Curricular Approval Procedures

Curricular Routing Document

Curriculum Management System

• All curriculum proposals should be submitted through the Modern Campus Curriculum System. Information can be found at NIU Curriculum. Proposals in the Curriculum System are intended to change the academic catalog. Requests to change other websites outside of the academic catalog do not use the Curriculum System.
• Proposals move through the system similarly to how they would move through the campus approval process. The system does not replace any specific bylaws or processes of departments/colleges and voting/approving at various levels should still adhere to the individual requirements of those steps.
• Information on exact routing, specific questions on forms, or website functionality can be brought to the Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator.

Department

• The faculty of a department is responsible for initiating curricular changes in most instances. On the rare occasions when other levels assume the initiative that directly affects the department curriculum committee and department faculty, then a timely notice of the suggested changes should occur.
  • Correct procedures for formal approval of changes at the department level are normally detailed in the bylaws of the department.
  • Prior consideration at college and university levels is necessary for changes requiring additional budgetary resources and changes involving the development of new units of instruction.
• Consequences of changes must be addressed so that
  • Necessary changes in the department's own units of instruction are noted (courses and hours required, etc.).
  • Other departments and colleges whose units of instruction and/or resources may be affected have an opportunity to respond formally before action on approval is taken at higher levels. This includes adding courses to program requirements and prerequisites/corequisites; revising course designators or course numbers; and deleting courses. A lack of response will be interpreted as an absence of concern. Any stated concerns should trigger immediate dialogue to resolve them.
• Proposals for changing the curriculum are written as changes in the appropriate catalog (undergraduate and/or graduate) and are forwarded to the college curriculum committee. (The procedures in this item do not apply to the College of Law.)

College

• The basic reporting instruments are the Curriculum Management System notifications indicating proposal progress through the system. Seek official minutes for additional context.
  • The university community has access to the system and can use the filtering features to find proposals.
• Minutes should indicate the college, the committee, the date, and the year and number of the meeting (e.g., LA&S College Curriculum Committee, September 6, 1988, 1988-89 #2).
• Minutes of the BC/GC/ General Education Committee (GEC) are posted online through the Faculty Senate website.
• Proposals for new degrees or majors follow the current Illinois Board of Higher Education format. Questions on the processes should be addressed to the office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

Graduate

• Graduate curricular changes are reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council (GC). This body receives and approves respective graduate curricular recommendations directly from the colleges, via the Curriculum Management System (Curriculog), supported by the Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator.
• By most accounts, course/program proposals follow the same process and procedures as undergraduate proposals where approval is needed by the department, college, and appropriate university-level committees/bodies.
• It is prohibited to request changes to the current catalog except on rare occasions. Requesting changes to the upcoming catalog after the deadlines have passed is treated as an exception.
• Consent Agendas are created and are not voted on. Consent Agendas are for informational purposes. Consent Agenda Criteria can be found at Curriculum.
• The Graduate School will send a copy of the minutes of the Graduate Council (GC) to the Faculty Senate to be posted online for community access.

Undergraduate

• Undergraduate curricular changes are reviewed and approved by the Baccalaureate Council (BC). The General Education Committee (GEC) reviews and approves all curricular changes related to the general education programs and courses. These bodies receive and approve respective undergraduate curricular recommendations directly from the colleges, via the Curriculum Management System supported by the Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator.
• All changes which should appear in subsequent undergraduate catalogs shall be recorded in the minutes of the appropriate council or committee.
• Consent Agendas are created and are not voted on for informational purposes. Consent Agenda Criteria can be found at Curriculum.
• It is prohibited to request changes to the current catalog except on rare occasions. Requesting changes to the upcoming catalog after the deadlines have passed is treated as an exception.
• The Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator will send a copy of the minutes of the Baccalaureate Council (BC) to the Faculty Senate to be posted online for community access.

Board of Trustees/Illinois Board of Higher Education

• A recommendation requiring board approval must first be approved by the department, college, and appropriate university committees and councils. It is then transmitted through the Office of the Provost to the President and to the Board of Trustees (which transmits it to the Board of Higher Education when appropriate.)
• Items that require Board of Trustees approval (and may require Board of Higher Education approval) are outlined in the NIU Board of Trustees Regulations Section I.C.a.2.
• Minutes of the Baccalaureate Council and the Graduate Council Curriculum Committee are used to announce Board of Trustees and Board of Higher Education actions on NIU academic programs submitted to them.

(See also Article 13: Academic Councils of the University in the University Bylaws for the governance structure, duties, and composition of councils and committees.)

• Approved by Graduate Council, March 2, 1992 
• Approved by Undergraduate Coordinating Council, April 30, 1992 
• Latest editorial modifications, June 5, 1997; February 6, 2004, August 14, 2007
• Last Updated: November 6, 2012
• Revisions approved by the Undergraduate Coordinating Council, May 1, 2014
• Revisions approved by the Graduate Council December 1, 2014
• Revisions approved by the Baccalaureate Council September 8, 2016
• Editorial modification: October 16, 2017
• Revisions based on changes approved by the Board of Trustees March 5, 2020
• Modified and approved by the Baccalaureate Council (November 14, 2024) and the Graduate Council (February 3, 2025)