Attachment A

Cross-Level Listing of Graduate/Undergraduate Courses

as amended and approved by the Faculty Senate - March 3, 2010

Academic Policies Committee/Task Force on UG/G Cross-listings

University Policy Recommendation

Rationale for Policy:

In preparation for SACS review it has become apparent that a substantial number of undergraduate and graduate cross-listings exist. It also appears that there is no set University policy about how faculty should articulate the differences when these courses are cross-listed. This policy provides explicit guidelines for faculty and administrators in determining whether or not these listings should occur. It also re-names them “Cross-Level Listings” so that they can be distinguished from cross-listings within a level, e.g. HIST 393/FAVS 399 US Documentaries of China.

In general, undergraduate and graduate cross-level listings should be avoided as much as possible; prerequisites should be made explicit to the extent possible using existing courses. When graduate/undergraduate classes are cross-level listed they should reflect the following guidelines:

1) Specific, unique expectations are provided for each course.

Graduate expectations must be commensurate with the level of the graduate course listed. The central expectation for graduate students is that they will do not only more work, but more difficult work than undergraduate students.

Possible Scenarios:

--Course expectations may be differentiated through assessment measures such as exams, written assignments, computational exercises, etc.

--Graduate expectations may include more advanced learning through additional, more sophisticated reading, research projects, course facilitation or experiential activities.

2) Prerequisites are the same or comparable for both courses, or more significant for the graduate section.

Possible Scenarios:

--A graduate course could require the same prerequisite undergraduate course; hence this guideline would be met.

--A prerequisite might be required only for the cross-level listed graduate course.

--A graduate course might include the substance of the prerequisite class, in this case the clause “permission of the instructor” would allow for individual instructor discretion regarding a student’s preparation for the course content.

--A graduate student, by virtue of having been admitted to a specific graduate program, may have already met the prerequisite requirement, thus being eligible to take the class.

3) Courses should be close in number designations.

Undergraduate and graduate cross-listing should occur within the context of general expectations about both cross-listing and course numbering. Only upper-level undergraduate courses (3xx and 4xx) and lower level-graduate courses (5xx and 6xx) may be cross-listed between graduate and undergraduate classes.

Possible Scenarios:

--A 700-level graduate course should not be cross-level listed with a 300-level undergraduate course.

--Exceptions to this guideline - may be made for special cases such as colloquia, special seminars, individual research projects, etc. If courses are listed in this manner, the instructor or department must provide additional justification and receive dean's approval.

4) Course titles must be related, but do not have to be identical.

5) Courses not eligible for cross-level listing.

Courses not approved for cross-level listing may not be co-located in the same classroom and taught together.  They must be taught separately.

Policy Implementation:

Once approved by the Faculty Senate, this policy will be distributed to all Schools and Colleges within the University, and posted on the Provost’s Faculty Information Pages. This information will also be included in the scheduling instructions provided by the Office of the Registrar. Final approval for cross-level listing of courses should be made by the dean or director level of the appropriate school or college.