Curriculum Bylaws



General Procedures on Curriculum

1.0 Academic Senate

1.1 In accordance with the provisions of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, the Cypress College Academic Senate has the primary authority and responsibility for representing the faculty regarding academic and professional matters affecting the college and the district, chief among which is policy development and implementation in matters of curriculum.

1.2 While retaining its broader authority in matters of curriculum, the Academic Senate delegates certain powers and duties to the Campus Curriculum Committee, as set forth herein.

2.0 Campus Curriculum Committee

2.1 Authority and Scope

2.1.1. The Campus Curriculum Committee shall have general responsibility and authority for coordinating and facilitating the curriculum matters of the college, including the establishment of consistent curriculum guidelines and practices with respect to the programs and services of the college and the resolution of curriculum policy and procedural issues.

2.1.2 The Curriculum Committee shall have jurisdiction with respect to all credit and noncredit courses and programs offered under the auspices of the college or its auxiliary organizations, including distance learning and contract education.

2.1.3 Under the auspices of the Academic Senate, the Curriculum Committee shall determine procedures and make recommendations with respect to the following:

2.1.3.1 proposals for new courses, changes to existing courses, and deactivation of courses, including assessment of content, units of credit, prerequisites, class size (subject to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement), assignment of courses to disciplines, and other relevant considerations;

2.1.3.2 general education curriculum;

2.1.3.3 academic and career technical education majors;

2.1.3.4 degree and certificate requirements;

2.1.3.5 campus and intra-district curriculum policies;

2.1.3.6 other functions as may be prescribed by mutual agreement of the Academic Senate and the Vice President of Instruction.

2.1.4 In the exercise of its responsibilities, the Curriculum Committee shall generally ensure adherence to external mandates for a legal and accreditable curriculum, with specific reference to relevance and appropriateness in terms of the following evaluative criteria:

2.1.4.1 the comprehensive mission of the California Community Colleges;

2.1.4.2 the missions of the district and the college;

2.1.4.3 the intended student population and community;

2.1.4.4 balance and integration of curriculum relative to college programs.

2.2 Composition of Committee

The membership of the Curriculum Committee shall be comprised of the following:

2.2.1 A faculty Chair, appointed by the Academic Senate.

2.2.1.1 The term of appointment shall be three (3) years, and may be renewed for an additional 3-year term or an agreed upon timeframe, with service limited to two (2) consecutive terms: in the case where no other faculty member is elected, the current chair may choose to serve another term or an agreed upon timeframe.

2.2.1.2 Any person appointed as Chair shall have a minimum of 2 years of curriculum-related experience, preferably 2 years serving on a Curriculum Committee, as a condition to such appointment.

2.2.1.3 The Chair shall be a nonvoting member, except in the event of a tie, in which case the Chair shall cast the deciding vote.

2.2.1.4 The Chair shall sit as a voting member of the Academic Senate and its Executive Committee and shall receive release time that is commensurate with the ongoing responsibilities

2.2.1.5 The Curriculum Chair-Elect will begin their term at the start of the final fall semester of the current curriculum Chair’s term of office. The election shall be by voice, roll call, or a signed ballot. Elections shall be held at the last regular meeting in Spring at the commencement of the agenda. The voting members shall consist of current voting members of the Curriculum Committee. The current curriculum chair shall conduct the elections.

2.2.1.6 The Curriculum Chair-Elect shall assume their responsibilities immediately upon the conclusion of the elections. The Curriculum Chair Elect will be provided compensation commensurate with the ongoing responsibilities.

2.2.2 One voting faculty Division Representative from each of the following divisions:

  1. Business and Computer Information Systems;
  2. Career Technical Education
  3. Counseling/Student Development
  4. Fine Arts
  5. Health Science
  6. Kinesiology and Athletics
  7. Language Arts
  8. Library/LRC
  9. Science, Engineering and Mathematics;
  10. Social Sciences

2.2.2.1 Division Representatives shall be tenured or tenure-track faculty members, elected by the full-time faculty of the division; elections shall be facilitated by the Academic Senate.

2.2.2.2 The term of appointment shall be three (3) years, and may be renewed for an additional 3-year term or an agreed upon timeframe, with service limited to two (2) consecutive terms: in the case where no other faculty member is elected, the current Division Representative may choose to serve another term or an agreed upon timeframe.

2.2.2.3 For preservation of continuity, the terms of Division Representatives shall be staggered, in such manner as may be established by the Curriculum Committee.

