Educational Programs Committee

The Educational Programs Committee (EPC) is the university-wide committee that reviews proposed changes submitted by the Schools and College and that advises the Provost on these items. Once the EPC approves a proposal, it is sent to the Provost. Depending on the level of the curricular change, and if the Provost accepts the EPC’s recommendation, the item is sent to the Board of Trustees either in the form of a request for approval by BOT vote or as an information item. Board approval is required for the following curricular changes: opening or closing of all diplomas, degrees or certificates. In addition, the Board is notified of, but does not approve, the creation or discontinuance of minors, the shortening or lengthening of any diploma, degree or certificate. One note: If the increase or decrease in credit hour requirements is significant (25% or more), the change will require both a BOT vote and pre-approval from SACSCOC.

Bylaws

Meeting Schedule | Spring 2020 | 8:30 - 10:00AM


Meeting Date Location Proposal Deadline
February 3 Huitt-Zollars Pavilion January 13
February 17 311 Perkins Administration Bldg. January 27
March 2
 Huitt-Zollars Pavilion
 February 10
March 30 311 Perkins Administration Bldg. March 9

Timetable

Most curricular changes will need to be submitted to the EPC for review and discussion prior to being submitted to the Provost and the Board of Trustees for final review and approval. As of Fall 2016, the Provost’s Office no longer allows curricular changes to occur in the middle of a current academic year. For example, proposals considered and recommended for approval by the EPC, Provost, and Board of Trustees in December 2019 will not be effective until the Fall 2020 semester. Additionally, proposals considered and recommended for approval by the EPC, Provost, and Board of Trustees in May 2020 will not be effective until the Fall 2021 semester. This change aligns with the academic calendar and production timelines associated with the publication of the undergraduate and graduate catalogs, which act as the University’s contract with students.

For curricular changes requiring advance approval and/or notification by/to SACS COC in time for inclusion in SMU’s 2020-2021 University Catalog, the final BOT approval date is 12/6/2019.


Deadline for Projected 2020-21 Curricular Changes to Associate Provost

Schools send to EPC

Review by EPC

EPC materials due to Provost

Board of Trustees Meeting

8/23/2019

See Meeting Schedule

*9/20/2019

11/8/2019

12/6/2019

See Meeting Schedule

*10/4/2019

11/8/2019

12/6/2019

See Meeting Schedule

*10/11/2019 CANCELLED

11/8/2019

12/6/2019

See Meeting Schedule

*10/25/2019

11/8/2019

12/6/2019

See Meeting Schedule

*2/3/2020

4/9/2020

5/8/2020

See Meeting Schedule

*2/17/2020

4/9/2020

5/8/2020

See Meeting Schedule

*3/2/2020
CANCELLED

4/9/2020

5/8/2020

See Meeting Schedule

*3/30/2020

4/9/2020

5/8/2020

* Dates are tentative and subject to change. Cross-check dates in the Meeting Schedule.

Agendas + Minutes

Charge

To advise the Provost on matters involving curricular change, program initiation, program discontinuance, and attendant issues. In addition, the committee will assure that appropriate notification, approvals, licensures, etc., are in place before programs begin operation. The Educational Programs Committee (EPC) serves as a University-wide curriculum committee. It is advisory to the Provost, and reports to the Provost.

Composition of the Committee

  • Chair, Associate Provost for Curricular Innovation and Policy (ex officio)
  • Faculty appointed by the Associate Provost for Faculty and Administrative Affairs in consultation with Deans of the schools they represent; one faculty representation from each and two from Dedman College
  • Associate Vice President for Research, Dean of Graduate Studies (ex officio)
  • Director of Institutional Research (ex officio)
  • Deputy Director of Central University Libraries (ex officio)
  • University Registrar (ex officio)
  • Director of Assessment & Accreditation

Committee Members

2019-20 Committee Members

Instructions

    • Do not alter the formatting or font on the Short or Long forms other than to include requisite information. Include all applicable information requested on page 1 as it is essential for EPC tracking and BOT reporting. Sections that do not pertain to your proposal may be deleted to save space. Note: to ensure you are using the most recent version of the proposal document, always download the forms from the Forms + Samples tab.


