Advisory Committees

Please click below for more information on:

• Undergraduate Curriculum Advisory Committee
• Graduate Commission

Undergraduate Curriculum Advisory Committee

UCAC Responsibilities:

• Review all new undergraduate programs requiring State Education Department approval (e.g., new degrees and new majors), as well as new initiatives that may not require State approval (e.g., minors that involve courses from more than one school, new Study Abroad academic programs).
• Undertake the necessary due-diligence, which includes determining if proposals duplicate, complement, or supplement existing programs on campus, as well as confirming that the schools’ procedures for consulting with and obtaining approval from faculty and other schools/departments have been followed.
• Advise the Provost on whether the criteria have been met (see “Guidelines for Proposals” below).

UCAC Membership:

Matthew Santirocco, (Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs), Chair
Lisa Goldfarb (Gallatin)
Floyd Hammack (Steinhardt)
Iraj Kalkhoran (Poly)
Sabira Lakhani (Student Senators Council)
Gerald Landsberg (Social Work)
Frederic Mayo (SCPS)
Geeta Menon (Dean, Stern Undergraduate)
Phillip Mitsis (CAS)
Nancy Morrison (Vice President for Academic Initiatives and Special Projects)
Steve Small (CAS)
Gabrielle Starr (Acting Dean, CAS)
Bryan Waterman (CAS)
Heidi White (Liberal Studies)
Deborah Willis (TSOA)

UCAC Review Meeting Schedule:

Fall Semester
Deadline for Submission of Proposals:  October 14, 2011
DATE to Review Fall Semester Proposals: October 20, 2011
TIME:1:00pm-3:30pm
LOCATION: Bobst 1257

Spring Semester
Deadline for Submission of Proposals:  February 9, 2012
DATE to Review Spring Semester Proposals: February 16, 2012
TIME: 2:00pm-3:30pm
LOCATION: TBD

UCAC Guidelines for Proposals:

Proposals for new undergraduate initiatives should be submitted to Ryan Poynter, Assistant Vice Provost, Undergraduate Academic Affairs, at ryan.poynter@nyu.edu

Proposals are generally due one week prior to a review meeting.

Proposals need to demonstrate that the following criteria have been met:

1. Program relevance to the school(s) involved
2. Adequacy of the program in covering an academic discipline or topic area
3. Either its uniqueness within the NYU academic community or the ways in which it will collaborate with and enhance already-existing programs that are similar or related
4. Vetting within the host school, including consultation with relevant faculty committee(s), as well as across schools/programs with similarly aligned disciplines

Proposals requiring State approval:

New programs, including majors, are required to obtain State approval through the Office of Academic Program Review.  The UCAC will review materials prepared for State approval and make its recommendation to the Provost, who has final authority on academic oversight.  The Office of the Provost will then notify the proposal sponsor and the Office of Academic Program Review when a proposal is approved to move forward in the State review process.  If any concerns with proposals are raised, the proposal will be referred to the sponsor for possible revision and Provostial reconsideration.

Proposals for Minors: Please include the following information in your proposal.

1. Name and description of minor (250 words or less)
2. Comment on how this fits into the curriculum of the department or school
3. Course requirements, sequencing, credits and descriptions
4. List of faculty, including affiliation and highest degree earned
5. Advisement statement (as noted below)
6. Letters of support from schools/departments/programs with similar and/or complementary offerings
7. Confirmation of adequate resources to consistently offer minor so that students can progress toward completion (e.g., depth in faculty to accommodate sabbaticals, additional sections).

All proposed majors and minors should include a proposed text for an Advisement Statement for students.  The statement will provide guidance to students who are deciding whether the major/minor is appropriate for their academic plans.  The Advisement Statement should include the following elements:

• Restrictions, requirements, and rationale (e.g., student competencies, such as an advanced understanding of subject matter; limitations, such as for non-majors only or for students in specified schools/programs; required course sequencing).
• Information about how students may count courses in their progress to degree completion (e.g., option to double count courses toward core, major, and/or minor requirements).