Program changes (3/22/2017)

This is the first in what will be an ongoing series of posts on program changes.

As required by the CBA, the administration informs the FA of  “any action to initiate, merge, reduce, or eliminate an academic degree program or academic department/school or Library Affairs unit” (2017-2018 CBA 9.02a). The FA gets the same package of materials provided to faculty before they make final votes on program changes, and we have the opportunity to write a report of our own on any changes. This report is submitted to the Faculty Senate or Graduate Council before those bodies vote on changes. This is but one part of the program change process outlined in the CBA.

In the past, faculty and units directly or indirectly effected by program changes have not always received due notice of such changes. We are making an effort to contact  FA representatives from departments that may be affected by such changes to insure that they know that changes are under discussion. But as we may not identify all affected faculty, we will also post brief descriptions of all changes that reach us.

If any faculty member would like to see the full set of materials in our possession, we will gladly share them upon request. Write Dave Johnson (dmj2@me.com) if you would like to get this further information. You are also most welcome to write if you catch wind of a program change in the works that has not yet been posted to this site. It helps to have advance notice of anything coming down the pike.

Here are proposed program changes the FA has been officially notified about:

• Curriculum & Instruction: Addition of BS in Family & Child Services (currently a specialization within the Early Childhood major).
• Curriculum & Instruction: Elimination of Teacher Education Program in Social Science (with modifications to the History education program, which would continue to provide the same Illinois licensure).
• Kinesiology and Public Health & Recreation Professions: Merger of these two departments into a School of Human Sciences.
• School of Information Systems & Applied Technology (ISAT): Modification of Information Systems Technologies BS into separate BS programs in Information Technology and Information Systems.