MUS Transfer Initiative Phase I: Common Course Numbering CCN

1. MUS Transfer Initiative Phase I: Common Course Numbering (CCN) FLOCs, TICCs, and SPOCs: Building and Maintaining a Coordinated Curriculum in the Brave New World of CCN

2. Common Course Numbering The What and the When of CCN Who’s responsible for What? How does the process work? How is the initial course alignment achieved? How is the CCN maintained?

3. Common Course Numbering:What is it? Primary Purpose: to provide students with a clear and transparent means of knowing which courses are equivalent across different campuses in Montana. Corollary #1: CCN also serves to identify similar, but non-equivalent classes. Corollary #2: CCN preserves integrity and autonomy of campuses and programs by addressing equivalencies at the course level, not the program or department level. Corollary #2: CCN addresses ALL undergraduate courses in all academic areas at all campuses

4. Common Course Numbering:Timetable--when is this happening? First disciplines addressed: November 2007 First CCN lists published: January 2009 CCN Completion Target: June 30, 2011 Deadline for Fall 2011 Catalogs: January 30, 2011

5. So How Does CCN Work? What’s Expected of Whom?

6. Common Course Numbering:Who’s Involved? FLOC - Faculty Learning Outcomes Councils - primary responsibility for reviewing courses within academic disciplines to differentiate equivalent and unique courses across the state. TICC - Transfer Initiative Coordinating Council - provides campus leadership to guide policy implementation and to review & approve FLOC decisions. SPOC - Campus Single Point of Contact - ensures compliance of campus-based decisions about course alignment within CCN guidelines through the campus curriculum change process OCHE staff coordinates, facilitates, maintains CCN data

7. Process Overview:From the FLOC to the TICC to the Catalog Compile and correct raw course list for discipline FLOC decides which courses are equivalent/unique Course learning outcomes document & validate FLOC decisions FLOC efforts are reviewed/approved by council of campus leaders (TICC) New prefix & course numbers are implemented across the system

8. The Work of the FLOC:Initial Preparation--Listing Courses Compile and Correct List of Courses in your discipline, using MUS data warehouse Registrars Faculty Confirm completeness and accuracy of list of courses – include all potential courses within the subject area (cast a wide net)

9. Faculty Learning Outcomes Councils (FLOCs) Who?(members)  What? (duties) How?(process) Faculty and staff in the subject area, supported by OCHE staff FLOC members provide expert review of courses to determine which are equivalent and which are unique to a campus Compare intended learning outcomes of comparable courses by reviewing existing documentation for those courses (syllabi, etc.)

10. How Does a FLOC Meeting Proceed? Define category (academic discipline / field / subject area) What courses should be included under a given prefix? Scope & boundaries of discipline (distinguish between “discipline” and “department”) State broad learning outcomes for entire field Understand system-level data requirements / constraints (Banner) Confirm accuracy & completeness of course list Identify potential crossover courses & prefixes Suggest numbering scheme, titling conventions for equivalents

11. How Does a FLOC Meeting Proceed? (continued) Identify “low hanging fruit” -- easily identified equivalent and unique courses Obvious and traditionally transferred courses Opportunities for curricular coordination Discuss Learning Outcomes Compare course syllabi and other materials to develop sense of equivalency Assign work areas to different FLOC members Identify FLOC Leader / Coordinator Sign up for SharePoint Access

12. FLOC-work: from origin to CCN destination:Confirm proposed equivalencies by comparing learning outcomes

13. Faculty Responsibilities ...as a FLOC Member Communicate with faculty on your campus, collect syllabi Submit existing course outcomes statements Follow up with other FLOC members Confirm change process is followed ...as a FLOC Leader Help maintain contact among FLOC members Represent FLOC decisions to external groups (including OCHE) Consult regarding CCN list changes and posts to SharePoint

14. Implementing FLOC decisions:The “TICC” Final oversight and review of FLOC recommendations regarding course equivalencies assigned to council of academic administrators from all campuses: Transfer Initiative Coordinating Council (TICC) reviews FLOC recommendations to ensure compatibility with broader campus concerns FLOC has 48 hour follow-up review period Matrix is distributed for implementation

15. Sustaining the Curriculum-change Process: Ensuring Faculty Primacy in Substance of Curriculum Embed CCN compatibility into standard, campus-based procedures for maintaining curriculum (CRC entities): If adding or changing a course, look for a potentially equivalent course among current courses on the CCN matrix and consult the FLOC leader for guidance. If there is a similar course but without outcomes listed, contact the other campuses which offer a similar course to confirm/clarify. If the proposed course is not found to be equivalent to a course on the current matrix, provide a recommendation of prefix and number to be added to the prefix.

16. Add/Change Curriculum Process, Continued… Send completed change form with recommendations to your campus Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Learning outcomes must accompany all new / unique courses before acceptance into CCN matrix. Add/change recommendation is forwarded to OCHE by the SPOC OCHE makes change to system database and confirms with campus registrar for change to campus database

17. Maintaining the CCN

18. Resources for You On campus: SPOC – add/change questions Registrar’s Office – technical questions about implementation CAO – general transfer project questions At OCHE: Bill Macgregor – policy and curriculum questions bmacgregor@montana.edu 444-0637 Sarah Elkins – transfer initiative operations questions selkins@montana.edu 444-0314 Bart Boggess – SharePoint access and usage questions bboggess@montana.edu 444-0344

19. Resources for Youon the web... SharePoint – discussion board, document library including final matrices: restricted access for participants in CCN process http://portal.mus.edu/SITES/TRANSFER/Pages/Default.aspx Website – operational guidelines document, common course number transfer guide, policies http://mus.edu/transfer/index2.asp