Curriculum Forms and Resources: This link provides additional tools/resources for submitting curriculum forms, amd links to Kuali, UNM’s Catalog and Curriculum management tool, an online tool for course, program, and other forms. Curriculum revision is subject to review and approval by the Faculty Senate and other curriculum-related Committees. Direct questions to the Catalog and Curriculum staff at curric@unm.edu.

The course syllabus and bibliography should follow standard formats and include pertinent information as if you were giving it to students. Most UNM colleges, schools, or departments have sample syllabi formats, so check with your department’s and/or dean’s offices for one to follow. University faculty committees will base their decision, in part, on their review of these documents. The syllabus should include a schedule of material covered (organized by week or class meeting or other time frame), course objectives and goals, required text(s), and significant course requirements. The sample syllabus should give a clear sense of the scope, nature, schedule, integrity, and rigor of the course. For courses where both undergraduate and graduate credit is available, please be sure that your syllabus demonstrates justification for graduate credit.

For more detailed information on Student Learning Outcomes please review the Academic Program Assessment Manual provided by the Office of Assessment.

• The course description should inform potential students about the basis for variable credit (based on amount of student effort, course content, etc.).
• Variable credit courses that can be repeated for credit should include a rationale for maximum credits the course can count toward the graduate degree, and where appropriate indicate a maximum number of variable credits. For instance, “A 1–6 variable credit course may be repeated up to 3 times for a maximum of 8 credits.” Also clarify how credit will be determined from semester to semester.
• The syllabus should be considered a contract between the instructor and students. As such, the syllabus should include language about the student learning objectives (the instructor’s contractual obligation to the student), and about the expected student outputs (the students’ contractual obligation to the instructor).
• Some tips when proposing dual numbered (400/500), *300 and *400 courses:
  • Dual numbered courses (400/500) are to be offered only where significant and demonstrable academic benefits exist for both graduate and undergraduate students.
  • Enrollment in dual numbered courses is limited to graduate and senior level undergraduates or by permission of instructor.
  • All dual numbered courses should be taught at the graduate level, though work requirements may vary for undergraduates. The expectations of undergraduate and graduate students should be spelled out in the syllabus.
  • Courses which are taught at the undergraduate level, but are also available for graduate credit, should be offered at the *300 or *400 level. The additional expectations of graduate students should be spelled out in the syllabus.

A New Program request is used to propose new graduate degrees and new transcripted graduate certificates. For the state legislative statute concerning the process for approval of new graduate programs click here.

1. Graduate Unit Faculty prepare and submit in Kuali a 2–5 page executive summary, including rationale, budget/faculty projections, relation to regional economic or workforce needs.
   
2. Office of the Provost approves the Preliminary Review/Executive Summary in Kuali.
3. Graduate Unit Faculty prepare the proposal using the new degree template or new certificate template.
4. Office of the Registrar sends notification of intent to create a new graduate degree to NM Higher Education Department (HED) & NM Council of Graduate Deans (NMCGD).
5. Proposal is prepared in Kuali and routed though UNM for approval by:
   1. Registrar's Office
   2. Dean of Library Services
   3. Faculty Senate Graduate & Professional Committee
   4. Dean of Graduate Studies
   5. Faculty Senate Curricula Committee
   6. Office of the Provost
   7. Faculty Senate
   8. Board of Regents
      • (Stop here if proposal is to create a new graduate certificate program with already existing courses.)
   9. The proposal is sent to the NMCGD by the Dean of Graduate Studies
   10. Proposal is approved by the NMCGD and is forwarded to the HED
   11. HED staff forward the proposal to the Academic Council on Higher Education (ACHE), composed of the state’s provosts, for approval
   12. HED conducts its review of the proposal
   13. HED forwards the proposal to the State Board of Finance (SBOF) for final approval
   14. Graduate Studies will notify the Registrar's Office upon full approval.
   15. The Registrar's Office will request the CIP code and create a major/program code.

Screenshot of what to expect when uploading proposal documents:

Kuali, UNM’s Catalog and Curriculum management tool, is an online tool for course, program, and other forms. Curriculum revision is subject to review and approval by the Faculty Senate and other curriculum-related Committees. Direct questions to the Catalog and Curriculum staff at curric@unm.edu.

HSC users should use their HSC credentials to log in.