Committee Description and Responsibilities. The Curriculum Committee reviews courses and programs that contribute to the earning of degrees. The committee reviews but does not initiate proposals that change curricula.
Members of the Curriculum Committee are also members of the Instruction Committee and attend Instruction Committee meetings.
Committee Structure and Support. The Curriculum Committee consists of five full-time faculty members who are nominated and elected by the Faculty Meeting. Ex-officio members from the Registrar's Office and academic leadership, and representatives of the Student Alliances may also serve. One faculty member is appointed Chair by the Provost. Each division is represented by at least one faculty member.
The committee is supported by Susanna Williams in Academic Administration, who determines that all submissions in Coursedog are complete, arranges agendae, attends meetings to document and communicate committee decisions and requests for additional information.
Process. Materials are submitted in Coursedog and Division offices and Academic Administration determine that all submissions are complete before committee members review them in preparation for each meeting. The support staff attends meetings to document and communicate about committee decisions, and requests for additional information and revisions.
Role of the Committee. The role of the RISD Curriculum Committee is to provide college-wide peer review of changes to degree program courses and curricula.
The committee is charged with reviewing:
Changes to curriculum
New concentrations: curriculum and courses
New programs: curriculum and courses
Proposals for non-required (elective) courses that have been offered once as a trial course and are being offered for a second time
Proposals for required courses that are being offered for the first time
Revisions to already established courses
The committee does not review:
First-time elective course offerings (considered trial courses)
Liberal Arts elective courses (except graduate level courses)
Non-degree programs, such as post-baccalaureate programs
Wintersession elective offerings
Independent Study Proposals
Collaborative Study Proposals
Internships
Content of sections of special topics courses, e.g. Industrial Design Special Topic Design Studio, once initial approval for the course framework is given
Minor changes to course descriptions