1188
DOCUMENTS
OF THE GENERAL FACULTY
PROPOSAL
FOR A NEW COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE UNDERGRADUATE
CATALOG
Michael Starbird (mathematics), on behalf
of the Educational Policy Committee, has filed the proposal below regarding
review of degrees.
The secretary has classified this proposal
as general legislation. The proposal will be presented to the Faculty
Council for action at its meeting on March 19, 2001.
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The Faculty Council
PROPOSAL
FOR A NEW COMMITTEE TO REVIEW PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE UNDERGRADUATE
CATALOG
Proposal
The chair of the Faculty Council,
in consultation with the Faculty Council Executive Committee,1
shall appoint a committee to review proposals from colleges and schools
for changes to undergraduate degree programs and recommend action to
the Faculty Council. The Committee on Undergraduate Degree Program Review
would include faculty representatives from each of the categories of
basic education requirements, namely, English and writing, foreign language,
social science, natural science and mathematics, and fine arts/humanities.
The committee would also include a representative from the College of
Communication, a representative from one of the professional schools,
an academic advisor, an undergraduate student recommended by the
Cabinet of College Councils1, a
member of the Educational Policy Committee, and two members of the University
administration appointed by the provost.
Amplification
The Committee on Undergraduate Degree
Program Review would receive all proposed degree plan changes at an
early stage. Changes that the committee deems routine would be approved
perfunctorily. For other proposals, the committee could request that
the relevant department and/or college make a presentation of the proposed
changes and then work with the department or college to make adjustments,
if appropriate. The committee would consider issues of the educational
quality of degrees and would also look at possible implications of degree
changes on course demand and graduation rates, impact on other programs
(e.g., service courses), and other such issues.
The Committee on Undergraduate Degree
Program Review would present proposals for changes to undergraduate
degree plans to the Faculty Council with recommendations for approval
or disapproval. Proposed changes to degree plans would continue to be
posted on the web in accordance with current practice.
Rationale
Currently, most proposed degree changes
actually receive little or no scrutiny after they leave a college or
school, since further approvals are conducted through the mechanism
of a no-protest process that is rarely noticed by the faculty or advisors.
When changes do come before the whole Faculty Council, the Faculty Council
members may not have the necessary background to conduct a meaningful
discussion of details. The proposed committee structure would result
in degree plans being systematically considered by representatives of
the whole University community.
This legislation was posted on the Faculty
Council web site (http://www.utexas.edu/faculty/council/)
on March 7, 2001. Paper copies are available on request from the Office
of the General Faculty, FAC 22, F9500.
1 Amended by the Faculty Council on April 16, 2001.
