Academic Services facilitates curriculum development by offering consultations, access to course outlines and development resources, and support of the Palm Beach State College-wide Curriculum Committee activities.
Creating a New Course
There are many reasons new courses are developed: changing degree needs, student interest, or new subject areas. Creating a new course involves steps to ensure that the new course is in compliance with state and accrediting agencies, meets the standards for inclusion in the College's curriculum, and is appropriate to higher education.
Step 1: Cluster Decision & Approval
The first step in the process of creating a new course begins with the cluster and business partnership council (BPC). Once the decision is made to create a new course, and the cluster and BPC (as necessary) approves the initial course development, a faculty member is assigned to start the formal college process of course development and approval.
Step 2: Documentation & Submission
Creating a new course requires the completion of the online New Course Form. The New Course Form may be submitted in the College's Watermark Curriculum Management system once all supporting documentation is received. This includes Cluster minutes and other items as needed to support the request (business partnership minutes, State Framework, accreditor documentation, etc.). Course development is never done in isolation and course additions may trigger additional curricular actions. If the new course request impacts any existing course or program at the College, the associated revision requests must also be submitted for the new course request to be considered.
Step 3: Approvals & Technical Review
Once the online New Course Form is submitted, the request enters the workflow for Associate Dean, Dean, and other required approvals. The submission also undergoes a technical review to resolve any issues which may impact approval, implementation &/or compliance. If necessary, the Deans' Council also examines the curriculum proposal to determine the impact it will have on the college facilities, personnel and budget. Once all issues and approvals are resolved, the new course request is added to the next available agenda of the College-wide Curriculum Committee.
Step 4: Curriculum Committee Review & VPAA approval
The Curriculum Committee examines the proposal in detail for content, coherence, and any impact to the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit and other courses and programs. The Curriculum Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for the curriculum action.
Step 5: Implementation
Upon VPAA approval, the College course dictionary, State course inventory (SCNS) and the catalog are updated to go into effect the following Fall term according to the timeline established by College policy. Programs must also update their Pathway Maps to reflect the approved changes.
Note: All courses offered for CCP or AS credit must be attached to an existing or new program offered at Palm Beach State College.
Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024
Revising a Course
Revising an existing course involves steps to ensure that all areas of the College affected by the revision understand the change and are aware of its ramifications. There are many reasons courses are revised - updating outdated offerings, meeting state-wide discipline committee decisions, complying with accreditation or licensure requirements, or responding to business partnership recommendations.
Step 1: Cluster Decision & Approval
The first step in revising a course begins with the cluster. An individual faculty member or an entire cluster will decide revisions are needed for an existing course. If the cluster approves the idea, a member will be assigned to begin the formal process of course revision and approval.
Step 2: Documentation & Submission
A course revision requires the completion of a Change Course Form in Watermark, the College's online curriculum management system. Once this form and its' support documents (cluster minutes, business partnership minutes (BPC) (if needed), associated course addition, revision and deletion requests) are received, the revision request may be submitted and will move into the approval workflow.
Step 3: Approvals & Technical Review
Once submitted, the request enters the workflow for Associate Dean, Dean, and other required approvals. The submission also undergoes a technical review to resolve any issues which may impact approval, implementation &/or compliance. Upon completion of the review process, the request is added to the Curriculum Committee agenda.
Step 4: Curriculum Committee Review & VPAA approval
The Curriculum Committee examines the proposed revisions to the course to determine the impact on the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit, and other programs and certificates. The Curriculum Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for program revisions. Unless an exception is authorized by the VPAA, all course revisions will go into effect the following Fall after the approval of the VPAA.
Keep in mind that a revised course (other than an AA course or a Developmental Ed course) action may include a program action submission as well.
Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024
Deleting a Course
Deleting an existing course involves steps to ensure that all areas of the College affected by this curriculum action are aware of the ramifications of this action. Course deletion is the removal of a course from the Palm Beach State course offerings. There are many reasons programs or program concentrations are deleted: changing community needs, outdated offerings, state-wide discipline committee or accrediting agency decisions, or business partnership council recommendations.
Removing a course from one program list which is still included in another program list is not a course deletion. Rather, this is a program revision action.
STEP 1: Cluster Decision & Approval
The first step in the process of deleting an existing course begins with the appropriate cluster. The cluster will review needs assessments, college enrollment records and/or state requirements, and decide on curriculum changes involving the deletion of a course. Once the full cluster approves the deletion, a designated cluster member begins the formal process of course deletion.