    • Review the Meetings + Timetable tab to ensure that your proposal timeline aligns with the requirements set by the Provost’s Office. The Provost’s Office no longer allows curricular changes to occur in the middle of a current academic year.


    • Obtain approval for your curricular change through the appropriate School or College vetting process (see the School-Specific Procedures below). Note: signatures on the Short and Long forms are required before the final proposal is submitted to the Office of Curricular Innovation and Policy.


    • Discuss assessment-specific questions with the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. The Office of Curricular Innovation and Policy highly recommends that all program changes be discussed with the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness before proposal submission to avoid any revision delays. Note: direct assessment-related questions to assessment@smu.edu.


    • Request your faculty roster from the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness, if applicable, by e-mailing assessment@smu.edu. Faculty rosters will be used in place of Faculty CV's.


    • Obtain approval for your online program, if applicable, through the Continuing Education Program Council (CEPC) before submitting your proposal to the Office of Curricular Innovation and Policy. Note: direct inquiries regarding this approval process to Associate Provost Michael Robertson at robertsonm@smu.edu.


    • Direct questions regarding your proposal to the Associate Provost for Curricular Innovation and Policy, David Son at dson@smu.edu, and Brooke Guelker at bguelker@smu.edu.


  • Submit finalized or revised proposals, electronically, to the Assistant to the Associate Provost for Curricular Innovation and Policy, Brooke Guelker at bguelker@smu.edu for inclusion on the EPC Agenda. Failure to do so may result in delays in your proposal being reviewed.

School-Specific Approval Procedures:

  • A proposal is submitted to the Curriculum Committee;
  • The committee reviews and, if agreed, presents the proposal to the faculty for a vote;
  • If the faculty vote to accept the change, it is submitted to the EPC (if necessary) or implemented and updated in our catalog/website.
  • Any changes must be approved either by the Undergraduate or Graduate Policy Committees.
  • For more information about Cox-specific approval procedures, contact Bill Dillon.
  • New Majors/Minors:
    • approval by the department
    • approval by Lyle faculty
    • proposal submission to EPC

  • Track specializations:
    • approval by the academic department
    • approval of Lyle faculty
    • (not submitted to EPC because they do not result in separate degrees.)

  • Program discontinuance:
    • approval by the department
    • notification to the Dean’s office
    • Information item to Lyle Faculty
    • Dean’s office submits corresponding letter to EPC
  • New Degree Programs, Majors, and Minors must be approved by the Meadows Academic Policies Committee.
  • Substantive Changes in Degree Programs, Majors, and Minors must be approved by the Meadows Academic Policies Committee.
  • Discontinuation of Degree Programs, Majors, and Minors must be approved by the Meadows Academic Policies Committee.
  • For more information about Meadows curriculum approval processes, contact Kevin Paul Hofeditz, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

  1. New courses are proposed by Perkins faculty to their various divisions using a template found in the Perkins Faculty Handbook. We have four divisions titled: I. The Biblical Witness, II. The Heritage of the Christian Witness in Its Religious and Cultural Context, III. The Interpretation of the Christian Witness, IV. The Witness of the Church and Its Ministry. Members of the division vet the proposal offering suggestions for improvement, edits, suggested readings, etc. After the vetting process division members vote approval or not. Since the vetting process can be extensive and done on a consensus basis new course proposals are always approved. However, there have been instances where the professor submitting the proposal realizes that s/he needs to withdraw their proposal to address the problems division members have identified.

  2. Upon approval by members of the division the chair of the division places the proposal on the Perkins Faculty meeting agenda for approval by the faculty. Faculty members receive the new course proposal approximately six days before the meeting for review. The division chairperson presents the item as a seconded motion to the Perkins faculty. S/he and/or the author of the proposal will respond to questions. The faculty vote on the new course proposal.

  3. Upon approval of the new course it is passed on to the Perkins Registrar for processing into the course database.