College Curriculum Committee

Responsibilities

To review all newly proposed undergraduate programs (e.g., majors and minors) as well as modifications to existing programs; to concern itself with general graduation requirements including the primary and upper-level writing requirements; to authorize every newly proposed Cluster. To continually monitor the general educational principles and evaluate the curricular consequences of those requirements. To recommend any changes to the Faculty Council that it believes will enhance undergraduate education.

Composition

Nine faculty members—six from different departments in the School of Arts and Sciences, two from the Hajim School, and one from the undergraduate business program—appointed by the Dean of the College. In addition, the Dean of the College (or Associate Dean in his absence) serves as an ex officio voting member. The faculty members shall be distributed as equitably as possible among all the disciplines. One undergraduate student member who has been officially admitted into a major shall serve a one-year term. The chair shall be appointed by the Dean of the College from among the nine faculty members.

Learn more:

CCC Meeting Dates for Fall 2024

  • September 3
  • September 17
  • October 1
  • October 22
  • October 29
  • November 12
  • November 26

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College Curriculum Committee Membership 2024

Alison Frontier, Chair (Chemistry)
Julie Bentley (Optics)
Paul Funkenbusch (Deans’ Office)
Harry Groenevelt (Business)
Michael Jarvis (History)
Jacob Edwards (Student Association)
Stephen McAleavey (Biomedical Engineering)
Jeffrey Runner (Deans’ Office)
Elaine Sia (Deans’ Office)
Allen Topolski (Art and Art History)
Supritha Rajan (English)
Tom Weber (Earth and Environmental Science)

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Guidelines for Typical Requests to CCC

Proposal to modify a previously approved major or minor. Note that every change in requirements to a major or a minor requires the approval of the CCC. Please use the following templates for your submission: proposal for revised major and for proposal for revised minor.

The templates include the following:

  • Introduction and scan of the environment.
  • The rationale for the change.
  • The new requirements, including specific courses.
  • For all courses from outside the department or program proposing the change, the approval of the relevant Chair. (Interdepartmental majors need to include departmental approval of all new courses.)
  • Outline of current program, together with outline of proposed program, with changes noted.
  • For a major, the recommendation of the Director of the College Writing Program (Professor Deborah Rossen-Knill) if the proposal includes changes to the upper-level writing requirement.
  • New or revised desired learning outcomes, and methods to measure successful achievement of these outcomes, should be explained. Prior discussion with the Director of Educational Effectiveness is strongly advised.

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Proposal for a New Minor

Please use the proposal for a new minor template. This template includes:

  • The rationale for the minor, noting ability of the faculty to mount the program. Benchmarking information can be helpful.
  • The requirements for the minor, including specific courses. Normally, minors include six courses.
  • Identification of the academic division or divisions into which the minor falls, making clear how the decision is made if more than one division is involved.
  • For all courses from outside the department or program, and for all courses that are part of an interdepartmental minor, the approval of the relevant Chairs.
  • Description of desired learning outcomes and method to be used to measure them should be explained. Prior discussion with the Director of Educational Effectiveness is strongly advised.

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Proposal for a New Major

This is a significant and multi-stage undertaking. A preliminary discussion with the Associate Dean of the College is advised. Since a proposal to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is a required step prior to implementation of any major, it is wise to be cognizant of what the state will require should our Faculty Council approve the proposal. Brief consultation with Assistant Provost Jane Marie Souza, who can provide the correct proposal form, will be helpful in understanding state requirements.

Please use the proposal for a new major template. This template includes:

  • A comprehensive rationale for the major, including a discussion of the ability of the faculty to mount the program. Provision of benchmarking information is helpful.
  • Comprehensive description of requirements, including all courses. Note that major requirements, including prerequisites and allied fields, should not normally exceed 16 four-credit courses for the BA and 20 four-credit courses for the BS degree.
  • For all courses from outside the department or program, and for all courses that are part of an interdepartmental major, the approval of the relevant Chairs.
  • Description of the way in which students will meet the upper-level writing requirement. (Prior discussion with the Director of the College Writing Program is strongly advised.)
  • Description of desired learning outcomes and method to be used to measure them should be explained. Prior discussion with the Director of Educational Effectiveness is strongly advised.
  • Identification of the academic division or divisions into which the major falls, making clear how the decision is made if more than one division is involved.

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Proposal for a New Divisional Cluster

Please use the Cluster Proposal Form.

Clusters normally require students to complete three full courses, or 12 credit hours. If any courses come from a department other than the entity proposing the cluster, the written approval of those chairs is required. (This includes any courses that are cross-listed where the “Parent” course is outside the proposing department.) In order to qualify as a cluster in a specific department or program, it must be organized in such a way that no more than one course from an area other than the proposing department is permitted. Similarly, no more than one course from a division outside the division of the proposing department is permitted.

