Current Policy
The Governance Manual nor the College Catalog address
guidelines or procedures for Departmental Curriculum Committees to
follow, for the development, maintenance, or approval, of Departmental
"Handbooks" or "Guidebooks". There are no established standards to follow
for the development of these support materials. This committee considers
that the University Catalog is a vinding contract with the student. Proposal
Departments should ensure that handbooks are consistent with the
"Blue Sheet for Departmental Requirements" and the Catalog.
Recent changes to degree requirements not reflected in the catalog
must have received proper approval in order to be viewed as supplemental
to the binding contract.
Rationale
Faculty members in Academic Departments have found it beneficial to
elaborate on curricular requirements and compile these requirements into
the form of a handbook or guidebook. These detailed requirements are
provided to the students and designed to be used as an advisement tool.
Having an understanding that the curriculum is in a state of constant
change, it becomes the responsibility of the Departmental Curriculum
Committee to ensure that the handbook/guidebook is consistent with the
College Catalog. Based on the small number of inconsistencies
noted between the Catalog and departmental handbooks/guidebooks,
no action is recommended at this time for a central screening process.