Bylaws

I.  Name:

The name of this Governance Committee is the Curriculum Committee.

II. Purpose:

The Curriculum Committee is responsible for the following:

• To review new academic programs and recommend for approval, if appropriate.
• To review current academic programs and recommend for discontinuation.
• To consider changes to existing academic programs and recommend for approval, if appropriate.
• To review new courses and changes in course numbers, titles, descriptions, credit hours, and prerequisites and recommend for approval, if appropriate.
• To review policies and procedures related to degree requirements for all college certificates, diplomas and degrees and recommend for approval, if appropriate.
• To report through and effectuate the charges of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer.

In reaching its decisions on curricular matters, the Curriculum Committee shall consider the following factors:

• That the proposed curriculum aligns with the College’s mission and purpose and promotes student learning and achievement.
• That proposed curriculum includes clearly defined, measurable learning outcomes that align with program goals and prepare students for further study or employment.
• That proposed curriculum includes a coherent general education component appropriate to the degree level that ensures compliance with general education competencies.
• That proposed curriculum has appropriate academic rigor and includes sufficient breadth and depth of content to support intended outcomes.
• That the proposed curriculum adheres to credit hour policy and that credit hours are appropriate and consistent across curriculum.
• That the proposed curriculum has a logical progression of courses within the program with appropriately sequenced prerequisites, core courses and electives that support student learning and program completion.
• That there are sufficient resources to support the curriculum.
• That the proposed curriculum complies with and is properly aligned to SACSCOC, SCHEV and VCCS standards and policies.
• That curriculum development was informed by stakeholder input, supported by evidence of student demand, employer needs, and a market analysis.

III. Membership and Terms of Office:

1. As a governing body of VPCC, the Curriculum Committee will make every attempt to reflect our diverse population when comprising our membership.
2. Each voting member elected by his/her constituency group shall serve a two-year term, with 50% overlap from year to year. An additional two-year term may be served if the member desires, by signifying their willingness to do so annually after their first term during the membership drive. A total of four years may be served consecutively. If a member should step down from the committee prior to the end of his or her term, a replacement shall be appointed by the Committee Chair to serve out the remainder of the term. At the end of the term, the replacement will be eligible for election to serve a subsequent two-year term.
3. Members may be re-elected or re-appointed after one year off the Committee.

Curriculum Committee Membership

IV. Voting:

1. Voting members include the 9-teaching faculty from the three Academic Divisions as noted in Section III. Ex-Officio members are not eligible to vote.
2. All Committee business shall be formally presented and voted on during regularly scheduled monthly meetings, provided a quorum is present. In the case of time sensitive action items that are discussed when a quorum is not present, the Chair may elect to call for a virtual vote by the full membership within three business days following the meeting. All actions taken based on a virtual vote will be binding provided the number of votes received constitutes a quorum.

V. Election of Officers:

1. The Curriculum Committee shall elect officers during the regularly scheduled meeting in April for the upcoming academic year.
2. The term of office for Committee officers shall be one year. From July to June.

VI. Officers: The three officers of the Curriculum Committee shall consist of the Chair, the Vice or Co-Chair and the Recorder.

VII. Meetings:

1. The Curriculum Committee will meet the third Thursday of every month at 3:00 PM, unless otherwise specified.
2. The Chair may call additional meetings as required to be held at a time and a place agreed upon by the membership during a regularly scheduled meeting. The Chair shall notify all members by email of the time set for the extra meeting.
3. A Quorum, defined as 50% or more of the total voting membership, is required for a vote on any action items presented to the Committee.
4. Prior to, or in conjunction with the first meeting in the Fall semester, new Committee members are required to participate in a training workshop on academic policies and procedures relevant to the work of the Committee.

VII. Attendance:

1. Members of the Curriculum Committee are expected to attend all meetings scheduled to conduct the Committee's business.
2. If a member misses three or more regularly scheduled meetings without a valid excuse, he or she shall be removed from the Committee. A replacement may be appointed by the Dean to serve out the remainder of the term.

IX. Subcommittees:

The Chair, at his/her discretion in consultation with Ex-Officio members, may appoint ad hoc subcommittees as required to carry out the Committee's charge.

X. Amendments:

Amendments to these Bylaws must be proposed and lodged at a regularly scheduled meeting and are subject to a 2/3 majority vote of the voting membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting for which a quorum is present.

Approved by the Curriculum Committee:   January 23, 2025

Revision History: