Curricula Review Process
The Academic Council oversees the addition, review, and evaluation of curricula. If a new program is being considered, it is developed only after a need has been demonstrated and financial resources secured. If an instructional program is discontinued at Vernon College, it is done in a way that will not harm students’ transfer requirements and graduation needs. Any new workforce education program must be approved by an advisory committee, the Academic Council, College Effectiveness Committee, the College President, the Board, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and SACSCOC prior to implementation. Except for the use of advisory committees, the same review is required for transfer degrees. This review ensures that the curricula are directly related to the mission statement of the college. This approval process may also involve required or voluntary external agency approval. The workforce education programs follow the curriculum development process as published in Guidelines for Instructional Programs in Workforce Education and in the Workforce Education Course Manual. Academic transfer degrees must include the Texas core curriculum requirements, and courses chosen from the Academic Course Guide Manual.
Faculty members at Vernon College work in conjunction with the Academic Council to develop new courses and degrees and to evaluate the quality and relevance of current courses, programs, and disciplines. The administration at VC is involved in curriculum development and review primarily through the Academic Council. The Board at VC is involved in approving all new programs, the number and types of degrees offered by the college, the number and nature of the divisions at the college, and the extent to which the college offers off-campus programs.
Programs and disciplines are evaluated according to a five year rotating schedule to ensure consistency with the college mission statement, programmatic quality and improvement, adequate enrollment and student demand, accountability, and efficient management. Preliminary evaluations are assigned to faculty members and Division Chairs and a program/discipline subcommittee. Evaluations are reviewed by the Vice-President of Instructional Services, Academic Council and then by the College President, who makes decisions on the future status of programs or disciplines. The Board alone has authority to continue or terminate a program/discipline, based upon the recommendation of the College President. These evaluation procedures are available in the document, Evaluation of Instructional Programs/Evaluation of Teaching Disciplines.
For each major in a workforce education degree program, VC assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. At least one full-time faculty member with appropriate credentials must have primary teaching assignment in a workforce education program offering an associate degree. In those degree programs (Associate in Arts and Associate in Science) for which VC does not identify a major, at least one full-time, academically qualified faculty member must be assigned to a curricular area. See Policy Manual, EE (LOCAL), EFA (LEGAL), EFAA (LEGAL), EFAB (LEGAL), EFB (LEGAL)