Curriculum Review Process Begins

Curriculum-approval process review begins

The University of Akron is inviting you to help streamline the curriculum-approval process so that our academic programs remain fresh and relevant. Last week, the University launched a project to improve the curriculum proposal process and its supporting information system. With supervision by the Faculty Senate's Curriculum Proposal System Committee, the project will be conducted by Frontline Logic, Inc.

Phase 1 of the project, expected to run through November 2009, will focus on the process at the University level. This is the part which occurs after the curriculum request is approved at the college level and passes to University-level review. Analysis and improvement of the curriculum proposal processes within the various colleges will also be done in a subsequent phase of the project.  However, two yet-to-be-determined representative colleges will be examined as part of the initial process to ensure the University-level design will accommodate the needs of the colleges.

The process analysis of Phase 1 will actively engage UA faculty and staff to analyze and assess in detail how curriculum changes are currently approved and elicit ideas and suggestions for improving the process. Based on the findings of this Phase I analysis, the Faculty Senate will recommend to the Board of Trustees an improved process, along with a design for the IT system to support it. Following Board approval of these recommendations, Phase 2 of the project will implement the new process and system, with implementation to be complete and functioning by September 2010.

The University encourages faculty and staff to become involved. At the project's SharePoint site, you will find links to project documents, be able to post comments, offer suggestions and follow the progress of the project. Even if you are off campus during the summer, you are able to participate in the process through this site. You will need to log in with your UAnet ID and password.

You may also send comments to curriculum_approval@uakron.edu.