2.2.2.4 All Divisions with representation on the Curriculum Committee have a vote in curriculum decisions, have a voice in concerns of overlap or any other conflict with other divisions’ development of new curriculum and can submit new curriculum items to the Curriculum Committee.

2.2.2.5 In the absence of a Division Representative, the Curriculum Committee will oversee revision of existing curriculum to maintain compliance with Title 5.

2.2.3 The Vice President of Instruction, ex officio, who shall serve as non-voting member.

2.2.4 The Dean or designee representing our college at LAOCRC, ex officio, who shall serve as non-voting member.

2.2.5 The campus Articulation Officer, ex officio, who shall serve as voting member.

2.2.6 One Division Dean, appointed by the Vice President of Instruction, who shall serve as a non-voting member. The term of such appointment shall be one (1) year, with the right of reappointment for an indefinite number of terms.

2.2.7 One (1) PT faculty member, who shall serve as non-voting member, appointed by the Senate.

2.2.8 One Admissions and Records Representative, chosen by the area, who shall serve as a non-voting member. The term of such appointment shall be one (1) year, with the right of reappointment for an indefinite number of terms.

2.2.9 One Student appointed by the President of the Associated Student Body on an annual basis, who shall serve as a non-voting member.

2.2.10 Curriculum Specialist, ex officio, who shall serve as a non-voting member.

2.2.11 Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator (CPL), ex officio, who shall serve as a non-voting member.

2.2.12 Other membership, with such rights and duties as may be recommended by the Curriculum Committee and approved by mutual agreement of the Academic Senate and the Vice President of Instruction.

2.3 Duties of Committee Members

2.3.1 General Duties

All members of the Committee are expected to exercise the following responsibilities:

  1. Attend all meetings;
  2. Keep abreast of curriculum issues, including Title 5, matriculation, articulation, general education, and graduation requirements
  3. Act as resource persons in their areas of expertise;
  4. Serve on subcommittees and perform other duties as assigned;
  5. Actively participate in discussion and, when appropriate, vote on issues before the committee;
  6. Act as a liaison and communicate with their constituents such as division deans, division faculty, evaluators, staff etc.
  7. Review curriculum in the course management system as appropriate.
  8. Division Representatives may be provided compensation commensurate with the ongoing responsibilities.

2.3.2 Duties of the Chair

  1. Review all curriculum in the course management system as appropriate.
  2. Prepare the Agenda for each meeting of the Curriculum Committee and proof the Minutes of each meeting;
  3. Keep accurate records of all policy changes and updates, including review and update of the curriculum handbook;
  4. Attend, as appropriate, campus, district and other meetings which address curriculum issues relevant to the college;
  5. Make all appointments to subcommittees of the Curriculum Committee and serve, ex officio, as a nonvoting member of such subcommittees;
  6. Serve as the lead member of the District Curriculum Coordination Committee team and spokesperson in presenting campus curriculum issues before the District Curriculum Coordination Committee and to the Board of Trustees.
  7. Submit materials to be forwarded to the District Curriculum Coordinating Committee for inclusion on the agenda;
  8. Act as liaison between the Curriculum Committee and the Academic Senate and prepare curriculum reports for presentation to the Senate;
  9. Act as liaison between the Curriculum Committee and the Fullerton College and NOCE Curriculum Committees.
  10. Advise faculty and staff, as appropriate, on curriculum issues, procedures and regulations;
  11. Coordinate with the Vice President of Instruction on curriculum matters;
  12. Communicate with the division deans.
  13. May be asked to serve as a resource for the following committees; District Consultation Council (DCC), Districtwide Enrollment Management Advisory Committee (DEMAC), Council on Budget and Facilities (CBF), President’s Advisory Council (PAC), Planning and Budget Committee (PBC). Maybe asked to assist with Program Review.
  14. Take advantage of curriculum training opportunities as provided.
  15. The Curriculum Chair-Elect, upon assuming the position of chair at the first regular meeting of the fall semester, shall be required to hold a seminar for Curriculum Committee’s Procedures, including the role/authority of the Curriculum Committee, an overview of the Brown Act, and introduction of Robert’s Rules of Order.
  16. The Curriculum Chair shall be provided compensation commensurate with the ongoing responsibilities.

