3.4.11 Academic program coordination

For each major in a degree program, the institution assigns responsibility for program coordination, as well as for curriculum development and review, to persons academically qualified in the field. In those degree programs for which the institution does not identify a major, this requirement applies to a curricular area or concentration.

Judgment of Compliance

Compliance

Narrative of Justification

For each major in a degree program, Bennett College assigns responsibility for program coordination and for curriculum development and review to persons academically qualified in the field.  Responsibilities include leadership and accountability for each major.  The program coordinators for Bennett College are appointed from the ranks of the Bennett College faculty. Faculty members are responsible for curriculum development and review, and share these essential responsibilities through collaborative participation at the department, division, and college levels. (See Academic Affairs Handbook, Section I, pp. 5-10)   At Bennett, standards for individuals responsible for program coordination are the same as the credentials for teaching in a degree program.   The majors offered by Bennett College, the departments through which they are offered, the program coordinators, and their academic qualifications are listed below.

 

Division of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Major/Degree	Department	Program Coordinator	Academic Qualifications	Most Advanced Degree and Discipline
Biology (B.S.)	Biology	Dr. Sekhara Rao Basavaraju	Ph.D., Animal Sciences, (Diary Science), Texas A and M      University M.S.,  Animal Sciences, Texas A and M University B.V.Sc.,  Veterinary Medicine, Sri Venkateswara University	Ph.D., Animal Sciences, (Diary Science), Texas A and M University
Chemistry (B.S.)	Chemistry	Dr. Susan J. Curtis	Ph.D.,  Biochemistry University of Chicago M.S., Biochemistry, University of Chicago A.B.,  Biochemical Sciences, Radcliffe College	Ph.D., Biochemistry University of Chicago
Mathematics (B.S.) Computer Science (B.S.)	Mathematics and Computer Science	Dr. Richard L. Ponting (Interim Chair)	Ph.D. Physics, Florida State University M.S., Physics, Miami University of Ohio B.S., Physics, Miami University of Ohio	Ph. D., Physics, Florida State University
Psychology (B.S. and B.A.)	Psychology	Dr. Alan Goble	Ph.D.,Psychology, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill B.A., Psychology, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill	Ph.D.,Psychology, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill

 

Division of Social Sciences and Education
Major	Department	Program Coordinator	Academic Qualifications	Most Advanced Degree and Discipline
Political Science	Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology	Ambrous Jacobs	M.A. Political Science, San Diego State; M.A. Management, Stanford University	Ph.D. Political Science, San Diego State
Social Work	Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology	Delores Shirley	M.S.W.	Ed.D (ABD) Educational Leadership
Business	Business and Economics	Pius Nyadzor	B.S. Business Management M.S. Agriculture	M.B.A., NC A&T
Journalism	Journalism and Media Studies	Lona Cobb	B.A. English, Urbana University; M.A. Journalism	Ph.D. Philosophy, Southern University
Elementary Education	Curriculum and Instruction	Dorothy Brown	B.S. Early Childhood Education, Fayetteville State University; M.A. Elementary Education, NCCU	Ed.D. Education Administration, South Carolina State
Middle Grades	Curriculum and Instruction	Sharon Stanfield	B.S. Intermediate Education, WSSU; M.S. Reading Education, NC A&T
Special Education
Secondary Education	Curriculum and Instruction	Althea Truesdale	B.A. English, Spelman; M.A. Guidance and Counseling, Xavier	Ph.D. Teacher Education, UNCG

Program coordination and curriculum development and review begin at the departmental level.  As outlined in the Academic Affairs Handbook, Section I, pp. 5-10, the duties of the academic affairs administrative leaders, including department chair (or department chairs in the case of interdisciplinary programs) include responsibility for over all programs within his or her department.   Program coordinators are selected by the department chair, the division chair, or the Provost. For some disciplines, the department chair also serves as the program coordinator. As indicated by the charts provided above, program coordinators for all degrees offered by the College are identified for each department.  All programs within a division are ultimately the administrative responsibility of the chair of that division.

Curriculum content and development are the responsibilities of the department's chair and faculty. In addition to departmental review, several other College bodies review and approve all changes to courses and curricula. (See also Faculty Handbook, Standing Committee, Curriculum Committee, p. 15)  One of the areas of review by other College bodies concerns how the changes fit into the broader picture of the department, division, and College as a whole. How curriculum changes within one department may affect programs in other departments is considered as well.

The functions of the Curriculum Committee and the curriculum approval process are outlined in the Curriculum Committee Functions and New Curriculum Approval Process document.

Supporting Documents

SOURCE	LOCATION/Special Instructions
Academic Affairs Handbook	Office of Academic Affairs
Curriculum Committee Functions and New Curriculum Approval Process	Office of Academic Affairs
Faculty Handbook	Office of Academic Affairs