UMass Boston

While superficial and substantial proposals are the most common types of proposals in Curriculog, the system is also used to perform several other tasks related to course and program governance. Of these additional tasks, four require some level of governance review.

Adding Gen Eds 

Faculty seeking to add a Gen Ed status to an undergraduate course need to submit the form uc5: UGRD Course – Add General Education in the Curriculog System and upload the additional supplementary information required for the Gen Ed Status being sought. If it is a new course, the originator must fill out this form in addition to the UGRD Course New Course form (uc3). If the course already exists, the originator needs to only fill out the Gen Ed Addition form (uc5). The process for securing Gen Eds is complex and often requires consultation with the appropriate Gen Ed subcommittee. Please see courses seeking Gen Ed status for more details on submitting proposals related to Gen Ed.

In general, faculty cannot make changes to a course other than adding Gen Ed status using the uc5 form. In most instances, any additional changes to a course that are made on the uc5 form will not be reviewed by the Registrar or reflected in WISER. However, given the complex review workflow for Gen Ed approval, on occasion minor changes are made to aspects of a course during the review of the Gen Ed proposal (the uc5 form and supporting documents). These changes are then reflected on the updated uc5 form. In such cases, the Registrar must be notified that the information on the uc5 form overrides the information on the corresponding uc1, uc2, or uc3 form. To notify the Registrar that changes to a course have been recorded on a uc5 form and that these changes override the corresponding information on other forms, you must:

1. Find the corresponding uc1, uc2, or uc3 form using the Search feature in All Proposals. 

1. Click on the Workflow icon in the righthand navigation. Make note of all approvals that have occurred so far and the individuals who signed each approval. 

1. Send an email to all of those individuals. This email should summarize the changes that have been made during the Gen Ed review process and are recorded on the updated uc5 form and ask them to reply and verify that they approve the changes. 

1. Make a PDF of the email verifications and upload it as an attachment by clicking on the Files icon in the righthand navigation. 

1. Look near the end of this form to find a textbox labeled Summary of Updates After uc1/uc2/uc3 Review. Make a list of exactly which fields in the uc5 form have different information to the corresponding uc1, uc2, or uc3 form.
2.  Subsequent levels should check to ensure that they agree with these differences during the review process. When the uc3 form reaches its final approval, the Registrar will update WISER with Gen Ed changes and the fields listed in the Summary of Updates textbox.  

Program Retitling

Program retitling can refer to one of two different processes:

• Changing the name of a program
• Retitling an existing track/concentration as a standalone program

Departments wishing to retitle a program must fill out fill out the correct form in the Curriculog system, either:

• UP7: UGRD Program – Retitle
• GP7: GRD Program – Retitle

In addition to this form, originators need to upload the following supporting documents. Please follow the formatting for each document name and include a header that specifies the date of the file’s composition and page numbers. This will help keep track of any changes throughout the governance process.

Changing the name of a program

1. <Program Name>–Retitling Rationale

A rationale for the proposed retitling that explains how it improves upon the existing program title, how the change will impact the program and/or students, and the academic year in which the proposed change will go into effect.

2. <Program Name>–Retitled Program Curriculum

A breakdown of the retitled program’s curriculum that includes: the number of courses required for the program; a list of required and elective courses; the course sequence and associated course credits; the capstone requirement, if any; and any other program requirements.

3. <Program Name>–Form A

This is a required form that will be sent to the State as part of the required off-campus acknowledgement process. Form A is available here.

Retitling a track/concentration as a standalone program

1. <Program Name>–Retitling Rationale

A rationale that explains:

• Why the existing track/concentration is being changed into a standalone program
• How this change will better serve students
• The impact of the change on the department (including course scheduling, advising etc.)
• Program enrollment data, graduation, and alumni data for the preceding three academic years
• The academic year in which the proposed change will go into effect.

2. <Program Name>–Retitled Program Curriculum

A breakdown of the retitled program’s curriculum, that includes: the number of courses required for the program; a list of required and elective courses; the course sequence and associated course credits; the capstone requirement, if any; and any other program requirements.

4. <Program Name>–Form A

This is a required form that will be sent to the State as part of the required off-campus acknowledgement process. Form A is available here.