2.3.3 Duties of the Chair-Elect

  1. Shall serve as Chair in the absence of the Chair, assuming the duties of the Chair unless otherwise defined by the Committee.
  2. Shall review Title 5 and Accreditation requirements and update the curriculum training guide and be required to distribute a draft copy of the revised curriculum training guide to all curriculum representatives before the end of the spring semester.
  3. Take advantage of curriculum training opportunities as provided.
  4. Any duties that are in the competency of curriculum chair as deemed appropriate.
  5. Attend all meetings to accompany the Chair as an observer.
  6. Review all curriculum in the course management system as appropriate.
  7. The Curriculum Chair-Elect, upon assuming the position of chair at the first regular meeting of the fall semester, shall be required to hold a seminar for Curriculum Committee’s Procedures, including the role/authority of the Curriculum Committee, an overview of the Brown Act, and introduction of Robert’s Rules of Order.

2.3.4 Duties of Division Representatives

In addition to the general duties prescribed in section 2.3.1, Division Representatives shall be responsible for the following:

  1. Represent the interests and concerns of their respective divisions in matters of curriculum, with the understanding that such interests must be tempered by global perspective in matters of policy and procedure;
  2. Advise and consult with division and department faculty members and work with Department Coordinators and Division Deans in procedural and informational matters relating to creation, revision and deletion of courses and programs.
  3. Assist the Division in expediting curriculum submissions and catalog revisions;
  4. Communicate with Department Coordinators and Division Deans and division members.
  5. As part of the technical curriculum review, 2-4 Division Representatives will, under the direction of chair, assist with detailed curriculum review at the Technical Level and receive professional expert compensation.

2.3.5 Duties of the Division Dean

  1. Work closely with faculty, the Department Coordinator and the Division Representative in matters of curriculum development within the division;
  2. In collaboration with faculty, identify curriculum impacts as it relates to scheduling, degree/certificate pathways, financial and human resources as well physical space and facilities implications on campus;
  3. Identify and communicate campus processes, procedures and timelines to faculty to ascertain needs and financial resources prior to curriculum approvals. Deans shall serve as a resource to faculty to help implement new curriculum and programs early in the process of curriculum development;
  4. Assist faculty, the Department Coordinator and the Division Representative in matters related to the development of proposals for new courses or course revisions as well as new programs or program revisions;
  5. Consult with faculty, the Department Coordinators and the Division Representative on proposals from Fullerton  College and NOCE, other divisions and general changes in curriculum affecting the entire college;
  6. Review all curriculum submissions and communicate via course management system to ensure that requests support the college mission, are aligned with initiatives stated in division’s approved instructional program reviews, and have a reasonable opportunity to enhance the learning environment in the discipline.

2.3.6 Duties of the Vice President of Instruction

In addition to the general duties prescribed in section 2.3.1, the Vice President of Instruction shall be responsible for the following:

  1. Preparation of curriculum material for meetings of the Curriculum Committee;
  2. In collaboration with the Curriculum Committee Chair, submission of materials to be forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for inclusion on the agenda of the Board of Trustees;
  3. Assist, ex officio, as a nonvoting member on subcommittees;
  4. Serve as a liaison between the state Chancellor’s Office and the Curriculum Committee;
  5. Identify and present curriculum procedural and policy issues to the Curriculum Committee, and regularly update the curriculum committee on the progress of approvals of programs and courses submitted to the Chancellor’s Office Curriculum Inventory (COCI) system;
  6. Work with Division Deans;
  7. Provide background information on curriculum matters for purposes of discussion and decision making;
  8. Responsible for all curriculum policy procedures, documentation and publications, e.g. Catalogs and Schedules;
  9. Responsible for all budgets affecting curriculum matters;
  10. Perform other curriculum administrative duties as necessary.

3.0 Procedure

3.1 To the extent not otherwise specified in this policy, the Curriculum Committee may determine its own internal operating procedures and practices.

3.2 In routine matters of Curriculum encompassed by the provisions of section 2.1.3.1, the Academic Senate shall rely primarily upon the advice and judgment of the Curriculum Committee, with the expectation that recommendations of the Curriculum Committee will normally be accepted. If a recommendation is not accepted, the Academic Senate shall communicate its reasons in writing to the Chair of the Curriculum Committee.

3.3 A decision of the Curriculum Committee may be appealed to the  Academic Senate. Where an appeal is raised by a member of the faculty, such appeal may be presented to the Academic Senate by a Curriculum Committee member, Senator, or faculty member. Where an appeal is raised by a member of the administration, such appeal may be presented to the Academic Senate by the Chief Instructional Officer.

3.3.1 With respect to any appeal, the decision of the Academic Senate, shall be final.


Reviewed by the Instructional Administrators: May 4, 2021
Reviewed by the Curriculum Committee: May 4, 2021
Approved by the Academic Senate: May 4, 2021
Reviewed by the President’s Cabinet: May 4, 2021