The Daily Bulletin Archive

At its April 12, 2019, meeting, the College Senate voted in favor of a resolution to revise the DOPS Policy on Alternate Methods of Earning College Credit to include the addition of a lower-division option for graduate-level topics courses.

ACTUAL DOPS POLICY LANGUAGE
Topics Courses (587 and 687 – Graduate)
The topics format provides the opportunity for in-depth study and examination of rapidly and significantly changing disciplinary issues, topics, or practices, and may be used to accommodate requests of external agencies or the specialized resources of visiting faculty members. Students may accumulate a maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate topics courses in a master’s degree program.

Motion to amend DOPS regarding Alternate Methods of Earning College Credit (Topics Courses) at Buffalo State.
Introduced at the March 8, 2019, College Senate meeting and presented for vote at the April 12, 2019, College Senate meeting.

WHEREAS, the current policy in DOPS reflects only topics courses for undergraduate level; and

WHEREAS, the College Senate updated the current policy in April 2018 that outlined procedures for undergraduate- and graduate-level Course for Alternate Methods of Earning College Credit; and

WHEREAS, the College Senate Curriculum Committee does not review topics courses; and

WHEREAS, the topics course proposals must include all the information contained in a new course proposal; and

WHEREAS, no topics course may be offered more than twice in a two-year period; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no course number in place for lower-division option available for graduate-level topics courses; and

WHEREAS, there is currently no policy in place for lower-division option available for graduate-level topics courses,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Buffalo State adopt changes to DOPS that reflect the addition of a lower-division option available for graduate-level topics courses, as detailed below.

BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE
DIRECTORY OF POLICY STATEMENTS
Policy Number: I:04:01
Subject: Proposal for Addition of Lower-Division Option for Graduate-Level Topics Courses

In order to facilitate lower-division graduate-level, credit-bearing topics courses, special provision must be made to ensure adequate planning and approval.

COURSE DESIGNATION: (Prefix will indicate department)

Topics (587 – Graduate)

Students may accumulate a maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate topics courses in a master’s degree program. Application forms are available in the academic department and the Registrar’s Office, and must be filed with that office by the deadline date published in the class schedule each semester.

Title Variable: Yes
Repeatable: Limit 2 times
Credits: Variable 1-3
Course Description: Special Topics Course (Graduate level)
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.

1. The College Senate Curriculum Committee does not review special topics courses. 
2. Topics course proposals must include all the information contained in a new course proposal. See College Senate Curriculum Handbook Course Proposal Submission Policy of 2011.
3. Three copies of topics course proposals are sent to Academic Affairs for approval. Each topics course approved by Academic Affairs may be offered no more than twice in a two-year period. Thereafter, it must be submitted as a new course proposal.
4.  Dean forwards the Topic Course Approval form to Academic Affairs

Policy Number: (attachment)

Three copies of this form must be submitted to the Dean’s Office at least two weeks in advance of proposed instructional dates.

FORM FOR 189/ 389/ 587/ 687:  TOPIC COURSE APPROVAL ROUTING CHECKLIST

DEPARTMENTAL ACTION

Course Number:

Title: ____________________________________________________________________________

(No more than 70 characters)

Abbreviation to be used in Master Schedule: _________________________________________

(No more than 15 characters)

Course Offering Schedule: This course will be offered: ________________________________

Approved with confirmation that all necessary laboratories, studios, resources and facilities for support of this course are available.

___________________________________________________________________________

Date            Signature of Department Chairperson Department

Three (3) copies forwarded to Dean on _____________________________.

DEAN’S ACTION

Approved with confirmation that all necessary laboratories, studios, resources and facilities for support of this course are available.

______________________________________________________________________________

Date                      Signature of Dean Faculty

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS ACTION
_______ _________________________________________________________________

Date                      Signature

I hereby accept the recommendation of the College Senate regarding the addition of a lower-division option for graduate-level topics courses at Buffalo State. I charge the provost with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of this policy change and for communicating the change to the campus community.