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Unit Review, Planning, and Curriculum Development 

A Continuous Cycle of Improvement

The purpose of this Unit Review, Planning, and Curriculum Development process is to strengthen the role of the College Unit (Department/Program) in the growth and development of the College, make constructive changes, and learn by our experiences.  By creating a systematic, data-driven, faculty- and staff-created process at the Unit level, the College will be better able to make decisions about strategic planning, setting policy and budget, and meeting the needs of this community.  It is at the Unit level were we deliver our service to the student and community.  This is the most important place were innovation and change occurs.  The process that we create for institutional change and growth is most often driven by work at the Unit level.

In order to strengthen the role of the Units in the cycle of continuous improvement, this year we are making a few modifications to the process that was initiated late last year.  They include:

  • Continuing to consolidate our work with Academic Program Review and Planning, Curriculum Development, Assessment, and Year-end Reporting
  • Developing a timetable that will articulate with the College budget cycle
  • Making planning and decision-making more data-driven
  • Creating a process in which the efforts of the Unit are taken on by all members of that Unit and there is accountability and transparency at each level of the process
  • Improving the visibility of each Unit’s work throughout the College

This Unit Review, Planning, and Curriculum Development process depends heavily on the participation of all (or representatives of a larger group) the full-time faculty and input from others such as adjunct faculty and advisory boards.  Units need to coordinate meeting times and establish lines of communication to accommodate the various tasks to be done throughout the year. The role of the Unit Leader (Department Head/Program Director) is to facilitate this process, provide leadership, and produce the necessary documentation.


Timetable

September

Review Unit Goals and Objectives (developed in the previous spring) to determine if they are still appropriate for the upcoming academic year.  Make any necessary changes resulting form the Associate Dean’s review (see Associate Dean’s Assessment Tool).  Begin working on plans for the next year.

February

Prepare a Budget Request if appropriate.  These are funds requested above and beyond the normal budget, such as additional staffing or equipment.  To accomplish this, review the Unit Goals and Objectives for the current year and project additional funding needs for the next academic year(s).  Budget requests need to be supported, as much as possible, by documented needs as reflected in the Unit Planning, Goals and Objectives.  Needs should be supported with data when possible.  Budgets are due to the Associate Dean by the end of the second week of February.  See Budget Request Section in menu.

April

Members of each Unit will produce an End-of-the-Year report which includes reviewing and updating some documents and completing new ones for the year.  These are the documents that will be used to complete the task:

  • Unit Description
  • Unit History
  • Course Curriculum Document (CARP) Revision Schedule
  • Unit Accomplishments and Challenges
  • Unit Goals and Objectives – (including the assessment project report)
  • Budget Request (if submitted)

The Unit Leader will compile information and complete the necessary forms which are all due by the end of the second week of June.  For assistance in creating these documents, refer to, Research Available, Support Documents, and Links in the menu.

June

Unit Leader sends an electronic copy of the documents listed above to the appropriate Associate Dean by no later than the end of the second week of June.

August

By the end of the third week of August, the Associated Dean has completed the review of all End-of-the-Year documents, completed the related assessment forms, and met with the Unit Leader to provide feedback.

September

By the end of the fourth week of September, the Associate Dean has presented the appropriate Dean with a summary and analysis of the Units’ year-end reports.


Unit Review, Planning, and Curriculum Development Process Format

The menu, to the right, lists the working documents to be used in this process and  information about elements of the process.  This background may be helpful to those who would like more information or are new to the Unit Review, Planning, and Curriculum Development process.  All Unit documents will be archived and available to the entire College.  See, S:\College Information\Program Review and Curriculum Development 


Updated on 16-NOV-09
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