YEAR:  1999-2000

CHARGE: Academic Council and the General Education Committee have been charged with working together to determine whether the D grade is acceptable in General Education courses. Academic Council also has continuing responsibility for approving course changes and new course and program proposals

RECOMMENDATIONS: It was decided that this charge would be more appropriately handled by Academic Standards.

YEAR: 2000-2001

CHARGE: Board Policy on Educational Programs

RECOMMENDATIONS: See 2001-2002 Recommendations.

YEAR: 2001-2002

CHARGE: Board Policy on Educational Programs

RECOMMENDATIONS:

BOARD POLICY 5.0002 (Proposed Revision)

I. TITLE OF POLICY

Educational Programs

II OBJECTIVE OF POLICY

To emphasize the College’s commitment to transfer and career programs.

III. AUTHORITY

General Powers of Boards

IV. POLICY STATEMENT

The College recognizes its obligation to provide offer a variety of transfer programs which provide the first two years of a four-year college education lead to the associate degree and provide the first two years of a four year college education. Transfer programs will therefore be offered both in the arts and sciences disciplines as well as in a variety of specific career disciplines.

The College recognizes as its responsibility the offering of two-year career programs which are geared towards preparing the graduate for employment upon graduation which prepare the graduate for employment. Recognizing its role as a comprehensive community college, Brookdale will also offer career-oriented education programs of less than two years duration. Such programs prepare students for employment upon the receipt of the appropriate recognition of the program completion which is either the certificate or the diploma.

Programs will be developed on the basis of employment opportunities, availability of resources, and suitability for college-level instruction, and transferability.

V. RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

President

RESULTS:

VOTE:

Board Policy 5.0002 on Educational Programs was passed unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

President, Dr. Peter Burnham met with Chair, Virginia Lee and Vice-Chair, Jack Ryan before the semester break to discuss Governance issues. He formally approved all the recommendations, as follows:

College Policy Recommendations:  5.0002 Educational Programs.

The President said, “I applaud the thorough discussion that took place prior to the Forum acting on all these matters.” Dr. Burnham directed the immediate implementation of these policies (except Educational Program, pending Board review) and regulation.

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2002-2003

CHARGE: Approval Process for Courses and Programs

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Approval Process for Experimental Courses

Course should be approved/reviewed by the following:

Department Chair

Student Development Specialist (review)

Division Chair [Note: Courses crossing disciplines must be approved by appropriate Division Chair(s).]

Division Administrator (review)

Division Chairs (review)

Dean of Academic Affairs

General Education Committee

Registrar

Executive Vice President for Educational/Student and Outreach Services

Approval Process for New Courses

Course should be approved/reviewed by the following:

Department Chair

Student Development Specialist (review)

Division Chair [Note: Courses crossing disciplines must be approved by appropriate Division Chair(s).]

Division Administrator (review)

Division Chairs (review)

Dean of Academic Affairs

General Education Committee

Registrar

Executive Vice President for Educational/Student and Outreach Services

President

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The vote was unanimous in favor of the New Course Approval Process.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

I applaud the extensive and careful review of these processes: I understand that much work has already taken place to implement these recommendations: by virtue of this memo I further direct EVP Johanna Kobran and Acting Dean of Academic Affairs Nancy Kegelman to refine the process and procedures for implementation effective September 2003.

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2003-2004

CHARGE: 100/200 Level Courses

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Charge 1: Develop criteria for designation of 100- and 200-level courses

Criteria for 100-Level Courses

• Survey or introductory courses

• Basic courses taken in the first year of a program

• Basic foundation for students to build upon

Criteria for 100-Level 2nd Sequence Courses*

• Require prerequisite or permission of instructor

• Build upon knowledge or skills learned in prerequisite course (e.g. ACCT 101 and 103 or SPAN 101 and 102)

• Require more advanced competencies

• Increase in complexity

*100-level 2nd sequence courses should meet a majority of the above criteria.

Criteria for 200-Level Courses*

• May require prerequisite

• Courses have more depth than 100-level courses

• Require some previous knowledge

• Require more advanced competencies than 100-level courses

• Increase in complexity

• Intermediate/advanced skills

*200-level courses should meet a majority of the above criteria.

Recommendations:

1. Criteria for the 100- and 200-level courses should be included in the curriculum handbook

2. Incorporate an analysis of each program’s curriculum structure as it goes through its 5-year Program Review

3. The appropriate course numbers would be reviewed during the 5-year review process

4. College catalog should include an explanation of the numbering of courses

Charge 2: Review structure of all College degree programs and make recommendations regarding mix of 100- and 200-level courses for A.A.S., A.A., and A.S. degrees

Recommendations:

1. The mix of 100- and 200-level courses should remain at the discretion of faculty for all college programs

2. All programs, including A.A.s, should go through a 5-year review process

RESULTS:

VOTE:

Governance Chair Nancy Noe explained that it would be a faculty only vote. The recommendations passed unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

I accept the recommendation of the committee, with the stipulation that a thorough analysis of each program’s curriculum structure be undertaken during the program’s Five Year Review, or sooner if possible. This should include a review of the hierarchy of learning skills and sequential numbering of courses to ensure academic rigor and integrity. I still am very troubled by this issue: I believe numbering is reflective of both hierarchy and rigor. At the very least, careful review, by program, needs to occur. The fact that “everyone else does it this way” is not swaying me.

