/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies.json

EAA083 Requirements for New Course Approval Policy

Policy Number: EAA083
Policy Title: Requirements for New Course Approval Policy

A. Responsibility

Central Curricular Authority Committee (CCAC), Pre-Clerkship and Clerkship Subcommittees (PCS & CCS respectively), Office of Education and Academic Affairs, UTRGV Registrar.

B. Overview

The Central Curricular Authority Committee (CCAC) is charged with approval of all components of the curriculum, its integration, and monitoring its effectiveness through its standing subcommittees. The Pre-Clerkship and Clerkship Subcommittees are charged with review of new or revised curriculum proposed by the faculty. All new and revised curricular proposals reviewed by the PCS or CCS must be presented to CCAC for final review and approval prior to implementation. 

C. Definitions

Courses: Describes the educational units of teaching conducted as part of the curricular offerings in the School of Medicine, are approved by the CCAC and deemed appropriate for the receipt of academic credit towards a Doctor of Medicine Degree. Courses may include but are not limited to modules, clerkships, selectives, sub-internships, and electives.

Clerkships: The clinical courses of the third and fourth year of the curriculum that have been approved by the CCAC. Core Clerkships are the clinical courses which are determined by CCAC as required for graduation.

Electives: Educational opportunities that supplement required learning experiences and that permit medical students to gain exposure to and expand their understanding of medical specialties, and to pursue the individual academic interests. These courses are offered throughout the medical school curriculum.

Modules: The primary educational unit of the first and second years of the curriculum that have been approved by the CCAC and are required for graduation.

Selectives: A prescribed group of courses from which students may select a particular course to meet specified graduation requirements. 

Sub-internship: An advanced clinical course for students in which they perform duties at the level of an acting intern or resident under direct supervision of a faculty physician. 

D. Policy

All requests for new courses must first be submitted to the Pre-Clerkship or Clerkship Subcommittee respectively for initial review and endorsement of approval. Once presented at the subcommittee level, new course requests must then be presented to CCAC for final review and approval. All new course requests must be submitted to CCAC prior to the start of the Academic Year in which the course is to be offered. Exceptions to this time frame may be granted by the CCAC Chair with endorsement from the Office of Education & Academic Affairs.

E. Process

Prior to submission of a request for a new course, faculty must:

• Obtain permission from the Chair of the department (if the course is departmentally based) in which the course will be offered in order to develop and implement the course;
• Obtain endorsement from the Office of Education & Academic Affairs curricular leadership;
• Develop/Conceptualize the course including the following:
  • Assure that the course is aligned with the UTRGV SOM mission;
  • Develop the course learning objectives (LOs) and assuring their alignment with the SOM competencies and Educational Program Objectives (EPOs);
  • Identify prerequisites, if any;
  • Determine whether the course is an elective/ selective/other course;
  • Determine when the course will be offered, where it will be offered, and by whom (faculty) and to whom (MS1, MS2, MS3 and/or MS4 students).
• Obtain and complete the appropriate New Course Approval forms;
• Submit the completed form to the Pre-Clerkship or Clerkship Subcommittee Chair for presentation at the respective subcommittee;
• Obtain initial recommendation of approval at the Subcommittee level;
• Respond to any requests from the respective subcommittee for additional information and/or clarification if needed;
• Submit and present the new course request to the CCAC for discussion and approval.

The Pre-Clerkship and Clerkship Subcommittee is responsible to:

• Manage and review all initial requests for new courses;
• Provide recommendation for approval of the request to be forwarded to CCAC for review and approval; and
• Provide faculty making a new course request with feedback regarding the status of their requests, i.e., letting them know when additional supporting information is needed, the date of their course presentation to CCAC, and/or the receipt of course approval from the University Registrar.

The CCAC is responsible for approval of all new course requests and forwarding signed requests to the Office of Education and Academic Affairs for management and storage and on to the University Registrar for addition to the curriculum and course catalog.