Propose a new course or major changes to
an existing course

All new courses, major changes to existing courses, and requests to cross-list a course approved by another department require approval of the academic program committee in which the course is primarily intended to be offered. For example, a new undergraduate course proposal would go to the BSI committee for approval. Only UMSI faculty members in the instructional (tenure), research, or clinical tracks and full-time lecturers may submit new course proposals. Intermittent instructors who wish to propose a course may work with a faculty member in one of the categories above develop a new course, but the regular faculty member must submit it to the appropriate curriculum committee to ensure that the course meets UMSI’s curriculum goals and quality expectations. Requests for approval of new courses must be submitted well in advance of the term in which the faculty member proposes to offer the new course. Typically, requests for courses to be offered in the Fall academic term must be submitted to an academic program committee by the last week by January of the previous academic year; requests for courses to be offered in the Winter term must be submitted by the last week in September of the previous term. The reason for the lead time is that new course offerings take time to be approved, have to be added to the registration system, added to the course schedule, announced and advertised to students, and factored into faculty teaching loads. Under extenuating circumstances (newly appointed faculty, special requests to develop courses, new program foci) proposals for new courses may be considered after the deadlines on a case-by-case basis with permission of the ADAA and the chairs of the academic program committees.

To propose a new course or apply for major changes to an existing course, faculty must 1) fill out the course approval form for the specific academic program committee, 2) submit a proposed syllabus, and 3) submit proposed assignments. The forms for new course proposals and the list of additional required materials is available on the Faculty portion of the UMSI Intranet.

Major changes to an existing course that require approval include changing the number of credits, changes to the learning objectives, major changes to assignments or methods of evaluation. All instructors are expected to update their syllabi regularly to incorporate new developments, research, technologies, etc. and in response to legitimate student comments and suggestions for improving the course. These types of changes are encouraged and do not require approval.