CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT PROCEDURE
1.0 DEFINITIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS DOCUMENT
1.1 Capitalized words and phrases used in this Procedure document and not otherwise defined here have the meanings assigned to them in the Curriculum Enhancement Policy (PL-AC-19).
1.2 The following words and expressions are specific to this document and shall have the meanings hereby assigned to them:
1.2.1 Academic Catalog: A resource providing specific information on the University’s academic Programs and policies.
1.2.2 Assessment: The systematic process of documenting and using empirical data to measure knowledge, skills, attitudes, and beliefs.
1.2.3 Board: The Board of Trustees of the University.
1.2.4 Contact Hour: An hour of scheduled instruction given to Students and, normally, based on 50 minutes of delivery time, whether through lecture, laboratory sessions, clinical/workshop delivery, or other approved delivery format.
1.2.5 Credit Hour: The assigned value of a Learning Session’s hours, granted upon a Student's completion of a Course, as maintained by the University’s official transcripts or records, in accordance with the value assignment standards set in Qatar National Qualifications Framework.
1.2.6 Semester: A division of an Academic Year where a Student is enrolled in a Course(s) followed by an examination period.
1.3 Where a word or phrase is given a particular meaning, other parts of speech and grammatical forms of that word or phrase have corresponding meanings.
1.4 Where the context requires, words importing the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa.
2.0 Procedure Purpose
2.1 This procedure supports the Curriculum Enhancement Policy (PL-AC-19) by providing a systematic, transparent, and evidence-based framework for continuous improvement of academic Programs.
3.0 Procedure Statements
3.1 Responsibilities of Academic Units
3.1.1 Academic Units are responsible for the ongoing quality improvement of Program Curricular, in accordance with the Learning Outcomes Assessment, Program Review, and Program Accreditation and Certification policies and procedures.
3.1.2 Review Findings: Analyze results from the latest Learning Outcomes Assessment, Program Review, and Accreditation reports to identify potential Curriculum Enhancements.
3.1.3 Engage with the relevant Program Curriculum Committees and College Curriculum Committees to draft Curriculum Enhancement proposals, including the proposed change, rationale, and evidence of stakeholder consultation as outlined below.
3.1.4 Academic Units must submit the proposals for review and approval according to the required approval levels (Level I, II, or III).
3.2 Responsibilities of Program Development and Accreditation (PDA) Department:
3.2.1 The Program Development and Accreditation (PDA) Department plays a quality assurance and oversight role in the Curriculum Enhancement process:
3.2.1.1 Reviewing all Curriculum Enhancement proposals for alignment with the Curriculum Enhancement Policy and related institutional procedures.
3.2.1.2 Identifying the potential impact of proposed changes on other Programs and on students currently enrolled.
3.2.1.3 Providing feedback to Academic Units to ensure proposals meet quality standards and policy requirements.
3.2.1.4 Tracking approved Curriculum Enhancements and maintaining institutional records.
3.2.1.5 Validating the level classification to prevent misclassification and ensure institutional consistency.
3.2.1.6 Supporting Academic Units in interpreting Accreditation or Program Review findings that may lead to Curriculum Enhancements.
3.2.1.7 Reporting annually to the Academic Council on the status and impact of implemented Curriculum Enhancements.
3.3 A Curriculum Enhancement for a Course must be:
3.3.1 Scheduled for future implementation (not applied retroactively).
3.3.2 Approved at least four (4) months before the scheduled implementation date.
3.3.3 Implemented for at least one semester before a further enhancement is proposed.
3.4 An Academic Unit initiates a Curriculum Enhancement in the Curriculum Management System, in accordance with Annex A and as part of the processes outlined in the following policies and procedures:
3.4.1 Program Review Policy (PL-AC-18) and Procedure (PR-AC-18).
3.4.2 Learning Outcomes Assessment Policy (PL-AC-29) and Procedure (PR-AC-29).
3.4.3 Program Accreditation and Certification Policy (PL-AC16) and Procedure (PR-AC-16).
3.4.4 Credit Hour Policy (PL-AC-26) and Procedure (PR-AC-26).
3.5 Program Development and Accreditation reviews the Curriculum Enhancement to ensure that:
3.5.1 The appropriate Level has been assigned.
3.5.2 The change will not result in misalignment of the impacted Program(s) with the Academic Programs Development Framework.
3.5.3 The appropriate approvals have been obtained.
3.5.4 The supporting documentation has been attached.
3.6 Curriculum Enhancements are classified into three levels (Level I, II, and III) based on complexity, scope, and impact. The submission and approval sequence is outlined in the Curriculum Enhancement Workflow attached under Annex A. The submission timelines are defined in the Curriculum Enhancement Timeline, attached under Annex B.
3.7 Level I Curriculum Enhancement
3.7.1 Changes classified as Level I have limited impact, typically affecting one (1) Program, not impacting the Curriculum Map, and not exceeding more than 20% of total Program Credits.
