1: Membership, Election, Tenure

Membership of this committee shall consist of 7 elected Faculty members, at least one each from the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences, for three year terms, staggered, the Dean of the Faculty, an Associate Academic Dean, and three undergraduate students. (Passed January 16, 1970; Revised November 17, 1981)

2: Jurisdiction, Obligations, Procedures

2.1: It shall be the responsibility of this Committee to oversee the operation of the undergraduate curriculum; evaluate any changes that may be made; receive, explore and propose changes and innovations; screen new course offerings; and encourage discussion of the process of education at Trinity College. (Revised November 17, 1981)

2.2: The Faculty, acting on the basis of a recommendation by the ad hoc Committee on Curriculum Review, mandated to the Curriculum Committee the responsibility for conducting regular and systematic review of all academic departments and programs. (Passed May 12, 1981)

2.3: One member of this Committee shall be appointed to act as an advisor to the Public Information Office on curriculum changes in the various catalogues. (Passed January 16, 1970)

2.4: Procedures

2.4.a: Whenever a department or program proposes to introduce a new course, to alter the description or number of an existing course, or to revise the requirements of its major, the department chair or program director shall submit a written request for approval to the Curriculum Committee through its secretary, providing a suitable explanation of the proposed change.

2.4.b: Proposals for new courses and for the revision of course descriptions or numbers shall be referred for action to a subcommittee consisting of the Committee chair, the secretary, and one other Faculty member. Proposals that the subcommittee deems problematic are forwarded to the Committee as a whole for a decision. All subcommittee actions shall be reported to the Committee.

2.4.c: Proposed changes in major requirements shall be decided by the Committee as a whole. The Committee may invite the department chair or program director proposing the changes to attend the meeting at which they are considered.

2.4.d: Ordinarily, proposed changes in a department or program's course offerings or major requirements shall be submitted to the Committee no later than the first day of the spring semester preceding the academic year in which the changes are to be implemented. Proposals for changes within an academic year (e.g., a fall-term request to approve a course for the following spring term) shall be submitted to the Committee as far in advance of the time of implementation as possible. During the summer months, the Committee delegates to its chair and secretary authority to approve new and revised courses for the forthcoming fall semester.

2.4.e: When a department or program plans to drop a course from its offerings, its chair or director shall provide prior written notification to the Committee.

2.4.f: In its annual written report to the Faculty, the Committee shall list all new and revised courses and all changes in major requirements that it has approved during the year, as well as all courses that have been dropped.

2.4.g: College Courses: The first time a College Course is offered, the Committee's approval need not be sought, provided that the instructor is a full-time member of the Faculty on continuing appointment. However, a description of the course shall be sent to the Committee no later than mid-term of the semester prior to that in which the course will be offered.

If such a College Course is to be offered a second time, it shall be submitted to the Committee for approval, as with a regular course. Once approved, the course may be given repeatedly thereafter.

If anyone other than a full-time Faculty member on continuing appointment wishes to offer a College Course, the course may not be offered until the Committee has approved it.

2.4.h: Student Taught Courses: Student-taught courses may be offered for academic credit only if approved by the Committee.

In preparing a proposal for submission to the Committee, the student shall follow the procedures specified in the current issue of the student Handbook.

2.4.i: Individually Tailored Interdisciplinary Majors: Students proposing to undertake individually tailored, interdisciplinary majors shall follow the procedures on such majors specified in the current issue of the student Handbook.

2.5: Internships: The Committee oversees the program of internships and the guidelines regulating exploratory and integrated internships. The Internship Coordinator shall review all internship applications and contracts on behalf of the Committee to ensure that they conform to the guidelines. From time to time, the Coordinator shall report to the Committee on the functioning of the internship program, keeping the Committee apprised of any problems that may have been encountered.

2.6: Academic Calendar: Each fall, the Committee shall review the proposed calendar for the next academic year, following guidelines established by the Faculty.

2.7: Transfer Credit: The Committee shall develop policies on the award of credit for courses taken elsewhere and hear appeals from undergraduates who have been denied credit for work done at other institutions. (Revised November 14, 1989)