Changes to curriculum proposed for new year
Every year, the curriculum throughout each department undergoes many changes.
In some cases, the changes are major; while in others, changes are much smaller.
Students returning to Waynesburg University for the 2015-16 school year, as well as students entering the university either as freshmen or transfers, will get to see the changes that will be instated for the following year.
“This year we had a lot of proposals from across the campus,” said Kristine Schiffbauer, instructor of visual communication and the chair of the Curriculum and Educational Policy Committee.
Every year, the committee as well as the Waynesburg University faculty must approve proposals submitted for a change to the curriculum in full. Once approved, any programs will then be presented to the trustees.
According to Schiffbauer, there are curriculum changes made every year and every proposal for a new program has a different reason. Most of the time, proposals for change are made to keep up with the departments’ needs as well as the needs of the university.
“Curriculum changes happen for reasons,” said Schiffbauer. “The committee works hard to make sure the changes work into the overall curriculum so that there are no negatives.”
The programs approved for the 2015-16 school year include both minor and major changes.
The smaller changes are usually revisions made to the catalog that comes out for every year. As some majors or classes are no longer used, they are taken out of the catalog or replaced with the updated curriculum and classes.
“Changes to the catalog are always under review,” said Schiffbauer.
According to Schiffbauer, the highlights of the curriculum proposals this year were the revision of the Honors Program, the creation of a public relations minor and the creation of a financial mathematics minor through the Department of Business Administration.
Changes made to the curriculum, such as the creation of minors or an update to an already existing program, are undertaken to provide students with the best education.
“I would certainly hope the curriculum changes are helpful to the students,” said Schiffbauer, who stated the changes and revisions made to the curriculum are meant to improve the learning experience of students.