Ad Hoc Committee on Undergraduate Academic Program Development and Review Process Improvement

AY 1997-98 marked the second year of committee operations. During this period, the committee met regularly (once per month from September through May) and meetings were well attended by a core of active members (see below under Membership). The bulk of the committee's work, however, was accomplished by loosely structured subgroups, which met independently of the at-large committee. As agreed to by the committee at the close of the 1996-97 year, this year's goal was to work toward the implementation and refinement of a portfolio-based, on-line system of course and curriculum review. Toward that end, three major tasks were addressed during AY 1997-98: Pilot studies of the proposed portfolio review, development of appropriate documentation, and electronification of the proposed review process. 

Pilot Studies. Two departments agreed to conduct full-scale pilot studies of the proposed process: History (Spring 1998) and Business Management (Fall 1998). As reported to the committee by History Department Curriculum Committee chairs Jim Mulholland and Will Kimler, the review process has been successfully completed and is the subject of a report that will be sent directly to the Office of the Provost during the late spring or early summer of 1998. Likewise, the College of Management has announced plans for limited participation in the pilot review process by the Departments of Accounting and Economics and full participation by the Department of Business Management and has requested funds from the Office of the Provost for this purpose (see below under Budget). 

Documentation. Small groups of committee members made substantial progress during the 1997-98 AY in developing standard documents for various aspects of the review process. Specifically, prototypes of a revised Course Action Form, a new Curriculum Portfolio Review Form and other supporting documentation are nearing completion and will be sent to the Office of the Provost under separate cover. The development of documentation is contingent on the a parallel activity--namely, the electronification of the review process. 

Electronification. In conjunction with the committee's goal of changing academic review from a paper-based to an electronic process, several committee members have met periodically with consultants from the Department of Computer Science. The upshot of these meetings is that the consultants have agreed to prepare a work statement and budget that will be available prior to the start of AY1998-99. (See below under Budget.) 

Other tasks. In addition to the three major activities, the committee also undertook other tasks aimed largely at providing information to, and gaining support from, key constituencies on campus. Examples of these activities include presentations made in Spring 1998 to the University Courses and Curricula Committee and to the Faculty Senate. 

Resource Needs. Based on the work now underway, the committee is in agreement that it will need to maintain its operations for at least one additional year. We therefore request that the Office of the Provost reauthorize the committee for 1998-99, with the following membership and budget. 

Membership. Active members for 1997-98 were as follows: J. Austin (Office of the Provost), W. Babcock (Engineering), R. Bereman (Undergraduate Studies), 

J. Cornwell (CALS), J. Demery (student representative), J. Hoey (UPA), 

J. Mulholland (CHASS), R. Serow (Ed/Psy), and J. Wilson (Management). 

The committee recommends that eight of the current members be reappointed, 

that the vacancy created by the impending retirement of Jim Mulholland be filled by Will Kimler (CHASS), and that positions be created for the following individuals: Susan Blanchard (ex officio, Chair of University Courses and Curricula Committee), Louis Harrison (Computer Science), Louis Hunt (Registration and Records). 

Budget. The estimated resources needed to accomplish the committee's work in AY 1998-99 include $7000 for the College of Management to cover the costs of its participation in the pilot project and approximately $20,000 for computer consulting. (As indicated above, a work statement and budget will be submitted for this purpose.) 

Submitted by R. C. Serow, Chair 

5/12/98