Faculty Handbook

Program Discontinuance Procedures

A.  A department, the Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Standards, the Graduate Council, the University Senate, or the University President may initiate a recommendation for program discontinuance.

B.  For functional purposes at this institution and for the term of the current CSU-AAUP contract, the term “program” shall refer to those programs for which program sheets exist* and any program sheets subsequently approved; discontinuance of minors in departments which do not have majors (e.g., Philosophy and Humanistic Studies) shall also follow the procedure outlined below.

C.  Any recommendation for program discontinuance shall be first reviewed by the Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Standards or the Graduate Council to determine specific courses which would be affected and the effect of those discontinued courses on the other University programs. For the purposes of evaluating discontinuance, elimination of individual courses shall not be viewed as discontinuance. Only the request to eliminate groups of related courses, which would de facto force the discontinuance of any group, shall be viewed as discontinuance.

D.  The Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Standards or the Graduate Council shall:

    1. List all courses in the program which might be discontinued.
    2. Note those courses which are part of the common core.
    3. Note those courses which are required in other programs and list the departments and programs so affected.
    4. State the current status of the accreditation or licensure of the program.
    5. Develop a timetable (within the framework noted in 6. and 8. below) both for other committees and groups to report back to Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Standards or the Graduate Council and for the relevant committee to complete its own report and recommendations to the University Senate.
    6. Send copies of the initial statement of the impact of program discontinuance on all courses and departments affected along with the timetable for completing all reports and recommendations to the following:

      a.  University Planning & Budgeting Committee.

      b.  Schools concerned.

      c.  Department(s) concerned.

      d.  SGA.

    7. Send a cover letter and copies of the initial statement of the impact of program discontinuance on all courses and departments affected, along with the timetable for completing all reports and recommendations to the University President and the University Senate President.

E.  Within a period of time specified by the Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Standards or the Graduate Council, the above mentioned groups shall examine the proposal for program discontinuance and determine if it is based on bona fide educational considerations. The reports submitted to CUCAS or the Graduate Council by the various groups shall include the following:

    1. University Planning & Budgeting Committee
      • Institutional funding and support with reference to: faculty positions, student recruitment procedures, equipment budget, library budget, funding for program advertising.
      • Alternative arrangements for some program continuance and faculty support (i.e., liaison with one of the other units of the Connecticut State University, etc.).
      • Effect on accreditation, certification or licensure.
    2. Schools
      • The effect on any students currently enrolled.
      • The effect on any other programs if courses are discontinued.
      • Recommendations for ways in which the program could continue.
    3. Department(s)
      • The effect on faculty status.
      • The effect on any students currently enrolled.
      • Recommendations for ways in which the program could continue.
    4. Graduate Council
      • The effect on any students currently enrolled.
      • The effect on accreditation, certification or licensure.
      • Recommendations for ways in which the program could continue.
    5. SGA
      • Impact on students.

F.  In the event that discontinuance involves a graduate program, information from E 1, 2, and 3 above should be sent to the Graduate Council which will then report and make its recommendation to the Senate.

G.  The CUCAS or Graduate Council’s report to the University Senate shall include:

    1. Source of the recommendation for program discontinuance.
    2. The material listed in 4. and 5. above.
    3. Analysis of reports received.
    4. Recommendation for or against program discontinuance, if necessary.

      a.  Recommendation for program discontinuance timing.

      b.  Basis and validity for discontinuance.

      c.  Possible alternative arrangements for program continuance.

H.  The University Senate shall review the CUCAS or Graduate Council’s recommendations to determine if these have been based on bona fide educational considerations. Within 60 calendar days of the initiation of a request for program discontinuance, the University Senate shall have completed its review and shall pass on its recommendations and the Committee report to the University President for appropriate action.

I.  The President shall be requested to inform the Senate of his/her decision.

*See appended list, Inventory of Programs and Program Sheets.

Adopted: Nov. 25, 1980
Amended: Mar. 31, 1981


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