Office of the University Secretary

University Approval Level

General Principles: Existing programs, curricular innovations and changes will maintain reasonable consistency in academic standards, program requirements and expectations, and student experience.

University Council approval

Rationale:  Council approves academic matters which establish university precedents, set policies, or affect allocation of university resources.

Additions or deletions

• Addition of a new Degree or new degree-level program (ie: Diploma, Certificate of Proficiency).
• Addition of a template for a new certificate, a major or honours program, or graduate program. 
• Deletion of a degree or degree-level program or template.
• Establishment or disestablishment of a college or department.
• Deletion of a Field of Study at the major, honours or graduate level which has significant academic or financial implications.

Program changes

• Change in the qualifications for admission to a program.**
• A change in the quota for admission to a college.**
• A change in the name of a college, department or degree.
• Replacement program.
• Program revisions which are significant enough that university budgetary support is requested or likely to be required.
• Changes to university policies on curriculum, admission, courses and examinations.

*A new program also requires Notice of Intent) 

** These changes also require confirmation of University Senate

Final approval:
University Council

Procedures:

Council requires recommendation from the Academic Programs Committee on the proposal's academic merit, budget implications, and academic priority. 

Instructions:

Following college approval, submit forms through the Academic and Curricular Change Portal

If you have questions, please email to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca 

Time:

Generally, the review of a new program requires 6 weeks to two months, depending on complexity. 

Proposals must be approved by the January meeting of University Council if they are to appear in the Course and Program Catalogue for the next year.

Academic Programs Committee (APC) approval

Rationale:  APC ensures that the application and interpretation of University Council policies, procedures and nomenclature relating to academic standards, program requirements and student experience is reasonably consistent across programs.

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Additions or deletions

• Addition of a new certificate, a major or honours program, or graduate program for which an approved template exists.
• Addition of a new Field of Study in an approved program.
• Addition of a greater Depth of Study (honours, PhD) in an existing approved program. 
• Deletion of a field of study at the major, honours or graduate level, unless this has significant academic or financial implications.

Program changes

• Addition or deletion of a project, thesis or course-based option.
• A change in the name of a Field of Study.
• Change in the total number of credit units required for an approved degree program when this change affects tuition or overall program length for students.
• Double-listing of courses.
• Approval of the annual Academic Calendar including changes to the calendar.
• Resolution of Challenges.
• Changes to University procedures for administration of policies on curriculum, admission, courses and examinations.

Final approval:
Academic Programs Committee of Council

Procedures:
APC can consult with other committees if required.

Instructions:

Following college approval, submit forms through the Academic and Curricular Change Portal.

If you have questions, please email to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca 

Time:

University Course Challenge (UCC) approval

Rationale:  University Course Challenge is appropriate for approval of straightforward curricular changes to existing programs, including those which may affect students and programs in other colleges.

However, if the Academic Programs Committee determines that curricular changes submited to University Course Challenge have significant financial impact they will be referred to university budgetary authority for review prior to approval.

Additions or deletions

• Addition of a new course or deletion of a course (unless deleted by the Moribund Course Archive policy).
• Addition or deletion of a lesser depth of study (such as a Minor, Cross College Minor or Concentration) in a field of study still taught as a major.
• Addition or deletion of a Work Experience or Internship option.

Program changes

• Changes to the list of elective courses in a program if these changes affect the program or courses offered by another college
• Change in name for a Minor or Concentration
• Straightforward program changes.  These would include:
  - Substitution of a different course for an existing course in a program
  - Changes to a majority of courses in a program (structure, content, scheduling)
  - addition of deletion of a requirement in a program
  - Changes to the Concentrations in a program
  - Minor changes to the total number of credit units require in a program if this changes does not affect overall tuition or program length.

• Prerequisite or corequisite changes including adding or removing permission or restrictions on a prerequisite if the changes affect another college. 
• Determining equivalent courses and mutually exclusive courses in cases where courses are from different colleges.
• Reduction or increase of the number of credit units for a course. Note that changing the credit unit value of a course also requires that a new course number be assigned.
• Interdisciplinary use of a subject code in a course label
• Any other changes to an approved course if the changes affect the program or courses offered by another college.