OUTCOME:

YEAR: 2003-2004

COMMITTEE: ACADEMIC COUNCIL/GENERAL EDUCATION

CHARGE: General Education Regulation

RECOMMENDATIONS: See 2003-2004 General Education Recommendations.

YEAR: 2004-2005

CHARGE: Establishment, Evaluation, and Discontinuance of Courses and Programs

RECOMMENDATIONS:

BROOKDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

COLLEGE REGULATION

5.0007R

I. Title of Regulation

Establishment, Evaluation, and Discontinuance of Courses and Programs

II. Objective of Regulation

To establish a process through which all curriculum additions, deletions, revisions, and evaluations will

be carried out in such a way as to foster a learning centered curriculum.

III. Authority

Board of Trustees Policy No. 5.0007

IV. Regulation Statement

A.. Educational Offerings

All curricula offered by Brookdale supports the Vision, Values, Mission and Goals of the institution. Brookdale is committed to meet or exceed all standards designated by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Brookdale adheres to the New Jersey Administrative Code Title 9A specified by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education.

The teaching faculty is the source of the curricular development and renewal. Prior to any course, program, option, or certificate being offered, the curriculum must be reviewed and approved as outlined in IV.B. The procedures and forms needed to complete the curriculum development process are contained within the Curriculum Handbook. The Office of Academic Affairs and Academic Council are responsible for the content of the Curriculum Handbook.

B. General Process for Program/Option/Certificate and Course Establishment and Discontinuance

1. Suggestions and recommendations for new courses, programs/options/certificates or revisions to existing curriculum come from a variety of sources including students, faculty, members of the community, etc.

2. The appropriate faculty and the Dean of Academic Affairs along with the Executive Vice President of Educational Services discuss additions and deletions to program/options/certificates. No program, option, certificate, or diploma will be discontinued without providing sufficient time for a continuous full-time student to complete it.

3. An appropriate office of the college, in consultation with appropriate faculty, develops and administers a feasibility study for new programs/options/certificates.

4. If the faculty originator of the curriculum addition, deletion or revision decides that action is appropriate, the originator fills out the required forms for the curriculum change. These forms are sent to the department chair for approval. All forms are available from the Office of Academic Affairs. In addition, the Office of Academic Affairs assists faculty with the curriculum approval process and tracks the status of the proposal.

5. The department chair sends the request to a student development specialist for review and to the division chair for approval.

6. The division administrator and all the division chairs review the proposed curriculum change.

7. The proposed curriculum change is approved by the following individuals/committees

a. Dean of Academic of Affairs

b. Academic Council (except Experimental Courses)

c. General Education Committee (if applicable)

d. Registrar

e. Executive Vice President of Educational Services

f. President (except experimental courses)

g. Board of Trustees and Academic Issues Committee of the New Jersey President’s Council for new program/certificate/option, program/option/certificate discontinuance, revisions to program/option/certificate which impact nomenclature.

8. The Office of Academic Affairs handles the notification of approval/disapproval to the college community. For approved curriculum changes, the registrar notifies the college community of the effective date and the office of Transfer Resources/Articulation updates New Jersey Transfer with the revised curriculum.

C. Curriculum Revision

Revisions to curriculum which impact the college catalog are subject for review by the process outlined in the General Process for Program/Option/Certificate and Course Establishment and Discontinuance. Nonsubstantive changes of curriculum are treated through the same process except a sub committee of Academic Council may authorize an electronic vote to expedite the process. Minor changes (i.e. ones which do not impact the college catalog) to curriculum are approved by the Department Chair and are not subjected to a college review/approval process.

D. Course and Program Assessment Courses and programs of study are regularly assessed at least every five years to provide faculty, staff, students, administration, and trustees information regarding their function in relation to the College’s mission and goals, and the needs of the community.

E. Program Review

An evaluation of each program of the College will be undertaken every five years. The purpose of program evaluation is to provide a critical look at the program’s role in fulfilling the College Vision, Values, Mission and Goals; to assess the effectiveness of the program in meeting the needs of various stakeholders (students, employers, community etc.); and to make changes that enhance the program’s strength and minimize its weaknesses.

As part of the process, the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs will provide information on student learning outcomes (transfer, career placement, graduate follow-up, etc.), enrollment patterns, and resource allocation. The information provided in the program review will assist departments in redefining or reconsidering a program’s goals, purposes, and objectives and improving program quality.

After presentation to the Board of Trustees, the final report of the five year program review will be available to faculty, staff, students and administrators.

V. Responsibility for Implementation

Executive Vice President for Educational Services

Approved: President

4/23/71

Revision

Approved: 2/3/77

Revision

Approved:

Effective:

RESULTS:

VOTE:

The vote on the Establishment, Evaluation, and Discontinuance of Courses and Programs regulation, which had been revised and updated by Academic Council passed with a vote of 57 for, 0 against and 0 abstentions.

PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE:

OUTCOME: