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Subcommittee on Graduate Course and Curriculum (GCC)

Formerly Graduate Curriculum Committee

GCC responsibilities include review and approval of graduate credit course proposals. See the complete Definition and Duties below.

The GCC also maintains the requirements for new undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Spring 2008 Meeting Schedule

Date	Time	Location	Proposals Due
February 8	9:15-10:45 a.m.	Mitchell 245	January 25
March 7	9:15-10:45 a.m.	Mitchell 245	February 22
April 11	9:15-10:45 a.m.	Mitchell 245	March 28
May 9	9:15-10:45 a.m.	Mitchell 245	April 25

Proposals for course and program additions, changes, and deletions which are subject to action by the Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee must arrive in Mitchell 243 with appropriate department and school/college approvals by the above dates.

Agendas and Minutes

Download archived meeting agendas and minutes.

--Download Agendas-- May 9 April 11 March 7 February 8 December 20 December 6 October 31 October 4 December 12 November 27 September 25 May 15 April 13 February 27 January 30 December 19 November 28 September 26 May 19 April 21 February 17 January 20 November 19 October 22 September 24 May 20 April 29 March 29 February 19 February 02 December 19 November 21 October 24 September 19

--Download Minutes-- May 14 April 23 March 26 February 26 January 25 December 12 November 27 October 24 September 25 May 15 April 13 February 27 January 30 December 19 November 28 September 26 May 19 April 21 February 17 January 20 November 19 October 22 September 24 May 20 April 29 March 29 February 19 February 02 December 19 November 21 October 24 September 19

2007-08 Roster

Name	College, School, or Department	Term Expiration
Joseph Aldstadt	Chemistry & Biochemistry	May 2010
Michael Brondino	Social Work	May 2009
Nancy File	Curriculum and Instruction	May 2009
Fred Helmstetter	Psychology	May 2009
James Wasley	Architecture	May 2010
Lei Ying	Electrical Engineering	May 2010
Huimin Zhao	Business Administration	May 2008
Robin Poedel	Student Member, Nursing	May 2008
Gwat-Yong Lie, ex officio	Graduate School	--

Definition & Duties

The Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee (GCC) has the responsibility for reviewing and approving graduate credit course proposals initiated by department or other academic units, as delegated by the Graduate Faculty Committee. It also reviews and makes recommendations regarding new graduate program proposals and program modifications to the Graduate Faculty Committee, and has the authority to bring GCC policy decisions before the Graduate Faculty Committee for discussion and action. It has the authority to identify issues affecting graduate education to be brought to the Graduate Faculty Committee for resolution, action, or advisement. It also has authority over the Multidisciplinary Committee-Directed PhD program.

The GCC reviews recommendations for modification of Graduate School regulations and requirements for student admission, continuation, graduation, Graduate Faculty credentialing, and similar issues forwarded by departments or other Graduate Faculty Committee subcommittees. It acts in an advisory capacity to the Graduate Faculty Committee, providing consultation and information on issues relating to Graduate School regulations and requirements; and it has the authority to bring motions before the Graduate Faculty Committee for discussion and action.

Membership

Seven members with Graduate Faculty status appointed by the Chairperson of the Graduate Faculty Committee, subject to the approval of the Committee; one graduate student, the Dean and his/her designee as ex officio, non-voting members. Members of the GCC should reflect the range of disciplinary competencies in the University and represent the several schools and colleges insofar as the size of the Subcommittee allows. The appointments each year include one graduate student, and two members appointed each year for three-year terms in order to maintain a staggered terms sequence. The Chairperson of GCC is appointed from the membership of the Graduate Faculty Committee by the GFC Chairperson for a three-year term whenever possible to ensure the continuity achieved by the staggered terms of the members of the Subcommittee.

Functions

1. Subject to policy decisions by the Graduate Faculty Committee, the Subcommittee exercises authority delegated by the Committee in the form of exclusive review and approval jurisdiction over graduate credit course proposals initiated by departments or other academic units.
2. The GCC establishes procedures and criteria for the review and approval of graduate course proposals, including additions, modifications, and deletions. See Course Action Request Manual for further information.
3. The Subcommittee may make policy recommendations to the GFC concerning graduate education on its own initiative, at the direction of the Committee, or on request of the administration of the Graduate School.
4. The GCC reviews program modifications and new program requests and makes recommendations to the Graduate Faculty Committee.
5. Multidisciplinary Committee-Directed PhD Program. The Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee reviews and approves applications for this program, as submitted by the Dean of the Graduate School. The Subcommittee is to make the best judgment possible on the academic merit of the proposed multidisciplinary program. The GCC and the Dean must satisfy themselves that the proposed program cannot be carried out within an established doctoral program. The GCC must further approve the membership of the student's supervisory committee, guided by considerations of the committee members' expertise in proposed areas of study and their commitment to the student's program.
6. The Subcommittee undertakes and maintains a continuing review of Graduate School regulations and requirements with general application to student admission, continuation, and graduation, and the academic operation of UWM graduate programs.
7. On its own initiative, or at the direction of the Graduate Faculty Committee, the GCC periodically recommends appropriate changes in regulations and requirements for review and approval by the Committee, for subsequent publication on the Graduate School Web site.
8. The Subcommittee advises the administration of the Graduate School concerning formulation of policies and procedures as related to academic regulations and requirements approved by the Graduate Faculty Committee.
9. The GCC annually reviews the list of members of the Faculty of the Graduate School as submitted by departments in accordance with Chapter 2.06 (1) of UWM Policies and Procedures.
10. At the first meeting of the Graduate Faculty Committee during each academic year, the GCC recommends for Committee approval the names of individuals who meet the qualifications for Graduate Faculty membership.
11. The Subcommittee periodically recommends additions or other modifications to the approved annual list of Graduate Faculty membership based on names submitted by departments.
12. The GCC makes an annual report to the Graduate Faculty Committee. Special reports may be made at the direction of the Committee or on the initiative of the GCC.

