Comprehensive Standard 3.4.1
The institution demonstrates that each educational program for which
academic credit is awarded (a) is approved by the faculty and the
administration, and (b) establishes and evaluates program and learning
outcomes.
Academic programs are developed by the faculty in response to
recommendations of relevant faculty and/or to suggestions of
appropriate administrators. The formal process begins with faculty
deliberation in the various academic departments. For new programs that
are housed solely within a single department, the departmental faculty
prepare a recommendation [1]  and resource impact statement [2] that are forwarded through the department chair and dean to the LSUA faculty Courses and Curricula Committee (C&C) [3] .
Academic Affairs assists C&C by performing a basic editorial review
to assure the appropriate forms have been prepared to allow for
meaningful deliberation. In addition to representation from each
academic department, the Provost also serves on the C&C Committee.
Once C&C has completed its deliberation, the proposal is forwarded
to the Faculty Senate for approval. Proposals are submitted to the
Provost directly from the Faculty Senate. The Provost submits approved
proposals to the Chancellor for final review and approval [4] .
New courses and program modifications are finalized when the Chancellor
has approved them. New academic programs require additional approval by
the LSU Board of Supervisors [5] and the Louisiana Board of Regents [6] .
As part of the development process, faculty initiating a new program
must develop learning outcomes and assessment measures for those
outcomes. Learning outcomes for all existing degrees can be found in
the LSUA Strategic Plan (p.20-30) [7] . Academic departments participate in LSUA’s institutional effectiveness process, as described in Policy Statement 225 [8] .
Each academic program is treated exactly like an administrative unit,
and the department that hosts the program completes appropriate
assessment forms, [9]  conducts
assessments, reviews data from the assessments, and uses these data to
make improvements to courses or curricula when necessary.
Documentation
[1] Curriculum Request Form (30kb)
[2] Resource Impact Statement (31kb)
[3] LSUA Faculty Senate Committees 2005 - 2006 (142kb)
[4] Example of Completed Request for New Curriculum (105kb)
[5] Minutes from LSU Board of Supervisors' Meeting, October 26, 2001 (137kb)
[6] Letter from Board of Regents Approving LSUA's Bachelor's Degrees (96kb)
[7] LSUA Strategic Plan 2004 - 2006, p. 20-30 (152kb)
[8] PS 225 - Planning and Assessment (60kb)
[9] Annual Assessment Forms 2004-2005 (External Link)
|