Interdisciplinary Course Proposals Sought for 2008-09

Proposals are now being solicited for existing or experimental interdisciplinary courses to be offered under the UNIV prefix during the coming academic year (AY 2008-09). UNIV courses are administered by the Academic Programs office. The offerings will be subject to available funding, which may be sufficient to support around 2-3 courses in each of the three AY quarters.

Criteria

While it is not essential that all criteria be satisfied, the selection of UNIV course offerings will be based on the existence of a reasonable fit with the following (which are listed in no particular order):

1. Courses should appeal to a wide range of students. (Typically they should be GE and/or USCP certified, with a targeted student audience from majors that are in at least two different colleges.)
2. Courses should be team-taught or, at a minimum, have the potential to be taught at different times by individuals from different colleges.
3. Courses should be available to as many students as possible, depending on the nature of the course and the number of instructors involved. (For example, a writing-intensive course with two instructors should be offered in a section accommodating at least 46 students; a non-writing-intensive course with multiple instructors should accommodate a substantially larger number of students, possibly using "break-out" sessions or recitations for discussions or other activities.)
4. Courses should address one or more of Cal Poly’s institutional learning objectives. Especially encouraged for 2008-09 are courses that address one or more components of the following learning objective: " …Make reasoned decisions based on an understanding of ethics, a respect for diversity, and an awareness of issues relating to sustainability."

Proposals for repeat offerings of UNIV courses will be considered; however, given limited funding, no long-term commitments can be made.

Instructors offering courses under the UNIV prefix are expected to conduct student evaluations in all sections, using an instrument provided by the Academic Programs office.

Process

Submissions should be made to Vice Provost David Conn as follows:

• fall quarter, 2008: existing course submissions are due no later than noon on Wednesday, February 20, 2008; experimental course submissions are due no later than noon on Monday, February 18, 2008.
• winter or spring, 2009: preliminary notification of intent no later than noon on Monday, March 3, 2008; complete submission no later than noon on Friday, April 4, 2008.
• Consent of instrutor's department head is required for all courses. SCU generation will be credited to UNIV, not to the home departments.
• Note: adjustments to these deadlines have been made since publication of an earlier version in the Cal Poly Report. Please observe these deadlines.

Existing Course Complete Submissions

Each existing course submission should consist of:

1. the quarter (or quarters) in which the course would be offered;
2. the number of students to be accommodated in a section;
3. the names and departments of proposed instructors;
4. the funding, if any, sought to replace each instructor (measured in WTUs).

Experimental Course Complete Submissions

Each experimental course submission should consist of:

1. The standard course description form;
2. A memo specifying:
   1. a brief rationale for offering the course under the UNIV prefix, in light of the criteria listed above;
   2. the quarter (or quarters) in which the course would be offered;
   3. the targeted student audience;
   4. the number of students to be accommodated in a section;
   5. the names and departments of proposed instructors;
   6. the funding, if any, sought to replace each instructor (measured in WTUs).

As in the past, the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee will be involved in reviewing the proposals for experimental courses. Our intent will be to provide notification of the results before proposed schedules (for the relevant quarter) are due at University Scheduling.

Preliminary notification

Preliminary notification, required for courses that will be proposed for winter or spring 2009, should consist of as much of the above information as possible, in draft form. At a minimum, an email should be sent indicating that a proposal is in preparation.