Curriculum Change FAQs

Faculty Senate

Commonly asked questions regarding curriculum change proposal processing can be found below with corresponding responses. If you do not find the question(s) and answer(s) you are looking for please contact Curriculum Manager Lisa DeChano-Cook.

Last updated on August 21, 2024

Curriculum Proposals

How do I access the WMU electronic curriculum system?

Go to and log in (far upper right) using your BroncoNet ID and password.

Who can access the WMU electronic curriculum system?

Anyone with a BroncoNet ID and password can access the WMU electronic curriculum system. Only board-appointed faculty can initiate a proposal.

Who can initiate a curriculum change proposal?

Only board-appointed faculty may initiate a curriculum change proposal.

Can department chairs initiate a curriculum proposal?

Yes, department chairs can initiate a proposal. However, there needs to be documentation attached to the proposal that indicates the department faculty are aware of the proposal and support it.

If I am changing the name of the program and making changes to the program curriculum, can I use one proposal?

No, you will need to submit two proposals: one for the name change and one for the curriculum change.

If the same change is being made to multiple courses does a separate proposal need to be submitted for each course?

Yes, a separate proposal needs to be submitted for each course. The reason is so that each course is reviewed and considered individually to ensure that the course really needs to have the requested change made. This is especially true for restrictions (major and class). Sometimes a blanket change is not actually what needs to happen.

What does the proposal initiator need to do after drafting the proposal?

The proposal initiator needs to validate and launch the proposal. This person also needs to approve the proposal to send it on to the next step in the approval process.

What do the icons next to the proposal title mean?

Listed below are the symbols and colors utilized in Curriculum (formally Curriculog):

How do I reactivate a course?

To reactivate a course, use the course change form. You will be able to search for the inactive course and begin your proposal. If however, the course does not show when you do the search, it will have to be submitted as a new course.

When do I need to attach a syllabus to a course proposal?

A syllabus is needed for every course proposal, except when deleting a course.

When does catalog copy have to be attached to a proposal?

Catalog copy is needed for all proposals.

When current and new catalog copy is needed, it is helpful to have a side-by-side comparison of old and new catalog copy. Copy the full current catalog copy from the online catalog () and paste it into a Microsoft Word document. Then on a separate page, past the current catalog copy again and markup this new page with highlighting and strike-through that show the changes to be made (additions, deletions, and modifications to the existing text). If you use colors, please make sure to note what each color denotes.

How do I provide catalog copy to my proposal?

Attach a document with the old and new catalog copy, using track changes or some other indicator of the changes being made.

How do I answer the question regarding "Response to assessment outcomes?"

There are many different types of assessments that may have led to your proposal. The Curriculum Assessment Guide outlines many of these formal and informal assessments. Use one (or more) of these assessments when answering this question. In most cases, this question should not be answered as "not applicable" or "N/A."

Why do I need to run an impact report for my curriculum proposal?

The impact report indicates which other courses and/or programs may be impacted by your curriculum change. As soon as this report is generated, conversations should begin with any impacted programs/departments as soon as possible so any potential negative impacts can be discussed.

How do I run an impact report?

Click on "Run Impact Report" at the top of the proposal.
A pop-up box will appear.
Click on the catalogs that you need to include in the report.
Click "Generate Report" at the bottom of the pop-up box.
A new screen will appear in the pop-up box.
Copy the text that appears in that new screen and past it into the proposal.

When should I include the four-digit Banner major/minor codes?

Four-digit Banner major/minor codes need to be included if you have a course that is for specific majors and/or minors only, otherwise enter "none".

What does "List all of the four-digit major and/or minor codes (from Banner) that are to be EXCLUDED. If none, enter 'none'" mean?

If you have a course that you do not want students in specific majors or minors to be able to take then these four-digit Banner codes would be entered in this box. If any student, regardless of major, can take the course then you would enter "none" in the box.

What does "List all of the four-digit major and/or minor codes (from Banner) that are to be INCLUDED. If none, enter 'none'" mean?

If you have a course that you only want students in specific majors or minors to be able to take then these four-digit Banner codes would be entered in this box. If any student, regardless of major, can take the course then you would enter "none" in the box.

How should student learning outcomes (SLOs) be worded?

Student learning outcomes complete the following stem: "By the end of this course/program, student will be able to...". Use action words/verbs such as those in Bloom's Taxonomy so that SLOs are assessable.

From: Valamis ()

When do I need to talk with HIGE about a proposal?

If your proposal will impact a large number of international students (large to be determined by the unit) then you should, as a courtesy, talk with HIGE.

Majors / Programs

Why do concentrations need to be changed to majors/programs?

Concentrations have evolved over time and in practice are technically the same as a major. To simplify the WMU curriculum, no new concentrations will be created.

How do I change a concentration to a major/program?

Two proposals are needed to change a concentration to a major/program. A delete program proposal is necessary to delete the concentration and a new program proposal is necessary to create the new major/program.

Can tracks still be used within majors/programs?

Yes, however the track name will not appear on the student's transcript or diploma. For it to appear on transcripts and diplomas it must be a major, not a track within a major.

I need assistance in gathering the supporting research data needed for my program. Is there anyone that can help?

The WMUx Market Research team provides services that support faculty with their program curriculum proposal research needs. Services available include:

Market analysis reports that include student demand, employer demand, and competitive analysis.
Primary research using quantitative or qualitative methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.)

These services are provided for free, and faculty are encouraged to use them if assistance is needed. Fill out a to get started.

Appeals

What can be appealed?

There are two types of appeals:

Academic Officer appeal - include the department chairs decision to the college dean and the college dean's decision to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University Council/Committee appeal - process violations only.