STEP 2: Documentation & Submission
Deleting a course requires the Delete Course Form submitted through the online curriculum management system (Watermark). Once the form, along with needed support documents (program addition or revision forms, cluster and BPC minutes, or program learning outcomes) is submitted, the proposal will move into the approval workflow.
STEP 3: Technical Review & Curriculum Committee Approval
The proposal is reviewed by Academic Services and prepared to be presented to the Curriculum Committee at the next scheduled meeting. The Curriculum Committee examines the proposal for impact on the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit System and other programs and certificates.
STEP 4: VPAA Approval
If approved by the Curriculum Committee, a recommendation is made to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for the curriculum action.
STEP 5: Implementation
Upon VPAA approval, the College course dictionary, State course inventory (SCNS) and the catalog are updated to go into effect the following Fall term according to the timeline established by College policy.
Programs must also update their Pathway Maps to reflect the approved changes.
Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024
Create a New Program
Adding a new program or program concentration involves steps to ensure that this curriculum action is adequately justified and that all areas of the College affected by the addition are aware of its ramifications. This action will require Deans' Council approval, President's Cabinet approval and Palm Beach State District Board of Trustees approval. There are many reasons new programs/program concentrations are developed - emerging community training needs, basic student interest or new, state-approved subject areas.
The first step in the process of creating a new program/program concentration begins with the cluster. A faculty member presents his or her idea to the cluster or the cluster as a whole decides that a new program or program concentration is warranted in the discipline. If the cluster approves the idea, a faculty member is assigned to begin the formal process of program development and approval. This process is called the Curriculum Review Process.
The Curriculum Review Process is a multi-part process. For new programs, the hosting campus Provost is included in the signature process. This is accomplished by preparing a New Program Proposal Form Steps 1 & 2 following the guidelines noted on the form and gathering all the required signatures. Once final approval is given, then a Program/Concentration Addition Form is prepared. The signed Program Proposal forms and the rest of the supporting documents (related course and program action forms, course outlines, Cluster and Business Partnership Council Minutes) are sent electronically to Academic Services electronically by email. The email should copy the cluster chair, associate dean, dean of the faculty and the host campus provost creating the program. This full packet will be submitted to the President’s Cabinet for approval and Deans' Council for approval by the VPAA.
President’s Cabinet and Deans' Council examine this curriculum action to see what impact it will have on the College facilities, personnel, academic resources and budget. If approved, the Program/Concentration Addition action is added to the Palm Beach State Curriculum Committee agenda for consideration.
The Curriculum Committee examines the curriculum action details for impact on the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit and other programs and certificates. If approved, the Curriculum Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for the curriculum action.
Once approved by VPAA, the new program/program concentration is submitted to the District Board of Trustees (DBOT) for approval. This process is a two DBOT agenda read and approval process. Unless an exception is authorized by the VPAA, all curriculum action goes into effect and will be advertised according to the Curriculum Action Timeline on the Curriculum Website following the approval of the VPAA and the DBOT.
If the cluster is creating a new program or certificate that has never been offered in Florida, once the VPAA approved the program creation, further steps must be taken to seek Department of Education approval to offer this program in the state of Florida. The cluster will work with Academic Services to put together the necessary state forms and approvals.
If a new program constitutes a substantive change to the offerings of the institution, the originator is required to complete a form (www.palmbeachstate.edu/sacscoc/) justifying the change which may lead to additional follow up actions with SACSCOC.
Documents Submitted for New Program/Concentration Action:
New Program Proposal Form with Signatures
Program/Concentration Addition Form
- Other Course and Program Forms Related to the Addition
- Course Outlines
- Cluster/BPC Minutes
- Create a New Statewide Program (If necessary)
- Substantive Change Form (If necessary)
Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024
Program Revision
Revising an existing program involves steps to ensure that all areas of the College affected by the revision understand the changes that will be made and are aware of their ramifications. There are varied reasons programs are revised - updating outdated offerings, meeting state-wide discipline committee decisions, and complying with business partnership recommendations.
The first step in the process of revising an existing program begins with the cluster. The cluster or a designated sub-committee will review needs assessments, College records and/or state requirements and outline program revisions it deems necessary. Once the full cluster approves the changes, a designated cluster member will begin the formal process of program revision and approval. This process is part of the Curriculum Review Process.
Program revision requires a Program/Concentration Revision Form to be completed. Once this form and its' support documents (cluster minutes, Business Partnership Council Minutes, course addition, revision and deletion forms) are gathered, they are submitted to Academic Services electronically (email). The email should copy the cluster chair, associate dean, and dean of the faculty revising the program. This packet will be added to the Palm Beach State Curriculum Committee agenda.