3.7.2 Must be approved by:
3.7.2.1 Program Curriculum Committee.
3.7.3 Must be supported by:
3.7.3.1 Program Curriculum Committee meeting minutes.
3.7.3.2 Where appropriate: survey results, grade analysis, Accreditation requirements.
3.7.4 Changes of this nature include:
3.7.4.1 Typographical, grammatical, and formatting issues.
3.7.4.2 Pre-requisites.
3.7.4.3 Co-requisites.
3.7.4.4 Sub-Course Learning Outcomes.
3.7.4.5 Major topics.
3.7.4.6 Textbooks.
3.7.4.7 Learning methodologies.
3.7.4.8 Assessment weighting (less than or equal to 20%).
3.8 Level II Curriculum Enhancement
3.8.1 Changes classified as Level II have significant impacts, typically affecting Curricular details or structure in more than one (1) Program in one (1) Academic Unit, not impacting the Curriculum Map, and not exceeding more than 20% of Program Credits.
3.8.2 Must be approved by:
3.8.2.1 Program Curriculum Committee for all impacted Programs.
3.8.2.2 College Curriculum Committee for all impacted colleges.
3.8.2.3 Where a change would otherwise be classified as Level I but is elevated to Level II solely due to its impact on multiple Programs across multiple colleges, approval may be obtained from the College Curriculum Committees.
3.8.3 Must be supported by:
3.8.3.1 Program Curriculum Committee meeting minutes for all impacted Programs.
3.8.3.2 College Curriculum Committee meeting minutes.
3.8.3.3 Where appropriate: survey results, Accreditation requirements, grade analysis, Program Advisory Committee meeting minutes.
3.8.3.4 Where a change would otherwise be classified as Level I but is elevated to Level II solely due to its impact on multiple Programs across multiple colleges, supporting documentation may include meeting minutes from either all Program Curriculum Committees or all College Curriculum Committees.
3.8.4 Changes of this nature include:
3.8.4.1 Level I changes that impact more than one (1) Program within the Academic Unit.
3.8.4.2 Course code.
3.8.4.3 Course title.
3.8.4.4 Course description.
3.8.4.5 Course resequencing.
3.8.4.6 Course Learning Outcomes.
3.8.4.7 Course passing grade.
3.8.4.8 Change in Course delivery methodology.
3.8.4.9 Addition, and/or removal of Course(s) less than or equal to six (6) Credit or Contact Hours over a three (3) year period.
3.9 Level III Curriculum Enhancement
3.9.1 Changes classified as Level III are major transformative changes that impact the Curriculum Map, exceed more than 20% of Program Credits, or impact multiple Academic Units.
3.9.2 Must be approved by:
3.9.2.1 Program Curriculum Committee for all impacted Programs.
3.9.2.2 College Curriculum Committee for all impacted colleges.
3.9.2.3 University Curriculum and Program Development Committee.
3.9.2.4 Academic Council.
3.9.2.5 President.
3.9.2.6 Executive Committee of the Board and the Board, as applicable.
3.9.3 Must be supported by:
3.9.3.1 Program Curriculum Committee meeting minutes for all impacted Programs.
3.9.3.2 College Curriculum Committee meeting minutes for all impacted colleges.
3.9.3.3 University Curriculum and Program Development Committee meeting minutes.
3.9.3.4 Academic Council meeting minutes.
3.9.3.5 Where appropriate, Program Advisory Committee meeting minutes for all impacted colleges.
3.9.3.6 Where appropriate: survey results, Accreditation requirements, revised curriculum mapping matrix, and grade analysis.
3.9.3.7 Minor Level I changes as described in Section 3.7.4 that affect multiple colleges are exempt from the requirement in Section 3.9.2.1 and 3.9.3.1.
3.9.3.8 President’s approval.
3.7.2.6 Executive Committee of the Board and the Board, as applicable.
3.9.4 Changes of this nature include:
3.9.4.1 Program title.
3.9.4.2 Program description.
3.9.4.3 Program educational outcomes.
3.9.4.4 Student Learning Outcomes.
3.9.4.5 Program entrance/exit requirements.
3.9.4.6 Program restructuring affecting more than 20% of total number of Courses in the Program.
3.9.4.7 Addition and/or removal of Course(s) greater than six (6) Credit or Contact Hours over a three (3) year period.
3.9.5 Once the Curriculum Enhancement has secured all the appropriate approvals, Program Development and Accreditation Department updates the information in the curriculum management system, ensuring assignment across:
3.9.5.1 Admissions and registration system.
3.9.5.2 University website.
3.9.5.3 Academic Catalog (print and electronic).
3.9.5.4 Course master syllabi.
3.9.5.5 Accreditation Submissions.
3.9.5.6 Syllabi provided to external entities.
4.0 Related Documents
4.1 PL-AC-16: Program Accreditation and Certification Policy.
4.2 PL-AC-18: Program Review Policy.
4.3 PL-AC-19: Curriculum Enhancement Policy.
4.4 PL-AC-26: Credit Hour Policy.
4.5 PL-AC-29: Learning Outcomes Assessment Policy.
4.6 PR-AC-16: Program Accreditation and Certification Procedure.
4.7 PR-AC-18: Program Review Procedure.
4.8 PR-AC-26: Credit Hour Procedure.
4.9 PR-AC-29: Learning Outcomes Assessment Procedure.