Proposing a New Course

This link is to the guidelines that the Executive Subcommittee of the Committee on Studies uses in its evaluation of proposals for new courses. It should provide a helpful resource for faculty members who may be wondering what sorts of things they should include when proposing a new course. Please note: New course proposals must include a recommendation of the Office of the Dean of the school from which a departmental proposal is generated. In addition, the Faculty Senate has approved and the President has endorsed legislation entitled “Syllabus Guidelines for all Providence College Courses” by which the Subcommittee will be guided when reviewing the proposed course syllabus.

The Executive Subcommittee serves several functions with respect to new course proposals: We advise proposers of what are, in our opinion, the strengths and weaknesses of their proposals, we suggest appropriate revisions, and we work with them to bring the proposals to a point where we anticipate a smooth passage through the approval process. After final consideration by us, proposals are sent to the Faculty Senate where they are considered first by the Academic Course Review Committee and then by the entire Senate. Final approval by the President creates the new course.

Should your department intend to have a course proposal also reviewed to satisfy a core requirement for the Core Curriculum, the proposer is requested to complete the appropriate form and submit it to the Core Curriculum Committee once the new course has been finally approved by the President. The objectives for each of the College’s core requirements can be found on the Core Curriculum webpage under “Core Curriculum Approval Forms”

If you or the members of your department have any questions on this process, please contact the Associate Provost for Academic Policy and Mission Support, Fr. Mark Nowel, O.P., at mnowel@providence.edu.