Procedures

At least biennially, the Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee prepares a detailed procedure manual. All procedures followed by the GCC and approved by the Graduate Faculty Committee are included in this manual. A copy is available from the Graduate School (Mitchell 261).

Additional Course Regulations

Course proposals from departments not offering graduate degree programs: proposals from departments whose graduate course offerings will not total more than 14 credits will be referred directly to the Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee. Proposals for courses in existing sequences of more than 14 credits must be accompanied by a justification explaining the need for extensive graduate course offerings in the absence of an approved graduate program. Proposals involving such sequences will be reviewed by the Graduate Faculty Committee, Campus Administration and the Regents.

On the matter referred to the GCC by the GFC on November 15, 1971, and March 20, 1972, as to whether there should be guidelines concerning the number of graduate courses offered by departments without graduate programs, the GCC recommended that no definite number be set but that course proposals from such departments should receive special attention. The Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee will normally give favorable consideration to those courses for which definite and conclusive evidence of need in one or more existing graduate programs is shown. Any department has the privilege of appeal to the Graduate Faculty Committee if it is dissatisfied with a ruling of the Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee. (GFC Minutes, 5-15-72)

Process

The Graduate Course and Curriculum Subcommittee receives and reviews recommendations for modifications of Graduate School policies and procedures received from the other GFC subcommittees. The GCC makes recommendations to the GFC.

(GFC Docs. 29, 2/20/72; 31, 4/17/72; 37, 5/15/72; 38, Rev. 10/15/90; 422, 12/10/84; 670, 4/17/95 and Rev. 5/11/98; 853, 4/16/01)

Requirements for New Undergraduate and Graduate Level Courses

Source: Graduate Faculty Committee Document No. 916

Approved March 31, 2003

U/G course proposals must include differential requirements and their associated grading schemes for graduate and undergraduate students. (Separate syllabi for graduate and undergraduate students are recommended.)

U/G Course Proposal Form

G-only Course Proposal Form

Examples of appropriate learning opportunities for graduate students in such courses include:

• Meeting with graduate students outside of the scheduled class time
• Holding Web-based discussions among the graduate students
• Requiring graduate students to critically analyze current literature in the field
• Having graduate students lead a discussion or give a presentation
• Having graduate students complete a more complicated or sophisticated design or laboratory project
• Writing a substantial research paper

For graduate students in U/G courses, approximately 1/3 of the grade shall be based on requirements that differ from those of undergraduates.

Rationale

Courses offered for credit to both undergraduate and graduate students must be structured in ways that provide appropriate learning opportunities for both groups. Graduate students should be asked to complete course requirements that are consistent with the goals of graduate education in their chosen fields (e.g. mastery of knowledge, creative scholarship, research competence). Simply assigning different weights to the same set of requirements for undergraduate and graduate students, or requiring more pages for a paper are generally insufficient on their own as bases of differentiation.

Required Elements for New Undergraduate/Graduate (U/G) or Graduate-level-only (G) Course Proposals

New U/G and G course proposals must be accompanied by the following materials:

1. A course outline including information about
   • Content: Course description, brief list of topics to be covered, and major readings to be assigned
   • Types of skills and/or knowledge that students are expected to acquire
   • Context: explanation of the department's reasons for adding the course, how the course will fit into its curriculum, and where applicable, other curricular changes associated with the introduction of this course.
   • Requirements: exams, papers, projects, etc.
   • Grading formula
   • Format: lecture, discussion, lab, other teaching methods and learning experiences. For distance learning and hybrid courses, document how student-to-instructor, student-to-content, and student-to-student interactions will take place.
   • Variable topics courses should include complete information for one subtitle as outlined above, and two other potential subtitles should be identified.
2. A brief curriculum vita for the initial instructor providing evidence that he or she has the necessary scholarly credentials to teach the course. Those who teach combined U/G courses should be members of the graduate faculty.