Standard Number 3.4.12: The institution places primary responsibility for the content, quality, and effectiveness of its curriculum with its faculty.

Full Compliance

In the Board of Regents Policy Manual (§ 301) , the Board of Regents devolves responsibility for developing and administering the academic business of the University System institutions to the presidents and their respective deans and faculties. Georgia Southern's Statutes (Article VI, § I) declare that it is the responsibility of the faculty in each college to establish entrance requirements, define courses of study, establish requirements for degrees offered in the college, provide guidance and advisement to the students in the college, and adopt regulations to govern its own procedures for the orderly and efficient administration of the college. Article IV, § 2, of the Statutes further states that the faculty are responsible for regulations affecting academic activities, the general educational policy of the University, the welfare of the faculty, and related matters that maintain and promote the best interests of the faculty and of the University, and specifies the Faculty Senate as the representative and legislative agency of the faculty.

The University publishes general guidelines and policies that govern program curricula in the Faculty Handbook (see § 300, p. 48) and, building upon these policies and guidelines, each college has developed its own set of policies unique to the disciplines represented within that college. These publications denote the college curriculum committee structure as well as the procedures for adding, deleting, or changing courses, curricula, programs, or degrees. College committees are staffed by full-time faculty members representing the various departmental units. It is the responsibility of the college curriculum committees to review and monitor each college's undergraduate and graduate curricula to ensure that programs are consistent with the mission of the college and the availability of resources, that the curricula support programs of strong academic integrity, and that curricula are subject to continuous review and enhancement. These committees make recommendations to their respective college faculties regarding appropriate curriculum and minimum requirements for degrees and admission. If college faculty approve these recommendations, the next level of review occurs at either the University Undergraduate Committee or the University Graduate Committee —both of which are standing committees of the Faculty Senate. These committees are composed of representatives from all of the colleges and the library.

As charged by the Faculty Senate in the Faculty Senate ByLaws , the Undergraduate Committee has responsibility for recommending to the Faculty Senate policy and procedures concerning undergraduate programs and curricula; review and approve all changes in undergraduate courses, major and minor programs, emphases, concentrations, and degrees; and maintain continuous review of all undergraduate academic programs. Similarly, the Graduate Committee's charge is to recommend policy and procedures concerning graduate programs and curricula and maintain continuous review of such programs; review and approve all changes to graduate courses, graduate programs, and degrees; and review and approve policies for the appointment and retention of faculty members to the Graduate Faculty. Pending full Faculty Senate approval, these Committee recommendations are then forwarded to the Provost and President for their review and approval.