Program Suspension and Discontinuation

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education keeps a database of all active programs offered by state colleges and universities. If a department wishes to suspend a program, the state, in addition to various bodies at UMB, must be notified. Program suspension refers to the official temporary interruption of a program; a suspended program will continue to serve students currently registered in the program, but it will not enroll any new students. Currently registered students will be able to graduate with credentials in this program of study. When a program is suspended, it will be removed from the Board of Higher Education’s inventory of active, authorized programs, but it will remain dormant in the HEIRS database.

Once all students enrolled in a program are graduated, a department may initiate program discontinuation. Programs that remain suspended for ten years will be automatically discontinued. Discontinuation is the permanent termination of a program that does not have students enrolled in it. A discontinued program cannot be reactivated.

Departments wishing to suspend a program must fill out fill out the correct form in the Curriculog system, either:

• up6: UGRD Program – Suspension
• gp6: GRD Program –Suspension

In addition to this form, originators need to upload the following supporting documents. Please follow the formatting for each document name and include a header that specifies the date of the file’s composition and page numbers. This will help keep track of any changes throughout the governance process.

1. <Program Name>–Suspension Rationale

This rationale should explain the following:

• The reasons for suspending the program and the date from which the suspension will become active
• Data about the number of students currently registered in the program and their anticipated graduation dates
• How the suspension will impact the mission and scope of the department
• How the suspension will impact faculty who currently teach in the program and potential enrollments in the department
• Longterm plans for the program (reactivation or discontinuation)

Program Reactivation

A department may choose to reactivate a program if it has been suspended for less than 10 years.

If a program has been suspended for more than ten years it is discontinued, and programs that have been discontinued cannot be reactivated. If a department wishes to reintroduce a program that has been discontinued, they will have to follow the process for proposing a new program (this process is different, depending on whether the proposed program is less than 30 credits, or 30 credits or more).

Departments wishing to reactivate a program (that has been suspended for less than 10 years) must fill out fill out the correct form in the Curriculog system, either:

• up5: UGRD Program – Program Reactivation
• gp5: GRD Program – Program Reactivation

In addition to this form, originators need to upload the following supporting documents. Please follow the formatting for each document name and include a header that specifies the date of the file’s composition and page numbers. This will help keep track of any changes throughout the governance process.

1. <Program Name>–Reactivation Rationale

This rationale should explain the following:

• The demand and/or need for the reactivated program
• How the reactivated program fits within the department, given any changes in the department since the program’s suspension (student enrollment; faculty turnover; other new programs within the department)
• What changes are being made to the program’s curriculum (if any) and the reasoning behind these changes
• How the reactivated program is distinct from or fits in with related programs that may have been developed at UMB since the program’s suspension
• The resources needed for the program, including faculty, classroom space, material resources (lab equipment, computers etc.)
• Anticipated enrollments for the first 2-3 years of the reactivated program and the projected semester in which the reactivated program will be available for enrollment.

2. <Program Name>–Reactivation Curriculum

• An overview of the program that is being reactivated (minor, track/concentration, certificate).
• A description of the reactivated program structure, which explains: the number of courses required; a list of required and elective courses; the course sequence and associated course credits; the capstone requirement, if any; and any other program requirements. Please make sure that any proposed changes to the program structure are clearly indicated.
• A description of the policies that will govern the reactivated program, including: how many courses can be transferred in for credit; any courses exempt from transfer credit; how many courses can double-count towards another program of study; how many courses and which courses can be taken pass/fail; the minimum GPA required to graduate with the program, if any; the minimum grade allowance for specific courses, if any. Please make sure that any proposed changes to the policies governing the program are clearly indicated.
• A description of the reactivated program’s administration, which explains: how the reactivated program will be governed; who will direct the program; who will be responsible for administrative duties associated with the program; and how students will be advised.

3. <Program Name>–Program Budget

A completed copy of the budget form. This is required, even if faculty do not anticipate any significant costs associated with the new program. Originators can get help completing this form from their department Chair, their college budget committee (if one exists), or their Dean’s office. Alternatively, Originators can reach out to the Faculty Council Budget and Long-Range Planning Committee for support and guidance.