The letter asked that proposals be distributed as early as possible in the planning process to allow adequate time for review. It was suggested that this is not a College Council matter, but one of the Departmental Curriculum Committees and that we should be cautious in making policy based on a couple situations. The Arts Technology proposal has implications to elements of the Art Department. Arved Larsen said that he went to appropriate faculty, not to the DCC to discuss the Arts Tech proposal. Until proposal is written, details aren't in place.
Specific language is needed.
It currently takes about two years to get a course proposal through all the steps to approval. It was suggested that the CCC and DCCs have standing meeting times so committee members would always have time scheduled on their calendars to meet proposal deadlines. It is the DCC's responsibility to disperse proposal information. In the case of the Arts Tech proposal, it was available on the Web for review, but some faculty members had difficulty accessing the documents. Umbrella courses were created by committees with representatives from each department.