91°µÍø

Policy

Statement and Purpose 

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section , the Board of Trustees of 91°µÍø adopts the following curricular approval process. 

Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.457(B) provides that “[t]he board of trustees of each state institution of higher education has ultimate authority to establish new academic programs, schools, colleges, institutes, departments, and centers at the institution…” and further requires that the Board “shall adopt a curricular approval process to establish and modify academic programs, curricula, courses, general education requirements, and degree programs.”

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section “The board of trustees may not delegate the board’s authority to adopt a curricular approval process under this section or to approve or reject academic programs.” Accordingly:

• The Board retains ultimate authority to adopt this curricular approval process;
• The Board retains final authority to approve or reject academic programs;
• The Board retains final, overriding authority over all curricular actions covered by this policy.

Recognizing that faculty have primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of the University’s academic programs, this policy establishes a transparent process that provides the following in accordance with the statute: (1) grants University Senate, or comparable representative bodies, the opportunity to provide advice, feedback, and recommendations; (2) clarifies that such feedback and recommendations are advisory in nature; and (3) retains the Board’s final, overriding authority to approve or reject any establishment or modification of academic programs, curricula, courses, general education requirements, and degree programs.

Policy Scope

This policy applies to the following:

1. The establishment of new academic programs, schools, colleges, institutes, departments, and centers;
2. The modification of academic programs;
3. The establishment or modification of curricula, courses, general education requirements, and degree programs; and
4. Curricular changes required by state or federal law.

Definitions and Responsibilities

1. The “Board” refers to the Board of Trustees of 91°µÍø.
2. The “Provost” refers to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs or their designee. The Provost administers the curricular approval process, ensures compliance with applicable state and accreditation requirements, brings major curricular actions to the Board for consideration, and may exercise delegated authority over routine curricular actions that do not constitute approval or rejection of academic programs.
3. “University Senate” refers to the University Senate and its authorized representative bodies, including the Council of Undergraduate Curriculum (CUC), Graduate Council, and Liberal Education Council (LEC), as applicable. Consistent with Ohio Revised Code Section 3345.457(C)(1), University Senate shall be granted the opportunity to provide advice, feedback, and recommendations on the establishment and modification of academic programs, curricula, courses, general education requirements, and degree programs. Consistent with Section 3345.457(C)(2), all such advice, feedback, and recommendations are advisory in nature.
4. “Council of Academic Deans” or “COAD” refers to the Council of Academic Deans, an advisory body to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. COAD is chaired by the Provost and is composed of the deans of the academic divisions, the Graduate School, and the Dean of University Libraries. COAD provides advice and recommendations to the Provost regarding academic, fiscal, resource, and strategic implications of curricular proposals and ensures coordination and alignment of academic policy across the University. All recommendations of COAD are advisory in nature.
5. “Curricular Change” means the establishment or modification of academic programs, curricula, courses, general education requirements, or degree programs.
6. "Major Curricular Change":

• A major curricular change includes:
• Establishment of a new academic program;
• Discontinuation of an academic program;
• Substantial modification of an academic program;
• Any curricular action requiring approval by the Board;
• Any curricular action requiring submission to or approval by the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

7. “Routine Curricular Change”

• Establishment or modification of courses;
• Minor, certificate, or concentration changes;
• Administrative or non-substantive catalog updates;
• General education category assignments;
• Other changes that do not constitute approval or rejection of an academic program.

Procedures

1. Major Curricular Changes

   1. Proposal. The Board, President, Provost, or dean(s) (on behalf of their academic units) after consultation with affected faculty, may recommend a major curricular change. The proposal shall be made in writing and submitted to the Provost.
   2. Notification. Upon receiving the proposal, the Provost shall promptly notify the University Senate and appropriate bodies.
   3. Review. University Senate and applicable councils shall be provided the opportunity to review the proposal and provide advice, feedback, and recommendations. The Council of Academic Deans shall then review the proposal and provide recommendations to the Provost regarding academic, fiscal, resource, and strategic implications.
   4. Recommendation. The Provost shall review the proposal and any feedback received and inform the President of the Provost’s recommended action. Upon concurrence with the President, the Provost shall forward the recommendation and the advisory feedback to the Board.
   5. Board Action. The Board has final decision-making authority and may approve, disapprove, or remand the recommendation. Major curricular changes may originate at the Board level. No academic program shall be established, substantially modified, or discontinued without Board approval. Where required by law, Board approval shall precede submission to the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

2. Routine Curricular Changes

   1. Proposal. Routine curricular changes ordinarily originate within an academic department or program and shall be developed following consultation with affected faculty. Such proposals shall proceed through established processes at the department, division, and college levels, as applicable. Following completion of established process, routine curricular changes shall be submitted in writing to the Provost.

Nothing in this section precludes the Board, President, Provost, or dean(s) from initiating a routine curricular change when appropriate; however, any such proposal shall be submitted to the same established review process described above prior to final action.

1. 2. Notification. Upon receiving the written proposal following the review process, the Provost shall promptly notify the University Senate and the appropriate representative bodies, including the Council of Undergraduate Curriculum, Graduate Council, and Liberal Education Council, as applicable.
   3. Review. University Senate and appropriate representative bodies shall be provided the opportunity to provide advice, feedback, and recommendations. All such advice, feedback, and recommendations are advisory in nature. The Council of Academic Deans shall then review the proposal and provide recommendations to the Provost regarding academic, fiscal, resource, and strategic implications.
   4. Provost Action. The Board delegates to the Provost the authority to approve or disapprove routine curricular changes that do not constitute approval or rejection of academic programs. The Provost’s action shall have immediate effect and shall be reported to the Board at its next regular meeting.
   5. Board Override. The Board retains final authority to override any delegated action

3. Changes Required by Law

Certain curricular changes may be required by state or federal law, including but not limited to the American Civic Literacy curriculum established under ORC 3345.382, and the required elimination of low-completion programs pursuant to ORC 3345.454.

When such changes are required, the Provost shall initiate appropriate action. If Board approval is required, the Provost shall submit the matter to the Board for approval, disapproval, or remand.

4. Advice and Ongoing Review

All advice, feedback, and recommendations provided to the Board under this policy are advisory in nature. This curricular approval process shall be reviewed every five years thereafter. Each completed version shall be submitted to the Chancellor of Higher Education.

5. Guidelines

The Provost may, from time to time, develop guidelines to assist with the internal administration of this policy.

Related Form(s)

Not applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Websites

FAQ

Not applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2027

Responsible Officer

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Reference

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Recent Revision History

Amended July 2018; Amended February 2021; Amended July 2021, Revised April 2026

Reference ID

• MUPIM 11.1
• OAC 3339-11-01

Reviewers

• University Senate
• Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs