For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which

the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration. (Academic program coordination)

Judgment Compliance

Reinhardt University assigns the primary responsibility for program coordination, curriculum development, and program review to a Program Coordinator, who is a qualified person with expertise in the disciplinary field.  [6] Designated program coordinators are appointed for all academic programs, including online and off-campus site programs.  Program coordinators report directly to the Dean of the Academic School in which the program is offered.  Responsibilities for program review and curriculum development are handled through a participatory and collegial process that involves the School Dean and Program Coordinator in consultation with other persons or groups with governing responsibilities, including the Curriculum Committee, the Faculty Executive Committee, the Faculty Senate, the Provost, and the President.

Degree-Granting Programs and Program Coordinators

The position of Program Coordinator is described in “Section III: Academic Affairs Structure and Administration” of the Faculty Handbook, which outlines the duties and evaluation of faculty holding such positions.  According to this policy, "each degree-granting program shall have a Program Coordinator.  Faculty members who are part of such a program shall meet periodically for the purpose of furthering the academic and instructional objectives of the curriculum."  Section III of the Faculty Handbook lists the following responsibilities for program coordinators: [3]

• Program Coordinators perform limited administrative functions and must maintain teaching responsibilities in the discipline for "at least 50% of their teaching load." The teaching load requirement ensures that program coordinators remain engaged in disciplinary pedagogy, which is important to making informed decisions about curriculum development.

• Appointments for Program Coordinators are made by the Provost with consultation from the School Dean and with the approval of the University's President. New and renewed appointments are made at the beginning of the fiscal year, July 1.

• The responsibilities of a Program Coordinator include leadership in developing and maintaining 1)"the integrity, strength, and character of the program," 2) "high professional standards and morale among program faculty members," and 3) "clear equitable procedures for appropriate program faculty participation in decision making."

• In addition to leadership responsibilities, Program Coordinators work with School Deans and in consultation with the Provost to develop and review the curriculum:  "In consultation with program faculty members, develop long-term curriculum plans and plans for new course offerings and submit these to the School Dean.  Prepare semester schedules for the registrar; review catalog descriptions for all School programs and courses; upon review and approval by program faculty, submit proposals for curriculum innovations, changes, or deletions to the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee; and participate in major/minor program review processes conducted by either the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee or the Provost."

• Another responsibility and duty assigned to Program Coordinators is to coordinate the assessment of program learning outcomes. Each year, coordinators submit an Academic Program Assessment Report to the School Dean and the Director of Institutional Research & Effectiveness.  [4] Academic Program Assessment Reports are also summarized by the Deans and submitted to the Provost for review.

In all cases, program coordinators are thoroughly reviewed with regard to their academic credentials and have undergone a national search before their appointment to the faculty. See Faculty Recruitment section in the Faculty Handbook. [9] Faculty who coordinate baccalaureate degrees must minimally hold a master's degree in the discipline. A terminal degree in the program discipline and graduate faculty status are required for all graduate program directors.

Table 3.4.11-1 summarizes the qualifications for all undergraduate program coordinators. Program coordinators' credentials are available in the 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster (see Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1) and include advanced degree(s), major(s), university, and other qualifications. An excerpt from the 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster demonstrates that all program coordinators are qualified to teach in their programs. [5]

Table 3.4.11-1 Qualifications of RU Undergraduate Program Coordinators

In 2016-17, graduate program coordinators are as follows:

Table 3.4.11-2 Qualifications of RU Graduate Program Coordinators

Academic Schools and School Deans

Reinhardt University is organized into seven academic schools: The School of Arts and Humanities, the McCamish School of Business, Price School of Education, School of Mathematics and Sciences, School of Performing Arts, School of Nursing, and School of Professional Studies.  Graduate programs are housed within the appropriate academic school.  As directed by the Faculty Handbook, School Deans work in consultation with Program Coordinators and School faculty members to “develop long-term curriculum plans and plans for new course offerings; submit semester schedules to the registrar; review catalog descriptions for all School programs and courses; after consulting with the Provost, submit proposals for curriculum innovations, changes, or deletions to the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee (APCC); and participate in major/minor program review processes conducted by either the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee or the Provost.” [1]

As documented in Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8, experienced deans lead and assist in coordinating the educational, academic, and administrative efforts of each academic school. [2]   Table 3.4.11-3 summarizes the education credentials and years of administrative experience for the academic deans.

Table 3.4.11-3 Qualifications of RU Academic Deans

Deans are evaluated annually by the Provost and by the faculty in a manner determined by the Faculty Executive Council. [3]

Process for Curriculum Changes

According to the Faculty Handbook, “the initiator of any proposed curricular changes will discuss the proposal with Program Coordinator and the School Dean well in advance.  The Dean will inform the Provost and follow the appropriate channels for securing course approvals.” [7]  Proposals are submitted by the Program Coordinator to the School Dean for review and presentation to the School’s full-time faculty members. Once approved at the School level, proposals are submitted to the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee, whose membership consists of appointed representatives distributed “equally among the Schools” and whose responsibilities include “review of the education programs of the University and making recommendations for changes”.  Program Coordinators and the Academic Program and Curriculum Committee (APCC) are “charged” with the responsibility of reviewing each proposal for a change. Following approval by the APCC, the proposal is sent to the Faculty Senate for deliberation and vote. [8]

All approved curriculum changes are then forwarded by the Chair of the Faculty Senate to the Office of Academic Affairs where the Provost reviews the approved proposals, assuring that curriculum changes are consistent with the University’s mission, vision, and goals. The Provost also assesses whether curriculum proposals constitute a “substantive change” according to the policy enforced by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.  If the Provost judges a program change to require approval from SACSCOC under the substantive change rule, the Provost and the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness work with the School Dean and the Program Coordinator from which the proposal emerged to compose a substantive change proposal for submission to SACSCOC.  Following approval of substantive changes, Reinhardt University enacts the curricular proposal.

Distance Education Program Coordination

As with on-campus programs, the primary responsibility for program integrity and coordination of online and off-campus classes/programs falls to the program coordinator. Undergraduate and graduate program coordinators for online and off-campus programs follow the same credentialing, recruiting, appointment, and performance review processes as those used for program coordinators of on-campus, traditionally delivered programs.

Distance Education Curricular Development and Review

Curricular development and review for online and off-campus programs follows the same processes as those used for traditionally delivered and on-campus programs. All courses, regardless of delivery, must be approved through the University's curriculum processes. Additionally, before an online or hybrid course can be offered, the program coordinator must approve the distance learning course proposal and approve the final content of the online course before it is sent for review by the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee and the Faculty Senate. Program coordinators must also approve the conversion of a traditional program to a fully online program. The proposal for a fully online program must be sent to the Faculty Senate and the Board of Trustees for approval prior to implementation.  See Online MBA Program Proposal as an example.  [11]

Program coordinators must also approve off-campus course offerings through the regular scheduling process by designating a site for each course. If the program wishes to use a new site, the Provost must approve the new site and determine if a Substantive Change has to be submitted to SACSCOC for site approval. The Provost must also approve any proposal for a fully off-campus delivery of a program.

[1] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Handbook. “Duties and Responsibilities of School Deans and Assistant School Deans.” 33-35

[2] Comprehensive Standard 3.2.8

[3] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Handbook. “Section III: Academic Affairs Structure and Administration.” 35-37

[4] Example of Academic Program Assessment Report

[5] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Roster – Program Coordinators

[6] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Handbook. “Duties and Responsibilities of Program Coordinators.”

[7] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Handbook. “Procedures for Effecting Curriculum Changes.” 40-41

[8] Curricular Change Cover Sheet

[9] 2016-2017 Reinhardt University Faculty Handbook. “Section V: Human Resources Policies for Faculty” 87-89

[10] Example of Program Coordinator Performance Review

[11] Online MBA Program Proposal