This process was passed by the College of Business and Economics faculty at the end of Spring Semester, 1995, and provides a way to try out new curriculum and teaching ideas. It allows faculty to design alternatives to current major or core requirements and to grant participating students exemption from requirements which the new experiences are intended to replace. By giving faculty an opportunity to try out new ideas, the process is intended to stimulate curriculum change and help us respond more quickly to our students' changing educational needs.
Faculty are invited to submit proposals for changes that improve business education at the undergraduate or graduate levels. The changes may affect requirements for a major, requirements for a minor, the core curriculum, or any COBE policy.
The Undergraduate Policy Committee will review proposals and make recommendations to the Dean. The Dean will grant final approval.
If a proposed change requires "seed" money for initial implementation, a funding request may be made to the Dean along with the proposal. Funding may be used for project-related travel either to visit an innovative program or to bring someone to BSU. It could also be used for direct expenses related to the demonstration project. It may not be used for faculty compensation.
A demonstration project is expected to be completed within two academic years. The project proposal should include a time line that shows what will happen and when it will happen. The time line should include due consideration of the lead times required if students and faculty need to be informed about new courses, schedules, or degree requirements.
All projects are expected to include input and support from students, alumni, members of the business community, faculty from other BSU colleges or from other universities, or other relevant people or organizations. Where participation of important groups has not been solicited by the time a proposal has been submitted, the proposal should explain how and when relevant groups will be involved.
It is important that students be protected from having their graduation delayed or their education compromised by a demonstration project. In addition, proposals must address the issue of what will happen to the students who have participated in new courses or curricula after the demonstration ends.
The proposal should be as brief as possible and contain separate pages for the proposed budget and the time line. It should be submitted to the Undergraduate Policy Committee. The format of the proposal is outlined at the end of this document.
Once approved, a project becomes an effort of the College. A project may require outside support in the forms of graduate assistance, consulting with experts from other institutions, and liaisons with various constituencies. The Undergraduate Policy Committee and the deans will help the proposal's author(s) obtain the resources needed to make the effort successful.
The Undergraduate Policy Committee supports those who seek to improve curriculum and teaching in the College. It is our responsibility to work with interested faculty to make new and better things happen. We are pledged to a supportive reading of all proposals and to finding ways to turn good ideas into meaningful change.
In your proposal please include the following. Proposals may be submitted at any time. The committee aims to respond to proposals within two weeks.