Approved by the Purchase College Educational Policies Committee 4.26.23

Note: The following is provided as helpful guidance in proposing new academic programs and curricular adjustments, but is not intended to preclude analysis of proposals from budgetary and strategic planning perspectives.

 

Part I: Presenting a Proposal to the Educational Policies Committee (EPC) of Faculty at Large

1. Because curricular changes can be especially complex and nuanced, the curricular review and approval process benefits from clear and accurate presentation of all proposed changes. When seeking an approval vote on specific proposed curricular changes (as opposed to seeking general feedback on an idea or proposal in progress, which can also be extremely valuable), it therefore helps to have a document to present to EPC and available for committee review in advance of the scheduled meeting. The EPC Chair can provide guidance as to how much advance notice is required by the committee.

Note that many curricular changes should be reviewed by one or both Academic Councils before coming to EPC for final approval, as outlined in the Purchase College Faculty Bylaws.

The Faculty Bylaws detail what types of curricular changes require EPC approval. In addition, the policy of the Office of the Associate Provost is that any curricular change that also requires approval from SUNY and NYSED (NY State Education Dept.) must first receive local approval by EPC and (if appropriate) Academic Councils. A full list of changes that require SUNY/NYSED approval can be found at the end of this document.

2. In detailing the curricular proposal, be sure to indicate proposed changes in requirements and credits. If this is a program change, it’s very helpful to provide a side-by-side comparison of existing and proposed requirements, and such a chart will be required for submission to SUNY (example below). You may want to highlight specific changes or additions for clarity.

 

Old Curriculum	New Curriculum
Course #/ Title of course/ # of credits
Total # of credits	Total # of credits

Also note that curricular changes often impact operations in the offices of the Registrar and Admissions; representatives of both offices sit on EPC and will be able to provide feedback at or in advance of the meeting.

3. When considering a curricular change, please bear in mind the following SUNY/NYSED requirements:

• For BA/BS programs:
  • at least 45 upper level credits, with 24 upper level credits in the major
  • a minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate but the total number of credits within the degree may not exceed 126 credits.
  • students should be able to complete all general education requirements within the first 60 credits (typically two full-time years) of study

• For BFA and MusB programs:
  • at least 45 upper level credits, with 24 upper level credits in the major
  • a minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate but the total number of credits within the degree may not exceed 126 credits.
  • students should be able to complete 20 cr. of general education requirements and the four SUNY-required knowledge and skill areas (Math/Nat Sci/Basic Communication/DEISJ) within the first 60 credits (typically two full-time years) of study

• Liberal Arts content (determines degree offered):
  • for BA programs, a minimum of 90 credits of Liberal Arts content must be earned within the program of study
  • for BS programs, a minimum of 60 credits of Liberal Arts content must be earned within the program of study
  • for BFA programs, a minimum of 30 credits of Liberal Arts content must be earned within the program of study

In their vetting of all proposed curricular changes, SUNY and NYSED review curricula to ensure that the above stipulations are being met.

4. For certain curricular proposals (e.g. major program revisions or proposals for new programs), the Provost Office may request that a cost analysis be prepared by administration in consultation with faculty. This cost analysis document may also be shared with EPC and considered in light of the proposed curricular changes. 
5. Once curricular changes are approved, the Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment works with faculty and Academic Directors to prepare required materials for SUNY and NYSED.

Part II: Steps Following EPC Approval

1. The Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment prepares materials for submission to SUNY, in coordination with program faculty/Chair/Director.
2. Changes to the catalog and website generally take effect at least one academic year after the change has been approved. This is because the catalog memorializes the curriculum as it exists at the start of a given academic year. Therefore, the earliest a change in program requirements can take effect is the following fall semester, for students newly entering the program. (Currently enrolled students may be given the option of graduating under the former requirements, or revised requirements, if feasible.)

However, incoming students should also be enrolling in the program to which they initially applied, so new programs, or significant changes affecting the essence of an existing program’s focus or design, should receive final NYSED approval early enough in the academic year to allow for Admissions to accurately represent the new/revised program to incoming students.

Also note that SUNY/NYSED approval usually takes four-six months from time of submission, and NYSED does not permit institutions to post or advertise new programs or program revisions until final approval is granted.

3. Once final approval is granted by NYSED, the Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment notifies all parties involved about the change. This includes the Registrar, Admissions, Institutional Research, Campus Technology Services, the Advising Center, the faculty who proposed the program, and the Director of the School/Conservatory. The Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment then re-confirms the approved requirements to be posted on the website with the faculty who submitted the change and other offices before making it public on the website. Because new or revised curricula posted to the catalog and website (“About the Program”) must conform exactly with changes approved by SUNY/NYSED, absolute accuracy is required at all stages of the process.

Please note: Internal program revisions to the requirements in a major that do not require EPC and SUNY approval should be sent to the Coordinator of Curriculum and Assessment when new course proposals and course changes are due to the Registrar that semester. See Registrar course schedule deadlines. You can use the Internal Program revision form found on the Associate Provost website for this situation.

If you are unsure if a proposed change requires EPC and SUNY approval, please contact the EPC Chair and Associate Provost Office for clarification.

ADDENDUM: Curricular Changes requiring SUNY/NYSED (and thus EPC) approval include:

 

• Cumulative change of one-third or more of the minimum credits required for the award (e.g., 20 credits for associate degree programs, 40 credits for bachelor’s degree programs) since NYSED’s last approval of the program.
• Significant change in a program’s focus or design. (This may or may not accompany a proposed program title change.)
• Adding or eliminating one or more options, concentrations or tracks.
• Eliminating a requirement for program completion (such as an internship, clinical placement, cooperative education, or other work or field-based experience). Adding such requirements must remain in compliance with SUNY credit cap limits (126 cr. for baccalaureate degrees).
• Altering the liberal arts and science content in a way that changes the degree classification of an undergraduate program (e.g., a move from 30 to 60 cr. of liberal arts content in an arts program would change the degree from a BFA to a BS).
• Change in program title.
• Change in program award (BA, BFA, BS, etc.).
• Mode of delivery (e.g., making a program 50%+ online).
• Format change(s) (e.g., from full-time to part-time), based on SED definitions, for the entire
• A change in the total number of credits in a certificate or advanced certificate program.
• Any change to a registered licensure-qualifying program, or the addition of licensure qualification to an existing program. (Note: Purchase College does not currently have any state licensure-granting programs.)