Final approval:
University Course Challenge

Procedures:
University Course Challenge is circulated by the Office of the University Secretary to all departments and college offices, which have two weeks to object to a proposed curricular change.  If no Challenge is received, the curricular change is considered to be approved at month-end.

Instructions:

Following college approval, submit forms through the Academic and Curricular Change Portal

If you have questions, please email to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca 

Deadlines:

Time:
The University Course Challenge is posted mid-month, August to June, for approval at the end of the month.
Any postings outside of this schedule are approved in four weeks.

College Approval Level

General Principles: Colleges are responsible for organizing and administering delivery of approved programs and for ensuring that progression and graduation standards reflect the specific academic and professional standards and requirements of the degree programs offered by that college.

College approval

Additions

• Creation of a "Double Honours or "Double Major" in two existing Fields of Study
• Award of a double-hours degree in fields where honours programs already exist.

Program changes

• A change in the standards required for promotion, graduation or residency.
• A change in the selection criteria for admission to a program
• A change in internal partitions of the admission quota
• Changes to the list of elective courses in a program if the changes do not affect another college.

Course changes

• Determining equivalent courses and mutally exclusive courses within the college
• Straightforward course changes provided they do not affect another college.  These would include:
  -Prerequisite or corequisite changes including adding or removing permission or restrictions unless this affects another college.
  - Change to administrative authority over a course
  - Changes to label, number, level, title, Course and Program Catalogue description, course content, lecture hours, evaluation.
  - Changes to the practicum/laboratory, tutorial, seminar/discussion requirements of lecture hours of a course
  - Changes to methods of evaluation.
  -Splitting a course into two 3 cu courses or combining two 3 cu courses into one 6 cu course.  This will not be considered as a "new course" as defined for Challenge, but a new course number will be assigned.
• Any such course changes that affect another college must be posted for approval through the University Course Challenge

Final approval:
College

Procedures and Instructions:
Follow college approval procedures for curricular changes.

Please note that course changes which will be of interest to students and faculty advisors in other colleges can be posted as an information item in the University Course challenge.

College of Graduate Studies and Research

Rationale: University Council has delegated special authority to the College of Graduate Studies and Research to make program changes in graduate thesis programs which streamline those programs and enhance research productivity

Additions or deletions

• Creation of a new concentration for an Interdisciplinary Studies graduate program.
• Creation or deletion of a PGD program in a field where a Master's program exists.
• Creation or deletion of a Special Case graduate program at the PGD, Master's or PhD level.

Program changes

• Changes, within prescribed limits, to the minimum course requirements for a Master's (thesis) program or a PhD program.

Final approval:
College

Procedures and Instructions:
The curricular changes made by CGSR under this delegated authority should be submitted annually to APC and forwarded to Council for information. 

Other Approval Levels

General Principles:  Curricular approvals for non-degree-level programs has been delegated to academic officers, on the principle that while such programs make use of university administrative capacity and expertise, they are cost-recovery, service or adjunct programs only and do not require ongoing oversight by University Council.

Non-Degree-level programs:

Certificate of Successful Completion and Certificate of Attendance

Provost approval

• Certificate of Successful Completion  A standard of proficiency, achievement or promotion appropriate for post-secondary training.

Dean Approval

• Certificate of Attendance Satisfactory attendance at a course or program of courses sponsored by the Centre for Continuing and Distance Education or a college at the University of Saskatchewan 

For definitions of Certificates and Diplomas, click here

Procedures and Instructions:
Contact the Office of the Dean or the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic.

Change of Name

Change of course label, college, department, program, field of specialization, buildings, street, etc.

Final approval:  varies

Procedures and instructions:  Following college approval, submit forms through the Academic and Curricular Change Portal

If you have questions, please email to
cathie.fornssler@usask.ca 

Type of Curricular Change

Approval Required

Course

Additions or Deletions:

Changes affecting more than one course:

Other changes:

Program

Additions:

Deletions:

Name Changes:

Other Changes:

Policy