Background re: Revision of Program of Study Guidelines

The request to review and revise the program of study guidelines for academic advancements came to the Steering Committee from the Advancements/Sabbaticals Sub -committee of FPG .

The program of study was thought to be an application that simplified and streamlined the approval of a series of courses for a faculty member. The current guidelines however seemed to be having the opposite effect. It had become so confusing that FPG committee reps were not encouraging faculty members to even use this particular type of application.

Specifically trouble began in the requirement that "all courses in the program and all courses with course descriptions" be provided in the application. Some faculty members would provide all courses available in the entire program. It was also curious that course descriptions were required when the committee did not utilize this information.

Additional trouble arose when a faculty applicant needed to make a change in their program of study the directions were very unclear as to what was needed.

The revised guidelines specify what courses are to be listed, eliminates the requirement to provide course descriptions and simplifies the steps involved in a change to an approved program of study.