change_major_geoc.html

University of Connecticut
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Committee on Curricula and Courses

Proposal to Change an existing Major to include GEOC competencies
Last revised: Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Background (may be deleted when proposal is submitted): As part of the transition to the new General Education requirements, to begin in fall semester 2005, all majors need to be revised so as to advise students of how the following three competencies may be met within that major:
(1) Computer Technology Competency
(2) Information Literacy Competency
(3) "Writing in the Major"
Relevant information, including fact sheets, instructions, and forms may be downloaded from the GEOC website: http://senate.uconn.edu/GEOCcompreq.htm

CLAS CC&C approval is required for the three GEOC forms that explain how each of these three competencies will be met. These forms are included as three appendices to this document. Once CLAS CC&C has approved such forms, the forms must be submitted to GEOC. The form "Writing in the Major" requires further approval by GEOC before final catalog copy can be submitted to the catalog editor. The other two forms (Computer Technology and Information Literacy) are for the information of GEOC and do not require further approval.

To complete the required documents for the CLAS C&C committee, appropriate representatives for each major should first fill out the three GEOC forms included as appendices to this document, using appropriate GEOC fact sheets and instructions from the GEOC website. Once that is done, the current catalog language describing the major should be revised to include relevant instructions for students. Do not simply copy and paste from the GEOC forms! Catalog language should be concise, short, and provide explicit directions for students without justification. One or a few sentences will generally suffice. For example, catalog language for a major might be revised to include the following single sentence: "To satisfy the Computer Technology competency, all students must take one of the following courses: DEPT 223, 240, 241, 267, or 290." The GEOC form would include a more substantial listing of the names of relevant courses, explanation of their appropriateness, and other information explaining the department's position.

Submit the four completed forms (three GEOC forms and one CLAS form) to the CLAS C&C committee as a package. Please submit complete package by Oct. 1, 2004 as an e-mail attachment to CLAS CC&C chair Thomas Terry (thomas.terry@uconn.edu). This early deadline will allow sufficient time for review, possible changes, and submission to GEOC once approved by CLAS.

See "Instructions for completing CLAS CC&C forms" for general instructions and specific notes.

Proposal (delete background instructions above when submitting proposal)

1. Date:
2. Department requesting this change:
3. Title of Major:
4. Nature of Change:
5. Existing catalog Description of the Major:
6. Proposed catalog Description of the Major:
7. Effective Date (semester, year -- see Note R):
    (Note that changes will be effective immediately unless a specific date is requested.)

Justification
1. Why is a change required?
2. What is the impact on students?
3. What is the impact on regional campuses?
4. Dates approved by (see Note Q):
    Department Curriculum Committee:
    Department Faculty:
5. Name, Phone Number, and e-mail address of principal contact person:
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Appendix 1: GEOC Program Plan For Computer Technology Competency

• For instructions, see “GEOC competency requirements; Computer Technology Competency Instruction Sheet” at: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~wwwsenat/GEOC.htm
• To be completed by each Major Program. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of Major Programs.
• Plans must be approved by the School/College
• Plans are not approved by GEOC but are archived by GEOC for future oversight.
• Return the completed form by e-mail to GEOC at geoc@uconn.edu no later than Oct. 15, 2004 AFTER approval by the School/College)
• Submit revised catalog copy for major requirements to marianne.buck@uconn.edu by Nov. 1, 2004.

Major Program ________________________

The Computer Technology Competency Exit Expectations of the Major Program:

_______ Will not go beyond the University's Entrance Expectations.

_______ Will add the following expectations beyond the University’s Entrance Expectations (Provide a brief description of the program's expectations and how they will be fulfilled).

Date of Approval by Faculty or Appropriate Faculty Committee_______________

Date of Approval by School/College C&C Committee_________________

Major Program contact person _________________

Date Submitted to GEOC ___________

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Appendix 2: GEOC Program Plan For Information Literacy

• For instructions, see “GEOC competency requirements; Information Literacy Instruction Sheet” at: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~wwwsenat/GEOC.htm
• To be completed by each Major Program. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of Major Programs.
• Plans must be approved by the School/College
• Plans are not approved by GEOC but are archived by GEOC for future oversight.
• Return the completed form by e-mail to GEOC at geoc@uconn.edu no later than Oct. 15, 2004 AFTER approval by the School/College)
• Submit revised catalog copy for major requirements to marianne.buck@uconn.edu by Nov. 1, 2004.

Major Program ___________________________

Briefly describe how Information Literacy will be taught within your major program. List courses in which these skills will be embedded.

Are all these courses required of your students? If not, how will you assure that all students attain the exit expectations for Information Literacy.

Date of Approval by Faculty or Appropriate Faculty Committee_______________

Date of Approval by School/College C&C Committee_________________

Major Program contact person _________________

Date Submitted to GEOC ____________________
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Appendix 3: GEOC Program Plan for the “Writing in the Major” General Education Requirement

• For instructions, see “GEOC competency requirements; ‘Writing in the Major’ Instruction Sheet” at: http://www.sp.uconn.edu/~wwwsenat/GEOC.htm
• To be completed by each program that offers a Major. See the Undergraduate Catalog for a list of Major Programs.
• Plans must be approved by the School/College prior to submission to GEOC.
• Plans must be approved by GEOC and will be archived for future oversight.
• Return the completed form by e-mail to GEOC at geoc@uconn.edu no later than Oct. 15, 2004.
• Submit revised catalog copy for major requirements to marianne.buck@uconn.edu by Nov. 1, 2004.

Major Program ___________________________

1. List the 200-level W courses or their equivalents ( See Instruction Sheet) which students in the major program may use to satisfy the university general education requirement of a 200-level writing intensive course in the major (or related) field of study. (The options listed here must be approved by GEOC and the University Senate. See instruction sheet.)

2. Briefly explain how the writing components of the courses listed above are central to the major program, particularly for courses offered by related programs. (For example, a course offered by MCB might teach writing of a form and content that is also central to the major in PNB. Explain the relevance.)

3. If any courses listed above are offered by an academic unit that does not normally provide resources for the major program, attach a letter of agreement from the appropriate Dean, Director, or Department Head.