By Cassidey Kavathas, News Editor
The curriculum committee, part of St. Bonaventure University’s faculty senate, has been around for a long time but under incoming faculty senate chair, Rene’ Hauser, changes are coming to the committee.
“We’re adding another faculty senator to the committee that will serve as co-chair and each co-chair will then be the chair of a subcommittee,” said Hauser. “One subcommittee will review all the proposals for arts and sciences and general education. The other subcommittee will review all of the proposals that have to do with professional schools and honors courses.”
The committee is currently made up of two students, two administrators and six faculty members from across the university with one senator who serves as chair. Each subcommittee will be made up of the co-chair, a faculty senator, an administrator, a student and three faculty members.
“The job of the curriculum committee chair and the curriculum committee itself is an honorable position,” said Hauser.
Everyone in the committee reviews all proposals such as new courses, changes to courses including course name and number changes, removing or adding something to a major, new majors, new programs and the general education distributions for undergraduate programs.
“It’s way too much work in my opinion for one person and one committee to do,” said Hauser. “Especially at key times of the year, like in the spring when people are writing new courses or changing their courses to get ready for the fall and at the beginning or the end of each semester.”
The committee has not yet been approved by the faculty senate. The makeup of the committee will be approved at the May faculty senate meeting.
“This change that we are making probably will not affect the normal, everyday student,” said Hauser. “As a faculty member you are more likely to feel that difference and definitely as a member of the committee and as a faculty senator you will feel that difference.”
Hauser hopes this will help with the stress of being a part of the committee as well as help speed up the process of getting these changes approved.
“As the faculty senate chair, I’m going to feel this difference, as I’m not going to see my curriculum committee chair withering away in front of me,” said Hauser.
kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
