approval.
6. After final approval of all course outlines by the Curriculum Committee, the proposal and all course outlines shall be forwarded to the President and the Executive Council for review and approval by the President.
7. After approval by the President, the new program or program change along with all course outlines are forwarded to the Board of Regents for final approval.
8. After final approval by the Board of Regents, the new program or program change shall be signed by the Curriculum and Assessment Committee Chair, the Dean of Academic Affairs, and the Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs to implement the changes.

Curriculum and Assessment Committee Policy revision

Each academic year, at the next to the last regular meeting the Curriculum and Assessment Committee will entertain proposals to amend the Curriculum and Assessment Committee policies. These proposals will be acted on at the final meeting for the academic year. Any change in the Curriculum and Assessment Committee polices shall be forwarded to the Executive Council for review and recommendations.

Revised: 30 January 2007

Date of Adoption: 30 January 2007