Curriculum and Catalog Authority
Policy 3.14 · Adopted 1986 · Last revised 2020 · Responsible office: Office of the Provost · Next review 2025
1. Purpose. This policy states the authority by which courses, programs, and credentials are added, changed, suspended, and withdrawn, and by which the Academic Catalog is published and amended.
2. The Catalog of record. The Academic Catalog is published annually, by numbered volume, under the authority of the Provost, and is maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Each volume states its effective date and supersedes all prior editions. Between volumes, the Catalog is amended only by addendum. Addenda are numbered in sequence within a volume, are binding as published, and take effect on the date or term stated in the addendum. Where the Catalog and an addendum differ, the addendum governs from its effective date. Errors in the Catalog are corrected by addendum. An addendum states the corrected text; it does not restate the error.
3. The Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum Committee is chaired by the Provost or the Provost’s designee and includes the Registrar and one faculty member from each academic division, appointed by the Division Chair. The Committee meets monthly during the academic year. Minutes are posted after approval. Within its authority the Committee adopts addenda to the Catalog. An addendum adopted by the Committee within its authority is reported to the Board of Trustees for information and requires no Board action.
4. Authority by action
| Action | Adopted by | Accreditor action |
|---|---|---|
| Addition, revision, or deletion of a course within an existing program | Curriculum Committee | None |
| Course prefixes, numbering, and credit-hour values, under the definition of the semester credit hour published in the Catalog | Curriculum Committee | None |
| Concentration completed within a program’s existing elective hours | Curriculum Committee, by addendum | None |
| Correction of the Catalog | Curriculum Committee, by addendum | None |
| Clock-hour workforce certificate | Board of Trustees, by addendum, on the Provost’s recommendation | None |
| Credit-bearing program or credential within a field already included in the College’s approved scope | Board of Trustees, by addendum, on the Provost’s recommendation | Notification |
| Credit-bearing program or credential not within the College’s approved scope | Board of Trustees, on the Provost’s recommendation | Substantive change application |
| Suspension or withdrawal of a program | Board of Trustees, on the Provost’s recommendation | As the Council’s standards require |
5. Determination of accreditor action
(a) A concentration is not a program or credential, does not change a program’s credit-hour total, and requires no action by the Council. Completion is noted on the transcript.
(b) A clock-hour workforce certificate carries no academic credit and requires no action by the Council. It is approved by the Board and published by addendum.
(c) A credit-bearing program or credential requires a substantive change application to the Council, submitted on the Board’s authorization, unless the credential falls within a field already included in the College’s approved scope and does not otherwise meet the criteria for substantive change under the Council’s standards, in which case the College provides notification. The Provost makes the determination, with the concurrence of counsel, and states it to the Board with the recommendation. A notification states the College’s basis for the determination. If the Council’s view differs, the College submits an application and suspends enrollment in the interim.
(d) A program for which an application is pending is listed with its status and enrolls no students until the Council has acted.
6. Status of programs. Each program is listed in the Catalog and on the College’s website with its status. A program that is suspended or withdrawn remains listed, with its status, and is not removed. Students enrolled in a program at its suspension or withdrawal are advised in writing of the terms on which they may complete it.
7. Reporting. The Provost reports addenda and program actions to the Board at its next regular meeting.
Addenda to the current volume are listed at Catalog Addenda.
Page last revised 30 October 2026 · about/policies/curriculum-and-catalog-authority · Office of the Provost