Any course/curriculum change that occurs at Cumberland University is initiated and implemented solely for the purpose of providing a superior learning experience for our students. Coursework and curriculum of the University are driven by the Faculty and approved by both the Faculty and the Administration.

Course or Curricular changes are normally initiated by full-time Faculty. These proposals are presented to the responsible School Dean that will submit the proposal to the respective School’s Faculty body for review. The proposal for a curricular/course change must be appropriately documented on the University’s Curriculum Change Form, which can be found on the P drive in the “Curriculum and Course Changes” folder. With a two-third majority vote by the School’s Faculty, the course/curriculum change will be submitted to the University Committee for Course Curriculum and Academic Policy (UCCCAP) for undergraduate and graduate proposals (only for review not a vote) and Graduate Council (GC) for graduate program proposals.

UCCCAP and GC are parallel academic bodies that review course and curriculum proposals. UCCCAP is the larger over-branching academic policy body of the University that concentrates on undergraduate course and curricular changes, as well as the academic policies and procedures of the University. Although this body does not explicitly

vote on the acceptance of graduate course/curriculum proposals, it may express concerns and provide advice on proposed changes in graduate programs as they affect the greater University as a whole. Any view that UCCCAP may have of undergraduate or graduate course/curricular proposals will be communicated directly to the School Dean and Dean’s Council via the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Communication between UCCCAP and GC is facilitated by the commonality of a member that serves as a Liaison between these two academic bodies.

Graduate Council is an academic body that has the express purpose of reviewing graduate course and curricular proposals and graduate specific academic policies. Any judgment that GC makes of a graduate course and/or curricular change will be communicated directly to the School Dean and Dean’s Council via the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Cumberland University recognizes the need for review and potential modification or addition to current academic policies. Therefore, the University maintains the following procedure for the consideration of policy revision.

The University procedure for Academic Policy revision is as follows:

1.	Academic Policy revision may be proposed by faculty, School Deans, the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, or the University President.

2.	Proposals are presented in writing to the Deans’ Council.

3.	Proposals must be approved by a majority vote by the Deans’ Council.

4.	Proposals must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

5.	Proposals must be approved by the University President.

6.	Policy revisions are published in the Academic Policy Manual and the University Catalog.

Academic Affairs Support Staff, Associate VP for Academic Affairs, VP for Academic Affairs

To facilitate the accomplishment of its academic function, the basic academic administrative organization of Cumberland University consists of Schools, Deans, Office of Academic Affairs, University Committee on Courses, Curriculum and Academic Policy (UCCCAP), Deans’ Council and the University President. These arrangements are appropriate to the primary mission of the university.Cumberland University  Academic policies of the University that do not pertain to its Online and Professional Studies programs may arise through one of four routes: Submission to or Origination by UCCCAP, the Office of Academic Affairs, the Deans’ Council, and/or the University President. Each of these bodies communicates with the others regarding the efficacy of the proposed policy. To ensure that all academic endeavors of Cumberland University remain true to the university mission, any new academic policy that does not affect the University’s Online and Professional Studies programs must transverse a series of review bodies. Any such proposal submitted by UCCCAP must be first approved by the Deans’ Counsel and the Office of Academic Affairs and then by the University President before implementation. Academic Policy proposals made by the Office of Academic Affairs, Deans’ Council and/or the university President should be reviewed by UCCCAP and approved by all review bodies prior to practice. Policies that are School specific will be reviewed by the Vice President for Academic Affairs to determine adherence to the university mission and its value.

Academic policies relating to the University’s Online and Professional Studies Programs may arise through the following routes:  Submission to or proposal by the Online and Professional Studies Academics Committee (OSAC); Online Deans; Online Program Directors; and/or the University President.  Each of these bodies should communicate with each other regarding the efficacy of the proposed policy where feasible.  To ensure that all academic endeavors of the University remain true to the true to the university mission, any new academic policy that relates to the University’s Online and Professional Studies programs be approved by OSAC.