This policy defines the parameters by which course subject listings are established, renamed, reorganized, and/or discontinued. The purpose of this policy is to ensure disciplinary and curricular consistency across the university’s Course Subject Listings.

Each course subject listing is associated with an academic unit that is responsible for the subject listing.

A proposal to establish, rename, restructure, and/or discontinue a course subject listing must be reviewed and approved by the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) and subsequently presented to the University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) for consent.

Establishing a Course Subject Listing

A proposal for a new course subject listing must be submitted via Lumen Structures. The proposal must identify the academic unit for the course subject listing and must include the following:

• How/why the proposed course subject listing is necessary to support course enrollment by students.
• A list of the courses anticipated to be included in the new course subject listing.
• Most courses are to be uniquely offered under the new course subject listing. Some cross-listed courses can be included when applicable. An explanation as to how the courses to be included in the course subject listing represent a distinct group of courses not duplicated in an existing course subject listing.
• Evidence that the academic unit is stable with a long-term academic and resource foundation.
• Evidence of faculty and staff expertise, continuity, and availability required to maintain a course subject listing.
  • This includes identification of a curricular representative who is trained and responsible for maintaining the course subject listing and coordinating/managing the following:
    • Course details (e.g., requisites) and the schedule of classes, and
    • Course information for the Course Search and Enroll app,
    • Communication to students and advisors, and
    • Course enrollment, and/or
    • Classroom scheduling.
• Evidence that department faculty will be involved in course instruction.

If the proposed course subject listing overlaps with established course subject listings, e.g., a related field of study or similar curricular content, a similar name, etc., the proposal must be reviewed by the academic division and academic unit associated with the existing listing(s), and documentation of comment, support, or concurrence must be included in the proposal.

Renaming, Reorganizing, or Discontinuing a Course Subject Listing

A proposal to rename, reorganize, or discontinue a course subject listing must be submitted via Lumen Structures. If approved, the proposal will become effective in a future summer term. The proposal must include the following:

• The rationale for the action, including the impact on students.
• A timeline for the action, including in which summer term it will become effective.
• Details on any fiscal considerations and/or impacts on faculty and staff resources.
• Evidence of consultation with units with overlapping interests (see above).
• Necessary approvals from the academic division and academic unit.

Cross-Listed Courses

A cross-listed course is shared by multiple course subject listings. There is no requirement that a course be cross-listed, even when it meets the criteria for cross-listing. Cross-listing is generally reserved for courses that are taught with an inter-or multi-disciplinary framework and that appropriately belong in multiple subject listings. There may be occasions when cross-listing courses serve the broader goals of departments/programs, and since the responsibility for managing their Course Subject listings rests on these units, they bear responsibility for determining the proper use of cross-listing.

The following conditions are expected to be met for cross-listed courses:

1. All course information related to the cross-listed courses must be identical, including course number, title, credits , requisites, and attributes.
2. Cross-listed courses are owned equally by each cross-listed subject. One subject is not a “primary” owner.
3. Faculty associated with a department owning the Course Subject Listing in the cross-listing teach the course.
4. Any of the departments participating in the cross-listing has the potential to offer the course independently.
5. The subject matter must be appropriate and relevant to fields represented by the participating departments.

Connections between programs and interests must be sufficient for cross-listing courses across subject listings. The cross-listing of courses increases the complexity of scheduling classes and adds to staff workload. This must be taken into consideration prior to the submission of a proposal for cross-listing.

Lumen and Guide KB-86193 Lumen Structures: Forms and Actions

Academic programs and subject listings are associated with academic units. This relationship is critical in linking academic activity to the academic unit for purposes of administration, evaluation, governance, and resource allocation, among others.

Academic units must meet the standards of a department or department-like unit as defined in UW-805 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 5, and be housed within an academic division per UW-803, Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 3. A record of any change made to an academic program or subject listing’s association with an academic unit must be documented and approved through governance.

A proposal to change the association between an academic program or subject listing and an academic unit must be originated by either the current or proposed unit. Memos that document faculty governance votes at the academic unit level and academic division level must accompany the proposal. A change to the academic unit for an academic program is made in Lumen Programs. A change to a subject listing is made through Lumen Structures.

If a change of academic home is embedded in a larger restructuring proposal, the proposal must include these same points.

Procedures: Change of Academic/Administrative Home for Academic Programs and Subject Listings