Academic Affairs
Due Dates for Permanent Course Proposals
Please note: Beginning in AY 24-25, there is no longer a distinction between "permanent" and "one-time" proposals. All approved new courses will be entered in the catalog.
Faculty must submit new course proposals at least two terms before the course will be offered, with the exception of new faculty in their first year and adjuncts, who may submit proposals for courses that will be offered in the following term. Other exceptions to the two-term deadline may be considered on a case-by-case basis; exceptional circumstances might include an unexpected change in department staffing, or a sudden program alteration that necessitates quickly offering a new course.
No matter when the course will be offered, all new course proposals are due by the dates shown below. All new course proposals submitted by these deadlines will be reviewed by the Academic Affairs Committee.
- September 24, 2024 for courses being offered in Spring 2025
- January 24, 2025 for courses being offered in Fall 2025
- April 18, 2025 for courses being offered in Winter 2026
Submission Guidelines
- Faculty members must contact the Registrar's Office at registrar@union.edu to obtain a course number for the new course before starting the form. If the course will be an ISC course, please contact the Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at interdisciplinarystudies@union.edu to obtain a course number.
- The form can be saved and you can go back later to complete the form within 30 days. After this time you will have to start over again.
- Attach a course syllabus that includes:
- student learning objectives
- the general education learning outcomes (if applicable)
- a list of textbooks and/or assigned readings
- a one-page schedule showing assignments and exams for the ten-week term
- honor code language
- accommodations language
- a grade scale (A = 9x-100, A- = 9x-9x, etc.)
- Indicate on this form whether you want the new course to have a WAC, WAC-R, or WS designation
- Indicate on this form whether you want the new course to be cross-counted or cross-listed for another department or program
- To obtain the new General Education credits, you must submit a separate form in addition to submitting your new course proposal form. You can submit both forms at the same time, i.e. do not wait until your course is approved before you apply for the new General Education credits.
Review and Approval Process
Each Approver will receive an email via FormStack notifying them that there is a proposal to be reviewed. The email will come from Course Proposals <noreply@formstack.com>" with the subject format "Course Proposal Submission #xx - Workflow step X has been assigned to you".
As an approver, you will have to log in to FormStack with your Union College username and password to complete your assigned workflow step.
The proposal does not move to the next step in the workflow until the previous step is completed. Thank you for your help in keeping the approval process moving!
Step 1: Department Chair
Step 2: Additional departments and programs (if any)
Step 3: WAC (if selected)
Step 4: AAC Subcouncil on Courses and Programs
Step 5: AAC
Step 6: Dean of Academic Departments and Programs (final approval)
After the course has received final approval, a copy of the proposal will be emailed via Formstack to the submitter, approvers, and the Registrar's Office.
Approver Instructions
Click on the link in the email notifying you there is a pending proposal. You will be asked to log in to Formstack using your Union username and password.
Review the completed form. Please review new course proposals promptly so that they can move to the next approver. Thank you for helping ot keep the proposal process moving.
After reviewing the proposal, either 'Approve,' 'Changes Required,' or 'Deny' at the bottom of the form. If you select 'Changes Required' or 'Deny,' you will be prompted for more information.
Approver Permissions and Workflow
Department Chair: approve, changes required, or deny
If the Department Chair approves, it will move on to the next approver. If changes are required, it will be sent back to the submitter with *comments* for revisions. The proposal is then resubmitted to the Department Chair for approval. If the proposal is denied, an email notification is sent to the submitter and no further actions are required.
Additional Departments/Programs, ISP, International Programs, and WAC:
- Additional departments/programs can only approve or decline whether a new course can be cross-counted or cross-listed. This will not affect the overall approval process.
- The Director of Writing Programs will review any new course seeking WAC, WAC-R, or WS designation and reach out with any concerns. This will not affect the overall approval process.
- The Director of Interdisciplinary Programs will receive notification of all new courses submitted.
- The Director of International Programs will receive notification of any new course connected to a term abroad.
- Comments from previous approvers will remain as part of the proposal and will be visible to all participants.