The Curriculum Committee examines the proposed revisions to the program to determine the impact on the Course Dictionary, Degree Audit, and other programs and certificates. The Curriculum Committee makes a recommendation to the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) who gives final approval for the curriculum action. Unless an exception is authorized by the VPAA, all curriculum action goes into effect according to the Curriculum Action Timeline on the Curriculum Website following the approval of the VPAA.
Program Concentration Revision Needing DBOT Approval
In some cases, if the program revision involves deleting a program concentration from the College offerings, this action needs President’s Cabinet and Deans' Council approval to be considered by the Curriculum Committee. In these instances, this action will need DBOT approval once VPAA approves the Curriculum Committee approval. Contact Academic Services for clarification if you plan to submit this type of action.
Delete an Existing Program or Program Concentration
There are many reasons programs, or program concentrations, are deleted - outdated offerings, state-wide discipline committee or accrediting agency decisions, or Business Partnership Council recommendations.
Deleting an existing program or program concentration involves steps to ensure that this curriculum action is adequately justified and that all areas of the College affected by the deletion are aware of its ramifications. Deletion of an existing program or program concentration requires approval by the VPAA, Deans' Council, President's Cabinet, President, Palm Beach State District Board of Trustees and SACSCOC approval of Teach Out Plan(s) prior to implementation.
Programs must first initiate the Program Termination Procedure outlined in the Academic Management Manual’s Section G. Once this has been initiated, the program may proceed with the curriculum action to the delete the program.
The first step in the curriculum change process of deleting an existing program or program concentration begins with the cluster. The cluster will review needs assessments, college enrollment records and/or state requirements, and outline program revisions it deems necessary. Once the full cluster approved the deletion, a designated cluster member will begin the formal process of program or program concentration deletion. This process is part of the Curriculum Review Process.
For complete program deletion and program concentration only, a Program Deletion Form is prepared and sent with support documents (Cluster minutes, Business Partnership Council Minutes, and related curriculum forms) to Academic Services electronically (email). The email should copy the cluster chair, associate dean, and dean of the faculty revising the program. The full packet is sent to Deans’ Council and President’s Cabinet for approval.
In the case of a deleted program, Deans' Council examines the justification for the deletion and the impact on the College offerings and resources. If the deletion is approved, the topic of the program deletion is put on the President's Cabinet agenda for discussion and recommendation to the Palm Beach State Board of Trustees. President's Cabinet approval of this action initiates the creation of a Board Packet by the VPAA office for presentation to the Board of Trustees. The Palm Beach State DBOT approval is a two agenda reading and approval process. After the DBOT approval, the College catalog text is revised for the next edition. The Curriculum Committee is notified by the VPAA of the decision of the Board of Trustees as an FYI and the time frame for completion of the deletion of the program is established. The originator of this curriculum action is notified by Academic Services when the Board of Trustees ratifies the program deletion.
Create a New Program at the State Level
New degree programs, program concentrations or certificates identified through the program review process can be proposed as new programs to the State. The first step is to submit the normal paperwork for creating a new program through the Palm Beach State curriculum process (New Program Proposal Form Steps 1 & 2, Palm Beach State Deans' Council review, President’s Cabinet Review, Curriculum Committee Review, Vice President Academic Affairs review). If the new program or certificate is approved through the Palm Beach State Curriculum Review Process, the following documents will need to be submitted to the Florida Department of Education Workforce Development office for authorization and inclusion in the state program inventory.
The State Submission documents required:
- Statement of Justification – This should include a list of the occupations for which the curriculum prepares students, and data on the number of jobs and job openings in the region in the identified occupational titles.
- Curriculum Framework – This document details the program including major concepts/content, laboratory activities, and intended outcomes. To locate the state curriculum framework for the program or certificate being developed go to www.FLDOE.Org/Workforce/CTE-Curriculum-Frameworks
- Student Performance Standards – This document details the competencies of the intended outcomes.
- Program Outline – Course list that will constitute the degree program or certificate.
- Course Outlines – Course outline for each of the courses in the degree program or certificate.
- New Program Submittal Form – The Submittal Form will need to be completed.
- Sample Articulation Agreement – The state requires a sample articulation agreement from high school to the post-secondary level of education. The articulation agreement only needs to be proposed.
The entire package is submitted to the Florida Department of Education Workforce Development Office of the Department of Education by Academic Services. Academic Services will work with the cluster creating the program or certificate to facilitate the process and ensure that the package is complete. This process can take from 3 months to a year to complete.
Enacted July 2004 in Section G from existing policy; revised July 2005; reviewed July 2006. July 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010, July 2016; revised July 2018, July 2019; July 2024