Comprehensive Standards: Educational Programs 3.4.11 (program coordinators)
For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curricular development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field.  In those degree programs for which the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration.

Compliance
North Carolina State University is in compliance with this standard.

Explanation
NC State University uses the following systems to ensure compliance.  On the undergraduate level, the processes of curriculum development, curriculum revision, and curriculum review are delegated responsibilities of academic department heads.  On the graduate level, these processes are the responsibility of the departmental Director of Graduate Programs (DGP).

Undergraduate Programs
NC State University academic department heads report directly to the academic deans and associate deans and are selected in part for demonstrated ability to provide leadership in curriculum development.  All academic department heads have graduate degrees and a record of demonstrated accomplishments as faculty members in their respective disciplines. 

Curriculum development and revision begin with the faculty and are vetted through departmental courses and curriculum processes (see Comprehensive Standards: Educational Programs #12).  This is true of both on-campus and distance education programs.  The academic department head must approve curriculum proposals prior to submission for further review by the college curriculum committee and later the University Courses and Curricula Committee. 

Regarding program coordination and review, the university’s colleges employ a system of academic program coordinators appointed by academic department heads to manage and facilitate curriculum coordination and review for specific academic programs.  In all cases, the program coordinators are academic leaders within their departments and colleges.  All are qualified with terminal degrees in the appropriate field.

In instances where academic programs have cross-disciplinary emphases, the program coordinator has academic credentialing in one of the disciplinary areas and a demonstrated capacity for facilitating curriculum development across the associated disciplines. 

Graduate Programs
Each department offering graduate study is required to appoint a Director of Graduate Programs (DGP) from among its graduate faculty.  The DGP is responsible for graduate program coordination, curriculum development and review.  As with undergraduate programs, where academic programs have cross-disciplinary emphases, the program coordinator has academic credentialing in one of the disciplinary areas and a demonstrated capacity for facilitating curriculum development across the associated disciplines. 

All DGPs are tenured (or tenure-track) faculty members who have distinguished themselves in research, thesis direction, and graduate teaching.  Evidence of such distinction is indicated by a number of significant publications, by service as chair of the advisory committees for several master's students or as co-chair of the advisory committees for doctoral students, and by excellence in graduate teaching.  In certain instances, one or two of these experiences may be considered sufficient.

The DGP has authority for course and curricular issues going forward to the colleges’ Graduate Studies Committees and on to the Administrative Board of the Graduate School.  Where applicable, the DGP is responsible for both on-campus and distance education programs within his or her department. 

References

• Committee on Undergraduate Program Review (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/governance/Ad_hoc/CUPR/)

• Council on Undergraduate Education (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/governance/standing_committees/CUEd/)

• Information on undergraduate programs from the provost’s office (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/academic_programs/indexug.html)

• The responsibilities of directors of graduate programs (http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/grad_publicns/handbook/)

• University Committee on Courses and Curricula (http://www.ncsu.edu/provost/governance/standing_committees/UCCC/)

NC State University Home --> Accreditation Home --> Compliance Reports --> Programs 3.4.11

N.C. State University
Last Modified: Wednesday, 02-Jul-03 06:37:41