How do Academic Officer appeals work?

Appeals must be in writing to the college dean or the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and acted upon within 30-calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

How are interdisciplinary proposal issues adjudicated?

If good faith discussions for interdisciplinary proposals do not yield a compromise, the proposal can be appealed, in writing, to the college dean for intra-college issues and to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for inter-college issues. The decision of the dean or Provost is final and cannot be appeals once the decision is made.

What can be appealed at the Faculty Senate Council/Committee level?

Only process violations can be appealed.

What are some examples of a process violation?

Failure of a council/committee to allow discussion or debate
Failure of a council/committee to permit presentation of relevant information
Exclusion of interested parties in council/committee discussion
Demonstration of bias among the council/committee
Allegations of conflict of interest
Failure to provide feedback/guidance on how to remedy deficiencies in the proposal

What are some examples that are NOT considered a process violation?

Not attending a meeting
Not sending a representative to a meeting
Disagreeing on a content decision

How do Faculty Senate Council/Committee appeals work?

Anyone in attendance at the council/committee meeting who believes a process violation has occurred can submit an appeal.

How do I make a Faculty Senate Council/Committee level appeal?

Anyone at the meeting of the council/committee can make a motion during the meeting or ask that a motion be consider. After the meeting, anyone who attended the meeting can submit an appeal, in writing, to the Faculty Senate Executive Board Ex Officio member of that council/committee within five-business days of the alleged violation that includes the reason for the appeal and any supporting information. The written appeal will be presented at the next available Faculty Senate Executive Board meeting. The Faculty Senate Executive Board can seek clarification from the appellant or others, in writing if needed, giving ten-business days for a response. A written response to the appellant will be done in writing within ten-business days of the decision, and documentation will move forward with the proposal.

This is not considered an appeal of the decision. Outcomes are either process violation was found warranting reconsideration of the proposal by the original council/committee, or there was no process violation. Decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Please note that the process for WMU Essential Studies Course appeal is a little different.

How do WMU Essential Studies course appeals work?

An appeal can be made by the proposal originator, in writing, within five-business days of notification through the electronic course approval system, clearly stating why the course should be included and address any feedback (or lack of feedback) to the WMU Essential Studies Executive Advisory Committee chair. The WMU Essential Studies Executive Advisory Committee will evaluate the appeal at the next available meeting and respond, in writing, withing ten-business days of the decision. The decision is final and cannot be appealed.

Timeline

What is the timeline for curriculum change approvals?

Non-WMU Essential Studies Courses

Fall start: approval by dean by October 31
Spring start: approval by dean by March 31
Graduate courses: approval by Graduate College dean by December 31

WMU Essential Studies Course

Approval by dean by October 31
Approval by the WMU Essential Studies Course Review and Approval Committee by December 31

Programs (new, deletion, rename)

Approval by dean by October 31
Approval by the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Studies Council and/or the Graduate Studies Council by November 30
Approval by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the WMU President by Decebmer 31
Approval by the WMU Board of Trustees by January 31

Program (changes)

Approval by dean by October 31

Are the curriculum change deadlines hard and fast?

YES! These are the hard and fast deadlines so other approvals can be done in a timely manner and the Registrar's Office has adequate time to get changes made to the catalog before freshman orientation in June.

When should I begin a new program proposal to help ensure that it will get through the curriculum process in a timely manner?

It is suggested that new program proposals be initiated by January 1 of the prior academic year, with letter(s) of support or evidence of good faith discussions being obtained by April 15 or the prior academic year.

WMU Essential Studies

What is the timeline for WMU Essential Studies course approvals?

WMU Essential Studies Course

Approval by dean by October 31
Approval by the WMU Essential Studies Course Review and Approval Committee by December 31

How do I create a new class and have it included in WMU Essential Studies?

Use the proposal entitled New WMU Course (new to catalog and WMU Essential Studies) for the appropriate WMU Essential Studies level.

How do I add an existing WMU course into WMU Essential Studies?

If you are adding an existing course to WMU Essential Studies that does not need any changes use the proposal entitled Adding Existing Course to WMU Essential Studies (without course changes) for the appropriate WMU Essential Studies level.

If the course you want to add to WMU Essential Studies does need changes (e.g., title, description, restrictions) use the proposal entitled Adding Existing Course to WMU Essential Studies (with course changes) for the appropriate WMU Essential Studies level.

What files have to be attached to a new WMU Essential Studies course proposal?

The catalog description of the course that includes a statement of WMU Essential Studies inclusion, the course syllabus, and the WMU Essential Studies assessment plan need to be attached to the proposal as files for a new WMU Essential course, at minimum. There may be other pertinent information that needs to also be attached.

What WMU Essential Studies language needs to be included in the course syllabus?

The WMU Essential Studies language that needs to be included in the course syllabus is the course catalog description with the WMU Essential Studies language included and the appropriate student learning outcomes identified as WMU Essential Studies student learning outcomes.

What does the WMU Essential Studies language for catalog copy look like?

Please use the following verbiage for WMU Essential Studies catalog copy:

"This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level #: Title - Cattegory."

Example: This course satisfies WMU Essential Studies Level 2: Exploration and Discovery - Scientific Literacy with Lab Category.

If the course also meets the Diversity and Inclusion or Planetary Sustainability SLOs the following statement must also be included:

"This course also meets the [choose either Diversity and Inclusion OR Planetary Sustainability] student learning outcomes."

Who should submit a WMU Essential Studies cyclical course review?

Any course instructor or chair.

How do WMU Essential Studies course appeals work?