For current major/minor change and student appeal forms, please see the Forms & Guidelines page of the Provost's website under "Committee on Instruction."
New course proposals and course changes (including GER designation requests) can be made through the online CIM system (see below).
The COI's recommended style and content for syllabi can be found in the "Guidelines for Syllabi" document.
For any points-related questions, please see the Columbia College and School of General Studies "Guidance on Course Points" page.
Using CIM
As of Spring 2017, all instructors are expected to use the online Course Inventory Management (CIM) forms to change courses and propose new courses.
Instructors and Department Assistants/Administrators can log into CIM here. Once logged in, a user can choose to change an existing course or to propose a new course. Course changes are divided into substantive and non-substantive changes. When a non-substantive change is submitted, it will take effect immediately; when a substantive change is submitted, the change will go to the COI through workflow and will be reviewed on the usual COI timeline. New course proposals will also go to the COI through workflow and will be reviewed on the usual COI timeline. Feedback will be given via email, but all requested revisions to the form and syllabus should be made through CIM.
New Course Proposals
All new proposed courses must be submitted to the COI through CIM forms (see above). If you have questions about using CIM, please contact your department assistant or administrator. A syllabus must be attached to the online new course proposal form. Proposals must be submitted by October 3 for Spring 2017 courses and February 2 for Fall 2017 courses. Contact the Office of the Provost with any questions.
Every course is required to have a syllabus. When crafting your syllabus, please refer to the COI's "Guidelines for Syllabi" for recommended style and content suggestions. The syllabus should contain the following information:
- instructor's office hours and contact information
- required readings, including reading lengths (in page numbers or ranges)
- course requirements (e.g. exams, papers, book reviews) and relevant due dates
- guidelines for assignments, including the degree to which collaboration is allowed
- criteria for course grade
- expectations regarding participation, which includes attendance
- student learning outcomes
- inclusion of the Honor Code (established 1912, updated 2016); listing what constitutes plagiarism is recommended
- inclusion of the Wellness Statement
- inclusion of the below ODS statement for students with disabilities
New courses recommended by the COI must be approved by a majority vote of the Faculty before they may be included in the online catalogue. It is the responsibility of the department proposing the course to see it is approved by the Columbia College-General Studies COI, as appropriate.
Other Curricular Changes
Any of the following changes in a course after it was approved by the Committee on Instruction and the Faculty must be resubmitted to the Committee through CIM:
- change in the number of class hours
- change in the student learning outcomes
- change in course points
- change in course title, number, or department
- substantial alterations in course requirements
Administering Coursework for Students with Disabilities
In accordance with federal law, it is the College's policy to provide reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of students with documented disabilities. Examples of accommodations which have customarily been requested and permitted may include exam accommodations such as extended time or modified formats, assistive technology, readers, notetakers, and the use of tape recorders. Visit the Office of Disability Services for more information.
Here is a statement that you are invited to put on your course syllabus, explaining how to activate accommodations:
"If you are a student with a documented disability and require academic accommodations, you must visit the Office of Disability Services (ODS) for assistance. Students requesting eligible accommodations in their courses will need to first meet with an ODS staff member for an intake meeting. Once registered, students are required to visit ODS each semester to set up new accommodations and learn how to notify faculty. Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is best to register with ODS early each semester to access your accommodations. If you are registered with ODS, please see me to schedule a meeting outside of class in which you can bring me your faculty notification letter and we can discuss your accommodations for this course. Students are not eligible to use their accommodations in this course until they have met with me. ODS is located in Milbank Hall, Room 008."