It is possible, with the approval of all relevant chairs, to propose an interdepartmental cluster where two or three subject areas are involved. However, at least two of the courses need to come from the academic division requested. Normally, the department proposing a new interdepartmental cluster assumes the administrative responsibility for updating it when necessary.

Departments and programs are asked annually to review each of their clusters. That is the optimal time to request the addition of new courses, to note when courses will no longer be offered, and to delete courses that have not been offered in the past five years. Instructions for implementing these changes are included with the annual request. If substantial changes are requested, the request will be presented to the CCC.

There are times when CCC discussion or approval is requested or needed for something other than the more routine items noted above. Examples could include a proposal for a mandatory reading assignment for all freshmen to complete, a proposal to change the degree credits granted to students admitted to the ESOL Program, a proposal to change the title of the major or minor, or a proposal for a new interdepartmental certificate program. Preliminary discussion with the Dean of the College is advised.

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Other Requests

There are times when CCC discussion or approval is requested or needed for something other than the more routine items noted above. Examples could include a proposal for a mandatory reading assignment for all freshmen to complete, a proposal to change the degree credits granted to students admitted to the ESOL Program, a proposal to change the title of the major or minor, or a proposal for a new interdepartmental certificate program. Preliminary discussion with the Associate Dean of the College is advised.

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How to Submit Proposals to the Committee

  1. Prepare a proposal as noted above for the Committee to review. Further details may be included in a cover letter.
  2. Send the proposal electronically to the Chair of the Committee copying the College Dean's Office. (see contact us below for email addresses) The College Dean's Office will confirm receipt, and will notify you of the date when this will be on the agenda. If this date changes for any reason, you will be notified.

Proposals need to be received at least one week in advance of the meeting in which they are to be considered.

Follow-Up Actions

The Committee may act to approve your proposal or contact you for clarification or with suggestions for change.

If the proposal is approved by the CCC, the College Dean's Office will let the department know, and will send the proposal on to the Faculty Council Steering Committee for a further review. Steering Committee approval leads to notification of these changes to the Faculty Council except that, for a new major, final approval is required by the Faculty Council.  Proposals for new majors are placed on the agenda of the Faculty Council. If you have questions about the Steering Committee’s actions or meetings, please contact the Faculty Affairs Officer, Tammy Michielsen. For a list of meeting dates visit the Faculty Council Steering Committee page.

Once the Faculty Council votes its approval of a new major, the approval of the New York State Education Department is needed. Departmental websites, the undergraduate bulletin, or admissions websites and marketing materials may only be modified after the state authorizes the new major. Approvals may take up to 3-4 months in some cases.

If the proposal is not approved by the CCC, the College Dean's Office will follow up with the department to relay the committee’s response. The department may then respond to questions or make necessary revisions to the proposal, and resubmit the proposal to the committee for review at their next meeting.

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Reporting Out on Curricular Changes

Following approval from both the CCC and Steering Committee, the department may implement the proposed curricular changes in various systems. Please note: in order to process changes to individual courses, departments will need to complete and submit the College Course Form(s) to the Deans' Office.

If the approved proposal is related to significant curricular revisions, such as the creation of a new major, minor, or cluster, the Deans' Office will include these changes in the annual CCC report published at the end of each academic year. In the meantime, it is recommended that departments report these changes to both students and faculty. Recommended resources for reporting out are listed below. The Deans' Office is also available to assist in coordinating communication as needed.

Resources for reporting curricular changes to students:

  • Read This—An electronic newsletter sent to all students in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Hajim School every Sunday. Please note: this newsletter is strictly for need-to-know information only, such as time-sensitive curricular changes that will require students to take action in order to remain enrolled. Information related to upcoming deadlines, and the corresponding submission form, may be found on the .
  • Department and program websites—It is recommended that any curricular changes are indicated clearly on departmental or program websites.

Resources for reporting curricular changes to faculty and staff:

  • ASE FYI—A monthly electronic newsletter sent to all faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Hajim School. Information related to upcoming deadlines, and the corresponding submission form, may be found on the .
  • @ÂÒÂ×Ç¿¼é—A daily electronic newsletter sent to all faculty and staff in the University. Information related to upcoming deadlines, and the corresponding submission form, may be found on the .

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Annual Reports

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Contact Us

Loisa Bennetto, Chair of the College Curriculum Committee
loisa.bennetto@rochester.edu
(585) 275-8712

Elaine Sia, Associate Dean of the College
elaine.sia@rochester.edu
(585) 275-9275

Kris Condello, Academic Affairs Associate Director
kris.condello@rochester.edu
(585) 275-2931

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