PROCEDURES
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM #7

 SPECIAL COURSES

This form is to be used for requesting approval to implement the following special courses: workshops, seminars, and special studies.  Specific applications of seminars and special studies can be taught for no more than three terms (note: although they are limited to three terms, they still must be "approved" each term) - these offerings should be recorded and tracked by the department   If a course is [approved to be] offered but not taught, it is the responsibility of the department to notify the Associate Vice Chancellor's Office at the time the course is canceled.  Specific applications of workshops can be offered for more than three terms.

To implement any of these special courses:

1. Complete Form #7.

• Choose the appropriate term to be offered, list all terms previously offered, and fill in the dates that the course will meet if it is offered less than the normal term dates.
  
• Enter the appropriate subject area (or areas if cross-listed) and choose the type of special course which includes the undergraduate, graduate, and dual-listed course numbers.  For a list of subject areas, see Subject Areas Listing. 
  
  
• Enter the special topic title.  This is limited to 20-25 characters, includes spaces.  Please ensure that the course title makes sense.  It is printed on the transcripts.  (The proposal's field will allow 25 characters, but the title may need to be abbreviated when entered into the computer system.)
  
  
• Enter any prerequisites and special course fees, if applicable.  Note:  Special course fees must be approved.  You need to complete the Special Course Fee Authorization form with the appropriate signatures and submit it to the Associate Vice Chancellor's Office.

• Check the Diversity requirement box if you are requesting that this course meet the University's diversity requirement.  Submit the course proposal to the chair of the Diversity committee for approval by the Diversity committee. For a course to be considered for diversity credit, at least 70% of its content must relate to American minorities.  For more information, please contact the Chair of the Diversity committee (appointed by Faculty Senate).

•  Check the General Education box if you are requesting the course to be approved as meeting the General Education requirements.  You must select which of the General Education areas the course is to be approved for.  (The General Education codes are listed on the form #7.)  Submit the course proposal to the chair of the General Education committee for Gen Ed approval. The proposal should address how this course relates to specific core courses, meets the goals of General Education in providing breadth, and incorporates scholarship in the appropriate field relating to women and gender.  Courses should be broadly based rather than technical or narrowly focused. 

• Check the appropriate grade basis box. (Note: For Gen Ed 291, the grade basis is S/NC)
  
• Enter total contact hours.  This is the total number of 50 minute hours that the course will meet.  If the course is web-based, additional information on how to determine contact hours can be found at http://acadaff.uww.edu/handbook/webhours.htm
  
• Enter lecture hours per week and number of credits.  Note:  The number of credits cannot exceed the number of weeks that the course is meeting.
  
• Check the appropriate load and location boxes.  Be sure to enter the location if not on campus.
  
• Enter the college (interdisciplinary, if more than one college), department(s), and instructor(s) information.
  
• Complete the remaining sections of the form regarding course information. For information on tests, assignments, and/or evaluations, include the grading policy and grading scale. For differentiation of undergraduate/graduate requirements (if applicable) include content, intensity, and self-direction.

Content: e.g., content areas of the course graduate students will explore with greater depth, and/or additional content areas graduate students will examine.

Intensity: e.g., the unique course requirements for graduate students – in terms of additional readings or assignments, different requirements in assignments, different role expectations, and/or different evaluation methods and/or standards – that reflect greater intellectual intensity and rigor.

Self-direction: e.g., outside-of-class activities required of graduate students, including research, that reflect a greater degree of self-directed learning.

• Attach syllabus and include the required contents of a syllabus listed below:

-the instructor's name
-the instructor's office location, telephone number, and office hours
-title of the course
-department prefix and number of the course (e.g. English 101)
-the course requisites
-list of required texts - purchased, rented, or from reserve
-course objectives
-attendance policy with defined excuses
-grading policy and grading scale (i.e., A = 90-100,  B = 80-89)
-course calendar including dates (subject to change) for major projects, assignments, exams

-all syllabi used in 500-and 600-level courses must specify the unique expectations of graduate students as listed above (content, intensity, and self-direction)

-mandatory statement as stated below:

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment.  It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Academic Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University  Sponsored Events (for details please refer to the Schedule of Classes;  the "Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Undergraduate Catalog;  the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Catalog;  and the "Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures (UWS Chapter 14);  and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" (UWS Chapter 17).

2. Complete the signature page which is included at the bottom of the form.  Please ensure that the signature page information matches the information on the first page of the proposal form.
   
3. Obtain approvals (signatures) of department chairperson; the college dean; the Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education (if the proposed course carries graduate credit or is a continuing education course); the chair of the General Education committee (if Gen Ed designation is indicated); the chair of the Diversity committee (if diversity designation is indicated).
   
4. Forward a and b simultaneously:

a. One copy of the proposal to each of the deans of each non-sponsoring colleges for review (and to the Registrar's Office, if  prerequisites or other special requirements are involved); deans have five working days to direct any challenges or concerns to the Associate Vice Chancellor.

b. The original goes to the Associate Vice Chancellor (via the Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education if a graduate level or a continuing education course) whose office:

1. reviews for conformance to guidelines;
2. accepts and records the proposal;
3. e-mails the deans to indicate receipt of the proposal;
4. attempts to resolve any challenges.
5. upon approval, sends an e-mail message to the sponsoring department, the college deans, the chairs of the CCC's, the Graduate Dean (if applicable), and the Registrar's Office.

Please Note:  Courses MUST be approved prior to the first day of class.  In addition, to ensure that a course be listed in the Schedule of Classes, proposals must be received by the Associate Vice Chancellor's Office by the dates listed on the Curricular Schedule.  Courses that are approved after the deadline may still be taught, but they will NOT be listed in the Schedule of Classes.  An alternative method of advertising must be used.

Any Special Course proposal which fails to acquire all requisite signatures will be ineligible for implementation until the concerns which motivated the refusal to approve have been examined and resolved.

Monthly reports on actions taken on all undergraduate or dual-listed proposals shall be submitted to the University Curriculum Committee.  In those instances in which graduate credit is to be offered, reports shall be submitted on a monthly basis to the Graduate Council.

Any concerns noted by either of these bodies regarding any aspect of any Special Course proposal submitted to it shall be thoroughly reviewed and reconciled prior to any subsequent offering of the Special Course.

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OTHER SPECIAL COURSES

Courses which DO NOT require form 7 action:

To implement the courses 497:

     This is an individual course taken in connection with study abroad.  The course requires
     advanced approval by the department and submission to the Registrar's Office prior to going
     abroad.

To implement the courses 498, 499, 798:

     This is an individual course of study or research the nature and conditions of which are
     determined by the department of the course.

To implement the course 799:

     This course is a guided investigation of an approved thesis topic.  Departments may have
     special eligibility rules for thesis work.