Faculty Handbook
Academic Affairs

EPC Policies

Policy of the EPC on Changes in the Major

The Educational Policy Committee (EPC) has both the responsibility and the right to review proposed changes in the curriculum. 

Although there are no specific criteria specifying which proposals concerning major programs must be approved by the EPC, precedent and common sense suggest that proposals with the following impact be presented to the EPC for its approval.

1.  Changes that would create a new major program.

2.  Changes that would alter an existing major in ways that:

     a.  Change the number of credits for graduation

     b.  Change the name of the major program or certificate that will appear in university records

     c.  Substantially alter the intellectual parameters of the major

     d.  Require a program of foreign study and/or a substantial number of non-Wesleyan courses and/or
          non-departmental, program, or college courses for the completion of the major program

3.  Changes that would create a new curricular program, whether it be a formal major, a concentration within a major, a certificate, or a cluster, that would infringe upon the intellectual integrity of or replicate an existing major.

Policy of the EPC on the First Class Meeting

The Educational Policy Committee of the Faculty (EPC) has determined that unless registered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class (in writing, by email or in person), the instructor can drop a student from his/her class list.

EPC Guidelines for Certificate Proposals

Faculty and students have shown increasing interest in the creation of new certificates, which organize curricular resources to structure a coherent interdisciplinary course of study independent of established majors. Because proposals for such certificates must be reviewed and approved by the EPC before they are presented to the faculty for ratification, the EPC has formulated the following outline to expedite the process.

Those who propose the creation of a new certificate should submit to the EPC a document that addresses the following topics and queries, among which there is, inevitably, some overlap.

I. General description of the proposed certificate

            a. Overview of content: on what area(s) will the certificate focus?

            b. Rationale for the proposal

                        1. evidence of student interest

                        2. evidence of faculty interest and commitment

                        3. intellectual coherence; innovative features

                        4. relation of the proposed certificate to existing certificates and majors

            c. Goals: what will students gain from completing the certificate?

II. Curriculum

a. Courses: How many and what kind are required? How are they related to one another? How are courses selected for inclusion in the certificate?

b. Are they all currently available, or will there be a need for new courses?

c.  Is there a gateway course required of all participants?

d.  Is there a recommended sequence of courses?

e. Is there a required capstone course or project?

f. Does the certificate comprise any co-curricular activities?

III. Organization and structure

a. Is there a supervisory committee of faculty; how is it constituted, and what are its responsibilities?

b. Who advises students and oversees their admission and progress?

c. When do students apply for admission?

d: Are there criteria for admission (e.g., writing samples or GPA in a certain course or courses)?

e. Do students have to maintain a certain GPA in the certificate courses?

f. What provisions are there for continuity? Will there be sufficient faculty and courses every year to keep the certificate going?

g. How will the success of the certificate be evaluated? How often will it be reviewed?                   

IV. Miscellaneous

            a. How will the certificate be publicized?

            b. Will it have a dedicated website?

 

[APRIL 2010]