Programs Committee
Programs Committee Members — 2024-2025
- Gloria Sweida, Chair, At Large (School of Business)
- Bernadette Sobczak, School of Nursing
- Carole Frick, College of Arts and Sciences
- Eric "Duff" Wrobbel, College of Arts and Sciences
- Tianyu Li, College of Arts and Sciences
- Ralph Tayeh, School of Engineering
- Ashley Wittler, School of Nursing
- Melissa Thomeczek, School of Education, Health, and Human Behavior
- Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer, College of Arts and Sciences
- Jenna Tebbenkamp, School of Nursing
- Liz Cali, Graduate School, Ex Officio
- Jill Smucker, Graduate School, Ex Officio
- James Monahan, Enrollment Management, Ex Officio
- Sally Boutelle, Enrollment Management, Ex Officio
- Cheryl Borowiak, International Programs, Ex Officio
- Therese Dickman, Library, Ex Officio
See Course & Program Revisions for recommendations on preparing program changes.
See the Program Review Instructions for details on how Programs Committee manages the program review process.
Operating Papers
In cooperation with the Graduate School staff, this committee is responsible for maintaining communication with the undergraduate program review committee of the Curriculum Council. It is also responsible, in cooperation with the Graduate School staff, for maintaining communication with each academic unit's Academic Affairs Committee regarding the review of existing graduate programs and the modification, expansion, or addition of graduate programs.
I. Functions of the Committee
A. Make recommendations to the Council regarding the criteria by which programs are to be reviewed.
B. Review and make recommendations to the Council regarding:
1. Requests for new programs
2. Requests for program changes including but not limited to modifications, expansions and moratoria.
3. Requests for termination of programs and program components
4. Final reports on graduate programs
II. Membership and Number
A. Voting Members
l. Eleven Council members (including at least one student and one Executive
Committee member)
2. Non‑Council graduate faculty members not to exceed nine
B. Resource Members: Graduate School staff
C. Structure:
1. Ad hoc subcommittees for program review
2. Membership on the Centers and Institutions Review Committee (see policy 5f6)
III. Selection Procedures
The Executive Committee of the Graduate Council makes committee assignments.
IV. Routing and Approval Procedures
The ad hoc subcommittees on program review, assigned to review specific graduate programs, report to the Programs Committee. Voting members of the Programs Committee (excluding student members and the Chair) will serve on these committees each year. Members of the Programs Committee ordinarily also serve on these committees.
Instead of serving on an ad hoc subcommittee one member of the Programs Committee will be assigned to serve on the Centers and Institutions Review Committee for a three year commitment.
The Programs Committee reports to the Graduate Council which makes recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School.
V. Other procedures not delineated herein will follow the operating papers of the Graduate Council.
Considerations for Program Modifications
(courtesy of Graduate Council Programs Committee)
- Provide adequate background information and justification/rationale for all requested changes (i.e., distill but adequately detail the unit's decision-making process) so the committee members understand what went into the process that resulted in this request.
- Include data to support the proposed changes.
- Indicate that you are making decisions that are based on good evidence.
- What are best practices?
- What data do you have to support the changes?
- How will the changes improve outcomes?
- Provide adequate detail about the proposed change so that the Committee members understand exactly what it will entail. For example, a comprehensive exam exit option is proposed. What is the exam’s structure? How is it designed to be comprehensive? What happens if someone fails? Who will prepare and grade the exams? How is the workload distributed? Is it fair?
- All changes in the catalog copy need to be justified in the request. If changes are included that were previously approved but not yet published, provide the tracking number as a comment.
- Have a clear understanding of the effective date. Policy 1Q8 governs the soonest possible date.
- Proofread your submission.
Note: If the proposed change(s) will impact the unit’s assessment plan, remember to submit a new plan to the Graduate Committee on Assessment through the Graduate School.
