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CCPI Request Forms

Council on Curricular Programs and Instruction (CCPI) Policies and Procedures

Revised: 24 February 2005 (previous revision dates)

The Council must be provided with twenty-three (23) copies (uncollated if more than one course request) of all course or program modifications. These will be placed on the agenda of the Council for review. These materials should be sent to the Council in care of the Faculty Senate Office, Stipes Hall #323. They must arrive nine (9) days prior to the next CCPI meeting.

It shall be the responsibility of each department chairperson to see that all changes in the University Catalog involving department curricular matters have received proper approval before being submitted as catalog copy.

Mission Statement

The Council will review and approve all new or revised undergraduate courses, major/minor programs or curricula at Western Illinois University. Further, the Council will serve the departments, on their invitation, in the areas of undergraduate courses, major/minor programs and curricula and will encourage the development of new programs.

Responsibilities of the Council on Curricular Programs and Instruction

  • To recommend to the Faculty Senate the approval or disapproval of all new academic programs and courses as well as changes in existing courses which affect catalog copy.
  • To develop such policies and procedures as are needed to implement a. of this section. To maintain liaison with CAGAS when issues arise concerning both curricular matters and admission, graduation and academic standards matters.
  • To recommend to the Senate which specific curricular matters may be approved at department or college level without requiring Senate approval.
  • To serve as an agency for arbitration in cases of conflicting interests and responsibilities involving curricular matters which may arise between departments and colleges.
  • To perform such other duties related to curriculum as designated by the Faculty Senate.
  • To maintain liaisons with Council on General Education (CGE) when issues arise concerning General Education.

[Faculty Senate Bylaws, 4-6-04]

Moratorium on Reusing Course Numbers

In an effort to alleviate confusion for students and advisors, the Council on Curricular Programs and Instruction recommends that course numbers NOT be reused for a period of five years. In addition, it is recommended that changes to course numbers become effective with the issuance of a new catalog in the Fall semester.

Procedures for Curriculum Changes

Each college shall establish curriculum channels which are appropriate to its structure.

Submit to Academic Vice President:

The following curricular matters should be routed through the established channels within the appropriate department and college. Notices of all these changes (items 1 through 7) and their effective dates MUST be sent to the Office of the Academic Vice President, but not to CCPI, the Senate or the President. Changes involving articulation with another department should include documentation that all affected departments have consented to the proposed changes.

  1. Changes in course numbers WITH THE EXCEPTION of changing from lower to upper division or from upper to lower division;
  2. Changes in course titles;
  3. Minor changes in specified course content and objectives;
  4. Minor changes in course requirements for a major or minor which do not result in a net increase in the number of required hours in the program, and;
  5. Change in course prerequisites WITH THE EXCEPTION of requests for new and increased prerequisites. (These might include deletion of a prerequisite or change in prerequisite that stays within the same department, upper or lower division and semester hour range);
  6. Dropping of courses no longer needed; or
  7. Change in course prefixes.

Submit to CCPI and the Academic Vice President:

The following curricular matters involving changes in the University Catalog MUST be submitted to this Council after approval by the established channels within the appropriate department and college. Notice of CCPI approval and the effective dates MUST be sent to the Office of the Academic Vice President, but not to the Senate or the President.

  1. Requests for Changes in Credit Hour
  2. Requests for Changes in Course Numbers from either Lower to Upper Division or from Upper to Lower Division
  3. Requests for New and/or Increased Prerequisites for Courses
  4. Requests for Changes of Course Content (major reorientation and restructuring)
  5. Requests for 275/475 course
  6. Requests for 450 Workshop Titles

Submit to CCPI, The Faculty Senate, and the Academic Vice President:

The following curricular matters involving changes in the University Catalog MUST be submitted to CCPI after approval by the established channels within the appropriate department and college. Each of the proposals (items 1 through 5) shall indicate the channels through which they were approved and the recommendations they received during such passage. All items (1 through 5) will be submitted to the Faculty Senate.

  1. Requests for New Courses (not for General Education)
  2. Changes in majors, minors or options which either greatly widen or narrow the program structure; or change the core; or involve articulation with another department.
  3. Changes in majors, minors or options which increase the number of hours required in the program.
  4. Changes in a major or minor which specify selection of general education.
  5. The establishment of new majors, minors, options, emphases, specializations, and areas of concentration.

Submit to CGE, CCPI, The Faculty Senate, and the Academic Vice President:

  1. Requests for New Courses to be Included in the General Education Curriculum. (For Existing Courses, see CGE Policies and Procedures.)

The Council will consider cases of interdepartmental or inter-college curricular conflicts which are brought to its attention. Any Council recommendations which are not mutually agreeable to all parties concerned will be referred to the Faculty Senate.

All new undergraduate curricula organized at least in part on an interdisciplinary basis will require the approval of the Council. Recommendations of the Council will be forwarded to the Faculty Senate.

