(1) The University will apply consistent principles and procedures to guide the University community in the approval of new subjects. (2) This subject approval process is intended to ensure academic values and the application of quality design standards in new subject developments. (3) Refer to the Subject Lifecycle Policy (Expires 31/10/18). (4) Refer to the Subject Lifecycle Policy (Expires 31/10/18). (5) New subject opportunities may arise as a result of new course developments or in response to emerging educational needs. (6) All subjects are to be entered in the Subject Data Base, a component of the Course Information Management System (CIMS). (7) Where more than one Academic Unit is involved in preparing a proposal, one of these should be identified as the Proposing Academic Unit. This needs to be indicated on each form, and references in this document are to the Proposing College, School or Department or other academic entity such as the Learning Focus Areas. (8) After agreement from the head of the Academic Unit, a new subject blank will be created in the CIMS Subject system. The Subject Coordinator will then complete the various fields in the system as required, before referring it for approval. The subject proposal, informed by the Subject Design Policy and the Undergraduate Curriculum Design Policy, will outline the intended learning outcomes and the curriculum designed to achieve these. The design of the new subject should also be informed by consultation with discipline experts. (9) Students should be consulted on subject proposals, normally through the relevant College committees. (10) For subjects where discipline expertise is located outside the School or Department from which a course emanates, Course Co-ordinators are required to give due consideration to the involvement of the ‘external’ discipline experts in the development and/or teaching of these subjects, as detailed in the Service Teaching Policy. (11) The ways in which a subject may be offered on multiple campuses must be considered. Consultation with the relevant College Regional Co-ordinator is required during the development of the subject. (12) The Academic Unit will develop an indicative costing for resources required, which may have an impact on the viability of the subject. (13) Subjects are generally approved by the College Academic Committee and managed by the Schools within the relevant College. (14) Any new subject must first be considered by the School Advisory Group, then by the College Coursework Committee and finally approved by the College Academic Committee. (15) In exceptional circumstances including the need to quickly take up a strategic opportunity, approvals may be obtained out of session via the College Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Coursework). (16) The University has some subjects (for example Hallmark subjects) that are not owned or managed by a College. Approval requires peer review by an area not involved in managing the subject (as it does for College based subjects). (17) Those subjects should be approved by the relevant Board of Studies, where one exists. (18) In the rare case that a Board of Studies cannot be used, and the subject is not owned by a College, the University’s Coursework Committee will approve the subject. Consideration of the academic merit of the proposed subject will also be undertaken by the University’s Coursework Committee. (19) After approval by the College, a memo or report should be submitted to the University’s Coursework Committee advising of the formal names and codes of new and revised subjects. (20) The College is responsible for updating the subject database when a new subject is approved. (21) New subjects should be developed and approved by the College at least six months prior to the intended date of introduction. (22) The proposal(s) for new first year subjects should accompany any new course proposals submitted to the University’s Coursework Committee. (23) Proposals for all new subjects should be accompanied by information indicating which subject(s) will be closed to enable the teaching of the new subject. (24) A new subject may not be approved unless it is clear which subject or subjects will no longer be taught, in order to accommodate the new subject within academic workloads. (25) For the purpose of this Procedure:Subject Lifecycle - New Subject Approval Procedure (Expires 31/10/18)
Section 1 - Background and Purpose
Section 2 - Scope
Section 3 - Policy Statement
Section 4 - Procedure
Identification of Opportunities
Use of the Course Information Management System (CIMS)
Identification of Proposing Academic Unit
Subject Development
Consultation with students
Service Teaching
Multiple Campus Teaching
Costing
Approval Pathways for College Based Subjects
Subjects Not Owned By a College
Advice of New or Amended Subject Offerings
Critical Dates
Subjects that are Part of New Course Proposals
Closing existing subjects to allow for new subjects
Section 5 - Definitions
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This is not a current document. It has been repealed and is no longer in force.