Governance Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

[Note: This information is meant to provide informal guidelines only.]

How do new courses get approved and listed in the catalog?
For lists of courses that already exist on campus, see the Undergraduate Catalog or the Graduate Catalog. New course proposals, modifications (e.g. in title, number, description, prerequisites, crosslisting status) are usually initiated by individual faculty or departmental committees. They must be passed in sequence by the department, a college or school curriculum committee, and the appropriate divisional committee. The process involves specific forms and deadlines. The process is described and the forms are available at the Web site of the Secretary of the Faculty. Check with your chair to find out about the appropriate process in your department/program.
The description or prerequisites for a course I teach are out of date. How can I change them?
Proposed changes must be passed in sequence by the department, a college or school curriculum committee, and the appropriate divisional committee. The process involves specific forms and deadlines. The process is described and the forms are available at the Web site of the Secretary of the Faculty. Check with your chair to find out about the appropriate process in your department/program.
Who decides what, when and where I will teach during any given semester?
You and your department/program. Departments differ in the processes they use to develop their Timetable listings and curriculum for any given semester or year. The planning process begins well in advance. Departments must submit their proposed timetables about a year in advance, and make final changes near the beginning of the semester preceding when the courses will actually be taught. Departments submit requests for summer teaching during the previous fall. Check with your chair to find out more.
If I teach in more than one department or program, which unit gets “credit” for my teaching?
UW–Madison uses two methods for tracking credits. In the traditional method, “credits follow the department” (CFD), the timetable department in which the student registers receives the credits. The university now also uses a “credits follow the instructor” (CFI) method. Knowing that credits can be tracked in this way helps overcome some of the concerns that deans, department chairs, and faculty have about teaching in interdisciplinary programs. For full explanation, see the Provost’s memo on this subject.
Who determines the requirements for obtaining an undergraduate degree?

An undergraduate degree involves requirements:

All-university requirements, such as the General Education requirement: “The university faculty has charge of all educational matters that concern more than one college, school or division, or which are otherwise of general interest” (FP&P 1.21.A). The Faculty Senate has been delegated this responsibility. The University Academic Planning Council (UAPC) “assures that appropriate review and consideration is given to requests for new programs; the implementation of proposals for new majors, degrees, degree name changes, departments, schools, or colleges; recommendations concerning the establishment or discontinuation of departments; and academic program evaluation.” Other committees, such as the General Education Committee, may make recommendations for changes. For current requirements, see the Undergraduate Catalog.

College-level requirements: Colleges have different procedures for determining any special requirements placed on students pursuing degrees in the college. These ultimately come before the (UAPC).

Majors and certificates: Proposals for new majors, new certificates, name changes or discontinuations of majors and certificates are initiated by program/department faculty. Proposals are then sent forward to the school/college, university, and, in some cases, Board of Regents for approval as outlined at the University Academic Planning Council.

How does a faculty member’s teaching enter into merit pay considerations?
Departments and colleges differ in the processes they use for merit consideration, but if teaching is part of the contractual obligation of a faculty member, it should be an important part of the individual’s merit pay consideration.
How does a faculty member’s teaching enter into tenure and promotion considerations?
If teaching is part of the contractual obligation of a faculty member, it should be an important part of the individual’s tenure and promotion considerations. The Divisional Committees require extensive documentation of excellence in teaching, including the course materials, the originals of course evaluations, peer reviews and summaries of course evaluations that include comparative materials. See the specifics in the requirements of the Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences and Social Studies.
May I require my students to attend class?
“Faculty and instructors may require students to attend scheduled meetings of a class and/or to participate in other course-related activities, including distance activities. Students are responsible for materials presented in such meetings or activities. Because courses are designed and conducted in diverse ways, faculty and instructors should inform students in writing at the beginning of each course if there are specific expectations for attendance/participation, including whether any component of the grade is based on such attendance/participation.” (from Faculty Legislation II-108)
What should I do if I suspect a student of cheating or plagiarism?
Refer to the Academic Misconduct Guideoffered by the Dean of Students. The L&S Handbook also provides useful information on academic misconduct.

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