Special Guidelines

A. Cross-Listed Courses

  1. Use the 275/475 or 450 numbers to propose a newly created one-time offering to determine feasibility and/or problems with a team-taught, cross-department offering, prior to the formal request for course approval.
  2. All cross-listed courses in the University Catalog should include the phrase "not open to students with credit for the same course listed in other department."
  3. Assignment of faculty must have joint concurrence, and cross-listed courses, when offered, must be offered in the same way for both departments.
  4. Any courses approved for General Education would receive that credit with either prefix, but in only one area.

B. Multiple Titles Courses

  1. Unless a course has already been approved for multiple titles/topics, the department must submit a request for approval through CCPI.
  2. These types of courses should be limited to one undergraduate and one graduate course per subdepartment unless the department can justify reasons for more than one course to CCPI.
  3. Courses can be variable credit.
  4. All students in the given section will be given instruction on the same subject in a classroom setting.
  5. Not intended for individual research, individualized readings, individualized studies, etc.
  6. All restrictions applicable to the host course (e.g., grading, prerequisites, special permission, variable credit, etc.) will apply to the individually titled course.
  7. After the course has been approved for multiple titles through CCPI, the department must submit a “Request for New Title” form for chair and dean’s approval before being forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for review and processing.
  8. If the department is requesting a new course for multiple titles (not already on the books), the department must submit the course for approval through CCPI processing.

C. Requests for 275/475

  1. Before any 275/475 courses can be offered, departments must submit a "Request Form for 275/475" to be reviewed by CCPI.
  2. Any course previously rejected by CCPI, the Faculty Senate, or the President for inclusion in the regular curriculum may not be offered as a 275/475 course.
  3. Departments may offer a total of two courses per term using the 275/475 numbers. A department may offer one of each or two of one. Of the two courses, each course (title) may be offered two terms, but terms do not have to be consecutive semesters. Any requests for exceptions must be appealed to CCPI.
  4. Courses numbered 275/475 may not be offered as workshops or use the UNIV (University) prefix.
  5. Courses numbered 275/475 may not have a general title (e.g. Special Topics, Special Problems or Current Topics).
  6. A student is limited to 3 semester hours of 275 courses and 3 semester hours of 475 courses per department, although a Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree student may take up to 12 semester hours of 275/475 courses from one department for credit toward graduation. Any requests for exceptions must be appealed to CAGAS.
  7. If a proposed 275/475 is found by CCPI to be inappropriately numbered as lower- or upper-division, the requesting department(s) shall be required to alter the course number prior to its offering.
  8. Courses may not duplicate other approved courses in any department.

D. Requests for 450 Workshop Titles

  1. The 450 workshop number is available to all academic departments.
  2. 450 requests must be approved every time a new title is assigned.
  3. There is no limit on the number of 450 workshop titles a department may offer.
  4. Once approved, each workshop title may appear in the University Catalog.
  5. 450 titles may be cross-listed with other departments and must meet the guidelines in Section IV. Other, A. Cross-Listed Courses, in CCPI Policies and Procedures.

E. Guidelines for New Internship Programs

  1. Prerequisites/Corequisites
    • Major or minor in program
    • Completion of designated coursework
    • Minimum G.P.A. (overall and/or in major) determined by department, but not less than 2.0 overall
    • Junior or senior standing
    • Completion of departmental application by end of semester preceding internship
    • Preparation of prospectus by student and approval by cooperating agency
    • Approval of internship coordinator
  2. Requirements/Evaluation
    • 40 work hours per credit hour minimum
    • Weekly or quarterly activity reports from student to coordinator
    • Mid-term and final self-evaluation by student
    • Final paper summarizing internship experience
    • Grade assigned by coordinator/instructor according to written criteria, known in advance to student
  3. Credit Toward Graduation
    • No more than twelve (12) credit hours of internship to count toward minimum graduation requirements
Additional Recommendation - Prerequisite or Corequisite of internship is recommended.

F. Moratorium on Reusing Course Numbers

In an effort to alleviate confusion for students and advisors, the Council on Curricular Programs and Instruction recommends that course numbers NOT be reused for a period of five years. In addition, it is recommended that changes to course numbers become effective with the issuance of a new catalog in the Fall semester.

Previous Revision Dates

Approved Faculty Senate 5/74

Amended CCPI 4/80

Approved Faculty Senate 4/80

Approved President 5/80

Amended CCPI 4/82

Approved Faculty Senate 4/82

Approved President 9/82

Approved President 11/82

Amended CCPI 9/82

Approved Faculty Senate 11/82

Amended CCPI 2/88 and 3/88

Approved Faculty Senate 3/88 and 4/88

Approved President 3/88 and 5/88

Amended CCPI 10/89

Approved Senate 11/89

Approved President 12/89

Amended CCPI 2/7/91

Approved Faculty Senate 4/9/91

Approved President 4/25/91

Amended CCPI 4/14/94

Approved Faculty Senate 4/26/94

Approved President 5/9/94

Amended CCPI 11/95

Approved Faculty Senate 1/30/96

Amended CCPI 5/2/96

Approved CAGAS 9/5/96

Approved Faculty Senate 4/13/99

Amended CCPI 4/1/99

Approved Faculty Senate 12/5/00

Amended CCPI 10/2/03

Approved Faculty Senate 10/14/03

Amended CCPI 2/24/05

Approved Faculty Senate 3/8/05