Curriculum Program and Course Development and Revision Procedures

I. Scope

Central Piedmont Community College (Central Piedmont) offers relevant, quality courses and academic programs that help students to be successful in their academic and professional lives. To accomplish this, Central Piedmont adheres to the following procedures for the development, revision, and termination of curriculum courses, academic programs, and curriculum standards, in accordance with the North Carolina Community College System’s Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual.

II. Process

A. Central Piedmont will follow the procedures set forth in the North Carolina Community College System’s Curriculum Procedures Manual in the development and establishment of a curriculum.

B. The process begins when an individual faculty member or a representative from an academic division within the College recognizes a need for a revision to a course, existing program of study, or curriculum standard, or recognizes the opportunity for a new course, program of study, or curriculum standard.

C. A proposal is subsequently prepared in consultation with appropriate faculty, department chair, associate dean, or dean.

D. The faculty member or initiator of the development or change shall submit the proposed change to the department chair and the associate dean for their approval.

E. The associate dean, in consultation with the dean, will submit the proposal to the College’s Curriculum Committee.

F. If and when the Curriculum Committee supports the proposal, it is submitted to the Provost. If the Curriculum Committee does not recommend that the proposal advance, it is sent back for revision.

G. Depending on the nature of the proposal, the Provost may consult with the Academic Affairs Council, College Cabinet, the president, or the Academic and Student Success Committee of the Board of Trustees regarding the proposal. Proposals for new academic programs will require the approval of the president and the Board of Trustees.

H. Depending on the nature of the proposal, either the College president or the State Board of Community Colleges, as appropriate, will authorize approval for implementation.

V. Implementation

The president of the College is authorized to either approve, delay, or suspend the implementation of the course, program of study, or curriculum standard revisions, as well as the development of new courses. The president may delegate the implementation of this work to the Provost and appropriate Central Piedmont personnel. The Provost may direct the supervising dean to manage the details of implementation, including preparing course origination documents and updating the College catalog.

VI. Program Termination

Central Piedmont shall terminate a curriculum course or program of study (program) when there has been no enrollment for two (2) consecutive years or when a program has been inactive or not offered for two (2) consecutive years. Departments may also choose to terminate a curriculum course or program for other reasons, such as changes in content, a curriculum redesign, or in response to industry and community needs. When a program is terminated, Central Piedmont will develop a teach-out plan for currently enrolled students. A teach-out plan is not necessary when no students are currently enrolled or when a program has been inactive or not offered.

VII. Curriculum Committee

Central Piedmont’s Curriculum Committee ensures faculty participation in the development of curriculum courses and academic programs. The Curriculum Committee is led (or co-led) by a full-time faculty member and composed of faculty from each academic division. Although staff from across the college may join the Curriculum Committee, only faculty shall vote on curriculum course and program proposals. Each academic division shall have one vote. The majority of votes must support a proposal in order for it to be recommended to the Provost.

Related Policies

No changes to 3.04 policy or procedure.

Policy 3.04 Credit Hour and Coursework