UCC Members' Roles and Responsibilities
The primary function of the Undergraduate Curriculum Council (UCC) is to review all undergraduate course proposals and advise the Faculty Assembly on the final approval of these courses. The role of UCC is defined by the Faculty Assembly By-laws. A related duty of UCC members is to support department chairs and curriculum committees in developing or revising course outlines.
A secondary function of the committee is to communicate about approved course outlines with various faculty members and offices across campus, including the Registrar, the Catalog Editor, the Director of the Penfield Library, Penfield Library Archives and Reserves, the Director of Campus Technology Services, Academic Deans, and Department Chairs.
Membership of UCC
Members of the University Curriculum Committee (UCC) at SUNY Oswego have the opportunity to review 50 to 70 course outlines each year, exploring a wide variety of academic programs and departments. Two faculty representatives from each school are elected by their peers to serve a two-year term.
The Members page provides a detailed list of current members, along with their contact information and terms of service.
Committee members can refer to Member Duties for information about the duties and essential skills required for committee membership. This ensures that all members are prepared to engage in meaningful academic discussions.
UCC Course Submission and Approval Process
In recent years, this process has evolved from a paper transmission of course outlines, signature pages, and approval notices to an online submission format with electronic submission, tracking, and notification of approval — called Curriculog.
To use these forms, you must be simultaneously logged in to your LakerApps e-mail account. To get more information, click on Course Submission Procedures or login to Laker Apps to view the Course Submission Form.
History of the UCC
Before 1975, decisions about which courses SUNY Oswego could offer were made by individual departments and approved at the Dean's level. As the college grew larger with many more programs and more standardized accreditation expectations, some faculty members proposed a more comprehensive, systematic, campus-wide process for overseeing course development.
The authority to review undergraduate course proposals was transferred to the Faculty Assembly's Academic Policies Council (APC). In the mid-1980s, recognizing the large volume of work required in the course review process, APC created the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee subcommittee to take on this role.
As UCC's responsibilities evolved, the Faculty Assembly elevated the status of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee to a council whose advisory duty is to report directly to the Faculty Assembly. In 2002, it officially became the Undergraduate Curriculum Council.
For over 30 years, SUNY Oswego faculty members have participated in the course proposal review process, continuing to uphold the authority of faculty in determining undergraduate course offerings.
Contact
Contact the Undergraduate Curriculum Council by email at [email protected].